Poems (Elliott)/The "Up to the Minute" Girl
The "Up to the Minute" Girl
The dear little ladies of long ago,
With well ordered lives, moving quietly,
Would hold up their hands in horror, I know
If they their great-grand-daughters now could see.
With frills at their wrist and silken gown,
With gentle manners and unknown frown,
With parted hair and smoothed-out curl,
They would stand aghast at the modern girl.
For they of the old time could "converse,"
And would be at a loss at the new girl's terse
"I should worry," "Now listen," and "I don't care!"
They would worry and listen and sure beware
Of such "bold young misses" and "so impolite,"
And banish them quickly out of their sight.
With well ordered lives, moving quietly,
Would hold up their hands in horror, I know
If they their great-grand-daughters now could see.
With frills at their wrist and silken gown,
With gentle manners and unknown frown,
With parted hair and smoothed-out curl,
They would stand aghast at the modern girl.
For they of the old time could "converse,"
And would be at a loss at the new girl's terse
"I should worry," "Now listen," and "I don't care!"
They would worry and listen and sure beware
Of such "bold young misses" and "so impolite,"
And banish them quickly out of their sight.
For the modern girl can talk and dance,
And knows how her every charm to enhance,
But for mending and brewing and baking bread—
She can only fudge manufacture instead.
At the old-time rolls and the old-time pies
She would gaze in a mute and great surprise,
Or if she spoke, it would only be
From those scarlet lips the one word "Gee!"
To nourishing meals she gives no thought,
For "Delicatessen" can be bought.
And knows how her every charm to enhance,
But for mending and brewing and baking bread—
She can only fudge manufacture instead.
At the old-time rolls and the old-time pies
She would gaze in a mute and great surprise,
Or if she spoke, it would only be
From those scarlet lips the one word "Gee!"
To nourishing meals she gives no thought,
For "Delicatessen" can be bought.
All this about her, we are told is so—
But is it the truth? I would like to know.
Is the girl of now just a surface girl?
Or is there grey matter back of each fluffy curl?
Just look at the records and you will see,
In school and college and university,
She can hold her own with the best of the boys,
Can hold it and keep it without any "noise,"
Or with true philosophy, she can "go bust"
If need be, and not be so terribly "fussed."
She can marry a poor man and when needs arise
She can keep his house clean and can make him "some" pies.
She don't need to "worry" or "listen," perforce—
She just simply does it—a matter of course.
But is it the truth? I would like to know.
Is the girl of now just a surface girl?
Or is there grey matter back of each fluffy curl?
Just look at the records and you will see,
In school and college and university,
She can hold her own with the best of the boys,
Can hold it and keep it without any "noise,"
Or with true philosophy, she can "go bust"
If need be, and not be so terribly "fussed."
She can marry a poor man and when needs arise
She can keep his house clean and can make him "some" pies.
She don't need to "worry" or "listen," perforce—
She just simply does it—a matter of course.
We love the dear ladies of long, long ago,
Who surely make happy the stately old beaux,
But the girls of the present fit their time and age,
And match up with the men, who're not any too sage.
Old things may be best in their own time and place
In progress we keep but the best of each race.
With this reasoning then, we perceive the "new woman'
The highest product of the race we call human.
Who surely make happy the stately old beaux,
But the girls of the present fit their time and age,
And match up with the men, who're not any too sage.
Old things may be best in their own time and place
In progress we keep but the best of each race.
With this reasoning then, we perceive the "new woman'
The highest product of the race we call human.