Advice from 1914's 'Dear Abby'

 “Advice for Girls” by Annie Laurie, from the May 16, 1914, issue of The Washington Times

Dear Annie Laurie:

I have a great problem which I wish you would solve for me.

I have been keeping company with a young man about 25 years of age. I myself am only 15. I love him dearly, and he has asked me to marry him.

I have been keeping house for my father and two brothers, and don’t know what to do. I love them, of course, and yet I love my young man.

                --Anxiety

Why you foolish little girl, you—what in the world is your father thinking about to let you even dream of marrying when you’re only 15 years old?

Why, you are nothing but a dear little girl yet; you ought to have your dresses up to your shoe tops and your hair down in a braid—and, whisper, don’t you like to play with dolls once in a while even yet?

What sort of a man can this be who wants to trap you into marriage at your age? And besides, will the law allow you to marry under 16? It won’t in my part of the country.

What do you want to do, tie a weight to your ankle, draw wrinkles in your face, throw away at least six years of perfectly good girlhood?

Some one ought to take that father of yours and give him a good talking to for allowing any one to put such an idea into your head.

Stay young as long as you can, little girl; you’ll have care enough and trouble enough soon enough, don’t you worry about that. Tell your 25-year-old sweetheart to go and hunt for someone nearer his own age, or to wait like a man til you grow to be a woman.