Modesty in Girls

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 11, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 10.

MRS. LENORA M. LAKE, of St. Louis, a well-known lyceum lecturer, in speaking to the Y. W. C. A. of Kansas City, said some things which young women everywhere would do well to ponder.

“Modesty—that is the first quality of every popular girl,” said Mrs. Lake. “And the girl who has a full measure of it, who is honest and fair with her men friends, who doesn’t flirt and isn’t bold—that girl is mighty sure, sooner or later, to find her reward of love.”

Referring to fashions, Mrs. Lake said:

“Modesty in dress, speech, and conduct are the fundamentals of good character, while vanity, desire, and fashion destroy the moral stamina of a girl. The lovable girl will be modest in her dress. A large number of women are in the insane asylums to-day because of trying to keep up with the nerve-racking desire to be in fashion.

“Working girls have no business trying to follow every turn of fashion. If a girl is sensible she will buy dress-goods within her means. There is no modesty in a girl wearing a skirt half a yard around. Legs were given us to use, not to put hobbles on. The dress women wear to-day is immodest, immoral, and indecent. Some of the costumes are worse than no dress at all. The Igorrote’s attire is far more respectable. Modesty will be an unknown quantity in the future if women persist in wearing such creations.”

Mrs. Lake also told the girls that the chances of being loved and respected were altogether against the girl if she allowed men to kiss her.

The lecturer reprobated such terms as shop, factory, store, or office girls. Let girls call themselves business women wherever they work, and stop classifications. A good suggestion.