A Physician's Wise Advice to Girls by Irving D. Stienhaurt, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 18, 1915

A Physician's Wise Advice to Girls

By Irving D. Stienhaurt, M. D.

THE question of how a girl dresses is an important one. The male sex has always been trained to regard the female form as something sacred, to be concealed from public view; and several years ago none but an immoral woman would wear anything that would, in any way, display her womanly charms, or make her figure conspicuous.

Many of you have thought little about whether your dress was modest or not, the question of style taking precedence of all other considerations. Now that it has been brought to your notice, think it over, and do not let the matter of style make you forget the more important dictates of maidenly modesty.

By this time many of you are thinking how old-fashioned I am—and you are right. I am still old-fashioned enough to admire a modest, ladylike girl, and I am happy to say that there are still many more men and women like myself.

Formerly a woman who, for any reason, was compelled to raise her skirts, carefully lifted them just the smallest possible extent necessary; but now, with her transparent stockings of lisle thread or silk, such modesty has seemingly taken wings and flown. She must show off her finery, and with it her lower limbs.

Do you know that a certain class of men look for just such exhibitions of immodesty? Prove it for yourselves by observing a crowd of them standing at some exposed place on a windy day. They are liable to misjudge you also, and to address you in very plain, unmistakable language.

Another article of dress which has somewhat changed is the female bathing suit. I need not go into details, for you are just as familiar with the present style as I am, and somewhat more so. Suffice it to say that formerly the bathing suit for women was designed to be as neat, inconspicuous, and modest as possible. Can this be said for the present stylish ones?

And while speaking of bathing suits, I might comment on bathing conduct. Strange as it may seem to some of you, the rules of good breeding and refined behavior are as much to be regarded at this time as at any other. With the shedding of your street clothes for the delightful and healthful recreation of bathing, you must not shed your refinement or morals. Familiarity is just as much, perhaps even more, to be resented at this time than at any other. Personally, I have been amazed by the carelessness, to express it mildly, in speech and action of many young women while bathing, their conduct at any other time or place being entirely different.

While on the subject, I might add a few remarks on general conduct. Be a ladylike, well-bred woman, no matter where you are. Coarseness, familiarity of speech or action, lack of good manners, of breeding, or of refinement are always glaring faults, no matter what the circumstances or where the place. To allow them or to be guilty of them is at the peril of your good name.—

Irving D. Stienhaurt, M. D., in "Ten Sex Talks to Girls."