Mothers and Flappers Agree That Modern Man Is Lacking In Morality

Appleton, Wisconsin, 1922

Two Letters Indicate That Women Do Not Think Much of Young Men of Today as Material for Husbands — Fears for Boys

We have been too hard on the modern man, perhaps, in saying that he is absolutely unfit to marry the modern girl, worldly wise and frank to a fault as she is. Surely many young married women and engaged girls must feel that our tirade against men like their husbands and fiancés is unjust and untrue. They are happily certain that the men whom they have chosen are all that can be desired in a husband and father for their children.

You women who feel that the modern man measures up to standard have as much to say in his favor as those women who claim that of all the applicants for their hands, none has been suitable as a husband. Tell the readers of the Appleton Post Crescent that your man was worth marrying and that you wouldn't exchange places with any girl who spends her days from 8 to 5 in a stuffy office or crowded store.

One reader of the Post Crescent sends this emphatic statement about the men of her acquaintance.

"Dear Editor — It is with great pleasure that I accept your invitation to express my opinion of the modern young man as a husband. I, for my part, would not marry the modern young man if it were the last chance on earth to get a husband. Who would want to marry a man that stands on the street corners, stares at ladies from the heels up and passes lewd remarks? The men remark about short skirts. In the olden times all women wore short skirts but the men did not think this a reason for insult.

"The modern man invites a girl out and if she doesn't permit kissing he calls her a stiff. It also seems as if they cannot enjoy themselves without a flask in the hip pocket, especially when at a dance and cannot refrain from smoking in ladies' presence. I do not know what it looks like to see a man tip his hat when greeting a lady. It simply isn't being done. And I think the reason why these men refuse to marry the modern flapper is that they cannot pull the wool over their eyes, because the flapper is too wise." — "NINETEEN"

And a more mature woman has this to say about the modern bachelor who is nearing 50.

"Dear Editor — Your contest interested me from the first and I have been giving it considerable thought because I have two sons of my own. My determination to write my opinion crystallized at a dancing place recently where the antics of an elderly "man about town" were nothing short of disgusting. My only hope for my boys is that they marry girls who will make them into men if I have failed to do so and keep them from being a menace to society such as this man is.

"He brought a rather young dancing companion and upon entering the ballroom, she went at once to the women's rest room to remove her wraps. The "old man with the young ideas" checked his hat and coat more speedily and spied a couple of men of his acquaintance who were with loud talking and evidently intoxicated women. Without hesitation he went at once to them and began dancing almost immediately with the better looking of the women.

"He continued to dance with her for at least 20 minutes and their exhibition was anything but encouraging to a moralist. In the meantime his poor little companion returned from the dressing room and sat forlornly waiting for him to return. The poor child looked as though she wanted to cry and who could blame her?

"And this man is the financially able suitor for the hand of some little girl, flapper though she be, who should not be allowed to be seen on the street with him. Let me repeat again, I hope nice girls will marry my boys and keep them from development into the type which has occasioned that now overworked statement: 'No fool like an old fool.'" — "A MOTHER."

You have to read these letters with interest. Write what you think of the modern man, young or old, as a husband for the modern girl who is just what men have made her. Your identify will not be disclosed in any way.

—Appleton Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wisconsin, January 3, 1922, page 9.