Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1887 — Arm In Arm. [ARTICLE]

Arm In Arm.

St. Louis Speetaier'e “Town Talker ’* says: “Itis a curiou* fact, bni nevertheless true, that you never see a lady and gentleman walking arm-in-arm in this city, except in coming from the theatre or late in the evening. Tn the daytime, if a lady should promenade, having hold of her escort’s arm, most people would turn their heads to look at the couple. In the Eastern cities such a sight is by no means so rare; yet even there the custom is very far from general. In European cities, on the contrary, it is the universal habit. Why is it that American damsels are so shy of clinging to a gentleman’s arm ? Probably it arises from her naturally self-reliant and independent nature. American girls do things which would Shock the sensibilities of their European sisters. More latitude is allowed them in their actions; their independence is fostered. To be hypermetaphorical, it may be the vine clinging to the oak ; but our American belle needs no support, and as the act of taking the arm implies per se the necessity of protection, it is averse to her ideas. Perhaps, too, it is thought to be a sign of ‘ spooniness.’ Whatever it is, the fact remains that our girls object to perambulating the streets in the glare of the sun with their arm through those of their escorts.” Now-s-days one involuntarily takes a couple arm-in-arm in the daytime to be provincial