womanhood, with the added privileges, dignity, and responsibility that it brings. Intimate and long-sustained association, not only with the individual, but with the entire family, gives opportunities that would never open up if the acquaintance were casual or the settlement formally institutional. The incidents that follow illustrate this, and I could add many more. Two girls classified as "near tough" seemed beyond the control of their club leader, who entreated help from the more experienced. On a favorable occasion Bessie was invited to the cozy intimacy of my sitting-room. That she and Eveline, her chum, were conscious of their exaggerated raiment was obvious, for she hastened to say, "I guess it's on account of my yellow waist. Eveline and me faded away when we saw you at dancing class the other night." It was easy to follow up her intro- duction by pointing out that pronounced lack of modesty in dress was one of several signs; that their dancing, their talk, their freedom of manner, all combined to render them conspicu- ous and to cause their friends anxiety. Bessie listened, observed that she "couldn't throw the waist away, for it cost five dollars," but in- sisted that she was "good on the inside." An offer to buy the waist and burn it because her -190- |