Large ankles, green vegetables, and ragtime music — is any problem too difficult for the “Girl Query” department of the Young Woman’s Journal to handle? Not at all! Catherine Hurst bravely faces the concerns of girls and young women in 1916:

To “Imogene” who writes of her unpopularity among the boys because she will not allow familiarity.

“Familiarity breeds contempt” is verily true. To be popular a girl must be friendly, agreeable to all, willing to do her best, not claiming her own will, but ready and desirous to please in the proper manner. If you could get the girls together, and influence them to plan a crusade upon all foolishness and undue familiarity with the opposite sex, the boys would soon realize how they should conduct themselves when in company with girls.

Girls can do much to purify and uplift their boy friends. When young men understand the girls’ attitude, if they be boys worthy of friendship, their respect for the modest, refined, virtuous girl will increase.

A young man would be foolish indeed to choose a wife from among the coarse, rude, or immodest girls, What kind of a mother would she make?

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When a woman marries in Utah, if she own property, does the husband become joint owner? – Miss Elsie.

A married woman in Utah has practically the same rights to contract, hold, or control property, and transact business, as an unmarried woman. Marriage does not give the husband any right over, or interest in, his wife’s property.

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“Mrs. E.M.” – To clean your carpet sweeper brush, buy a cheap wire hair brush, for ten or fifteen cents, and it will save your hands.

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My ankles are very large. How can I reduce them? – Nancy.

Always wear high laced shoes, and avoid standing too much. You need exercise for all the muscles of the body, so as to become well proportioned.

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Is laughter an aid to digestion? Some people talk of it lightly. – Iris.

Yes, the condition of the mind has much to do with digestion. “A sour disposition makes a sour stomach.” Cheerfulness at meal time is essential to good digestion. Make the hour for eating the most pleasant one of the day. Do not indulge in unpleasant discussions, nor permit personalities during the meal. Do not talk of food values and diet. Let your conversation be pleasant and agreeable.

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“Mrs. T.L.” – I could not quote prices without seeing the articles. The best way to sell your knit wool shawls is to let your friends in the city know of the opportunity and most likely you will find a ready sale.

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“Curly Locks.” – It were better at your age to go with the “crowd,” rather than with a boy alone. To whiten your hands use the following lotion: Four ounces of rose water, one-half ounce of pulverized borax, one-half ounce of glycerine, and one-half drachm of tincture benzoin. Wash the hands carefully, dry well, and rub in just a few drops of the lotion. Once a day is often enough to use it.

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“Mary”: A white wedding dress is always to be chosen if one has a reception. If you are going away immediately after the ceremony, then a traveling costume is in good style. You will need a plain, pretty white dress for the Temple.

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Will you kindly print in the “Journal” what you mean by “green vegetables”? – Sue and Maud.

By green vegetables are meant, green peas, corn, beans, spinach, lettuce, celery, cabbage, cauliflower squash, egg-plant, cucumbers, onions, asparagus, tomatoes, watercress, radishes, and rhubarb. These vegetables should be perfectly ripe and fresh, also masticated well to insure the proper nutriment and benefit.

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When a lady is traveling alone in a strange city, how can she know the proper hotel for her to stay alone? – Martha.

Go to one of the best hotels in your home town before you start, and tell the man at the desk where you are going, what type of hotel you would like to be directed to, etc. He will, at your expense, of course, telegraph ahead and engage a room for you. Hotels are always willing to give such information, as they are in close touch with one another and extend courtesies, which are generally returned.

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Must a widow have “Mrs.” before her name in the announcement of her second marriage? – Margaret M.

Yes, this prefix must be used so that the surname of the bride’s first husband may not be mistaken for her maiden name.

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“Viola.” A girl of seventeen cannot marry without the consent of her parents.

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Most of my friends call me “Bessie.” Should I have this name on my visiting card? – Enquirer.

No. A certain amount of formality is attached to the engraving on visiting cards. Have your given name on the cards.

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“J.Z.B.” – Girls should not use paint on the face, as often pimples and skin disorders result therefrom; also it is very bad form, indicating lack of refinement.

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Why is ragtime music condemned? Is it written with the aim in view of suggesting evil, and does it to the average person? – Pansy.

I quote from Walter Damrosch, conductor of the New York Symphony Orchestra: “Ragtime is like the weeds that grow up around the flower, hindering its growth and even threatening its very existence. America’s musical future is largely in the hands of parents who should censor the music of their children, just as they do their literature. They wouldn’t think of letting their boys and girls read anything vile or even silly. Yet they listen to their children sing vile and vulgar words set to ragtime. Or if not vile and vulgar, it is liable to be insipid and inane. Why should this be when there is so much good music they could sing? Ragtime music is amusing and catchy, but should never be the steady diet of children, whose future appreciation of music depends on the kind of music they hear. There is an instinct for good music in every child and the good will always triumph over the bad if fostered and encouraged.”

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“Genevieve.” – No, a guest should not use the knife to cut cake. If the cake is of the soft layer variety, use a fork. If loaf or sponge cake, small portions should be broken with the fingers the same as bread.

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“Young Housewife.” – Place two or three lumps of charcoal as large as an egg in the ice chest, changing two or three times a month. This will absorb the odor of cooked food and the like. When the ice is exhausted wipe out the ice box, and pour a strong solution of sal soda through the waste pipe to cleanse and disinfect it. All foods should be kept covered as much as possible.

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“N.C.P.” – To your first query, I would suggest you consult your bishop. (2) In business life men and women affiliate as business people only; nothing more, nothing less.

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“June.” – At an entertainment where dancing is to be part of the evening’s program, the hostess should be the one to introduce her guests. In introducing a gentleman to a lady, she should first ascertain whether the lady wishes to dance, thus saving the gentleman the embarrassment of a refusal.


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