Girls

Recently I came into possession of a small handbook printed in 1891 titled "All about GIRLS, their Virtues and their Failings-Illustrated." Naturally, I was interested.

First of all I wondered why the author did not use the title "All about Women, instead? Perhaps the word GIRLS seemed more appropriate. It refers, I believe, to those who are, or think they are young, while Women might imply to the older female species. No female likes to be referred as 'old'..

In turning the pages, I found that GIRLS were divided into many varieties. The author briefly elaborates upon each one. As I read each page, I came to the conclusion that I was mighty glad I had never read this booklet sixty years ago. I would have been so darned confused that I doubt if I would have ever gone near a girl.

For instance the author described the following groups: "Girls who want money", "Girls who can spend money", "Marrying Girls", "Sensible Girls", "Big Girls at school", "Girls of the Period", "Jolly Girls", "Dirty Girls", "Selfish Girls", "Deceitful Girls". "Loving Girls", "Girls who are Wicked", "Indecent Girls", "Breech of Promise Girls"! "Music Hall Girls", "Girls who are Mothers", "Girls who are Fast", "Old Girls", "Buxom Girls", "Big Girls at Home", "Girls who cost Money", "Girls without Sweethearts", "Carrotty Girls", "Jealous Girls", "Novel-reading Girls", etc.,

I began to wonder just how many types described by the author actually could have been found back in the 1880's and 1900's here in the Allegheny Region. One writer once said that "Girls are Girls wherever they may be."

Artists and poets love to depict Girls as fair and innocent clinging creatures whose smiles are modesty and alertness personified. Yet, I wonder if they actually see them in real life?

The author says Girls who can spend money have a mania, they have no consideration for the suffering, sacrifices and privations of their unfortunate parents. They trust they will be provided for when the time arrives-they will have a husband's purse to draw upon, regardless of which sphere they came from. Most Girls think they are eligible for matromony. The author states a marrying Girl is a young lady who is known by her manners, good sense and general attributes, good sense, displays her fitness for a position of a wife. A sensible Girl sees life as it is, and if she should chance to get married will make a good wife. A Girl of the period was classified as one who has, generally speaking, not much money to spend, but what she has was expended upon dress, not good tasteful, elegant or suitable attire, but cheap and gaudy imitation of extreme fashion. He suggests that one take a look at her heels (not legs). He feels it is no wonder the poor crippled idiot walks as though she had no connection with her own feet. Her skirts are so tight she can barely move, and that they rarely retain the love or regard which first induced any male to have anything to do with them.

Everyone likes jolly Girls,There is a great difference between a fast girl and a jolly girl, just as there is a difference between a diamond and piece of glass. Both may glitter at a distance. The jolly one is generally generous, impulsive, quick tempered and straight forward. There is a no nonsense about her. She is not at all anxious to attract any one in particular. She likes to enjoy herself. People admire this class of girls and wish there were more of them. On the other side, no one admires a dirty Girl. He recommends that the dirty girl should be seen in her home. If the disenchantment is not complete,one gaze should make one walk away quickly.

The booklet states that the selfish Girls abound everywhere. She is a nuisance to everyone. She will not share the household duties. The only person she has any respect for is herself. She does not sacrifice her own comfort for that of other people. In the same class is the deceitful Girl. A deceitful girl makes a deceitful wife and a deceitful wife means trouble. They not only bring misery upon themselves but all who come in contact with them. On the other hand the booklet claims there are two classes of loving Girls. One is too loving. She could be compared to sweet upon sweet. The guy who found this kind of sweet might just long for a little vinegar for a change The second is one that can be really loving without openly displaying it, no matter how deep her affection might be.

Apparently Girls have not changed too much in the past ninety years. The author states there is no sight on earth more pitiful than that of a girl who at 15 or 16 is a mother. Most of these ran away to get married before they have themselves finished growing and here they are mothers, when they most require a mother's care themselves. The consequence is that at 38, the girl who was a mother at 15, looked almost as old as a woman at 50.

Back in those days fast Girls were considered a nuisance. They usually displayed little sense and their only notion of making themselves agreeable was to talk slang, sing fast songs and boast of their exploits. They wanted no respect from a man and neither did they care very much about their love. They did not care for men who did not have much money. They always appeared to be hungry and thirsty. They were not much different from the girls who wanted money. The latter, however, was on the look-out for rich husbands and would do most anything to trap such a man. Money was the only creed they knew about.

I can imagine the author received many sarcastic letters, especially, when he wrote or commented about the Older Girls. He said they were "not an inspiring spectacle; there was too much of the light of other days about them, and let themselves get up as they will and piled on the juvenility as thickly as possible" Also, "if she had any sense, she must know that no one could be deceived in her age, let her do her level best to conceal it. "

I was amused at his description of the "Buxem Girls. He claimed they are generally good-natured and that men admired them most. She was identified as tall, robust-looking without the slightest trace of weakness or fragility about her, yet, she is very seldom very intelligent, but possessed traits of character most to be desired in a wife.

Big Girls at home are considered a big nuisance by their younger brothers. Actually they were really not bad friends at heart. It appeared to be a friendly warfare between the two, yet each was fond of each other. The parents often wonder what they would do with them, particularly, if there were three or more. However, years later after the Big Girls had all married and left the household, the solitary parents would give almost all they possessed if they once again had them back. (I don't believe parents have changed in this respect in the past one-hundred years).

Girls who cost money were classified as those whose chief aim was to get all they possibly could get from the male sex. The next group elaborated upon were the Girls without Sweethearts. They were thought to lead a much happier life than their friends who were engaged. She had no one whom she could be anxious to please or fearful of displeasing. She could dance with whom she pleased or flirt with whom she liked.

The name or title of being a Carrotty Girl came under a rather disrespectful reference upon those whose tresses were of too warm a hue, viz, red gold hair. unusually they had a beautiful complexion with eyes of many shades. She was also pictured as a little wiry who generally came under the heading of being sharp-from the crown of her little red head to the sole of her little feet.

We raise the question, Is there such a being as a Jealous Girl? The author states there are very few who are not jealous, and that jealousy is a quality that most girls strive to conceal. Yet there are some who cannot do this. They have to parade their wrongs or fancied wrongs, they must parade and resent every slight neglect before everyone which causes great annoyance and many times ill feelings. The girl who displays her jealousy, very seldom, if ever, suffers from it. She many times enjoys the excitement and proud knowledge that she has broken up the harmony of a party which is very comforting to her.

Novel-reading girls do not usually read good novels. Often this type is led to fruitful source of ruin and degradation. When not reading, her thoughts and mind can be full of heroes and heroines that she neglects others who are important to her.

I was surprised to notice that the author of this booklet omitted his or her name on both front and back pages. Perhaps for a good reason. If the author was a female, then she escaped the wrath of members of her own sex. Particularly on certain chapters which she described in detail. If the author was a man, then I surmise the reason for the absence was not only to escape the wrath of those who read the boD}let, but he did not want his wife to know that he had had this 'L' of amount of experience in his past.

On the other hand, the booklet might have been intended for potential husbands, however it does not specify this in so many words.

One thing I am glad for-if this booklet had been a "best seller" in the Allegheny regions back in the 1880's, I am certain there would have been more bachelors than husbands.