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Co-Ed
from Modern Sreen, January, 1942
Comes a time in every woman's life when
she's too big to run to mother with all her
problems. Here's our answer -- Judy Garland's darling mom,
Mrs. Gilmore, who's promised to fairy-godmother for us every issue!
When Judy heard I was going to write a column she insisted the first subject should be, "How to get your man." Maybe that's because, being married only a few months, she felt qualified to give me a few pointers. Sue, my other daughter who is engaged to a draftee, thinks what to wear and how to behave when you visit an army camp would be a good beginning and very timely. I'm ignoring them both, and this will be a sort of general first aid chat. I'll get specific in succeeding months.
First of all, every girl wants more than anything else to be popular. But how to go about it? By being friendly, interesting, and just as attractive as we can be with the material at hand. That's honestly all there is to it, and you can begin getting that way instantly. Start in on the family with the friendliness angle and watch it become a habit. When your mother wakes you in the morning, don't greet her with a grouch and a grunt. Start the day with a "Morning, Mom, are you as pert as you look this bright and sunny day!" Go out of your way to be nice to little brother, no matter how much it may hurt sometimes. He presents a marvelous opportunity for the development of tact and patience. And how about practicing a line on your Dad? If you're shy and tongue-tied around boys, a bit of breakfast banter with Father will give you the masculine angle on things. Furthermore, this unexpected attention will make him glow, and in a few days he'll be asking you to the Army-Navy game. If you've made a previous date to shop with the girls, break it. Go and learn all you can about football. Dad won't mind answering silly questions, and it'll give you a good background for the game you'll attend with your favorite beau.
Explore this famous man's world a bit and acquire at least a nodding acquaintance with sports, books, music, world events. Know who won the World Series, and that Koussevitsky is an orchestra conductor not a Notre Dame end. Suddenly, you'll find yourself not only getting interesting, but interested. A million new vistas will open up to you, and you'll be paving the way to a well-balanced and happy life... Just two words of caution before we go on to beauty. Don't turn into a limelight snatcher and don't concentrate on just dazzling the stagline, completely forgetting the female contingent. Popularity with the girls is every bit as important as a flock romance you'll discover.
And now -- what about looks? They really shouldn't count so much, but everyone knows you can't sell merchandise, no matter how wonderful it is, in a dreary package. Know your type and make the most of it via make-up, clothes and accessories. Be careful not to get ahead of yourself. Judy had an experience we might all profit by. She couldn't wait to grow up to veils and velvets, and now that she is grown up, she wears pinafores and braids. She realizes now that if she had been allowed to wear spike heels, thick make-up and too-chic ensembles, she would only have been a bad caricature of such sophisticates as Rosalind Russell and Hedy Lamarr.
Just a few parting shots now to help you successfully carry on the campaign.
Don't wear slinky dresses, spike heels, clanging jewelry and heavy perfume to school.
Don't get down to one lone crony, either male or female.
Do get proficient at some sport. Now's your golden opportunity, and you'll be sorry if you don't.
Do try out for the dramatic club. It's the best thing we know for developing poise.
Do try and read at least two good books a month. It develops a good background and will help you out in those conversational lulls that are bound to crop up sooner or later.
Do be immaculate about hair, nails and clothes.
Do keep your sense of humor no matter how terrifically disastrous the situation may be -- and have fun!
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