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No young girl may live alone. Even though she has a father, unless he devotes his entire time to her, she must also have a resident chaperon who protects her reputation until she is married or old enough to protect it herself—which is not until she has reached a fairly advanced age, of perhaps thirty years or over if she is alone, or twenty-six or so if she lives in her father’s house and behaves with such irreproachable circumspection that Mrs. Grundy is given no chance to set tongues wagging. |
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A young girl may not, even with her fiancé, lunch in a road house without a chaperon, or go on a journey that can by any possibility last over night. To go out with him in a small sail-boat sounds harmless enough, but might result in a questionable situation if they are becalmed, or if they are left helpless in a sudden fog. The Maine coast, for example, is particularly subject to fogs that often shut down without warning and no one going out on the water can tell whether he will be able to get back within a reasonable time or not. A man and a girl went out from Bar Harbor and did not get back until next day. Everyone knew the fog had come in as thick as pea-soup and that it was impossible to get home; but to the end of time her reputation will suffer for the experience. |
Saffronya wrote: |
I am a fallen woman I think. What action can be taken, or must I just live a quiet life with my shame for company? |
Ariel wrote: | ||
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No young girl may live alone. Even though she has a father, unless he devotes his entire time to her, she must also have a resident chaperon who protects her reputation until she is married or old enough to protect it herself—which is not until she has reached a fairly advanced age, of perhaps thirty years or over if she is alone, or twenty-six or so if she lives in her father’s house |
JayB wrote: |
Of course, all these rules of etiquette can apply to only a relatively small proportion of girls and women. There were thousands, maybe millions, of women like EJO's Mary Devine, who had no parents living, lived in rented rooms, and had to earn their own living in mixed sex offices, schools, shops, factories etc. |
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On returning home from a party, she must not invite or allow a man to “come in for a while.” Even her fiancé must bid her good night at the door if the hour is late, and some one ought always to sit up, or get up, to let her in. No young girl ought to let herself in with a latch-key. 16
In old-fashioned days no lady had a latch-key. And it is still fitting and proper for a servant to open the door for her. |
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