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This was the advice women paid charm schools for 50 years ago

Teenage girls would learn how to “paint our nails, walk and sit with good posture and conduct ourselves like ladies”

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IN THE 1960s and 1970s, the Montgomery Ward’s department stores offered something called the Wendy Ward Charm School for teenage girls. 

Once a week the girls would meet in a room above the department store and, according to a WWCS graduate, ”spend a couple of hours learning how to paint our nails, walk and sit with good posture and conduct ourselves like ladies”.

The classes would end with a fashion show.

Each attendee received a handbook.

Wendy WardRemember, this book was written for young girls in the 1960s, which means it was written in the mindset of a girl who grew up in the 1940s and 1950s. 

The advice is dated. Like this image below, informing young women that it isn't just about what you say but "how you sound".

Wendy Ward Charm School Handbook

Kari Martin-Rollins

Here, the handbook reminds a young woman that it's her unique characteristics that make her appealing (ahem, to men.)  

Wendy Ward Charm School Handbook

Kari Martin-Rollins

Kari Martin-Rollins, 25, recently posted some of these photos on Facebook and allowed Business Insider to post the snaps she took of the handbook.

Martin-Rollins writes:

When my mom was a little girl, she briefly attended [Wendy Ward] charm school, which was apparently more of a norm in the 1960s. She just came across her manual from this programme, and we both got a kick out of going through it.

Here is a page about developing 'feminine appeal', copyright exactly 50 years ago.

Wendy Ward Charm School First

Kari Martin-Rollins

We dug through the photos Martin-Rollins sent us and found some of the best pages with the most dated advice, like the section on "how to talk to boys".

It reads:

If you saw a movie and you liked a movie, say 'I liked the movie, but I'm not sure I understand all they were trying to say.' This gives him a chance to be very manly and explain things to you.

"Also, don't forget to help boys by making them think you're impressed by them!"

Wendy Ward Charm School Handbook

Kari Martin-Rollins

Trying to lose weight? The handbook regards you as a "dumpling."

"Learn to love the foods that make you pretty," it helpfully tells the reader.

Wendy Ward Charm School Handbook

Kari Martin-Rollins

Not so fast, "string beans". There are tips here for you, too.

You get to eat bread before you fall asleep.

Wendy Ward Charm School Handbook

Kari Martin-Rollins

"Don't telephone a boy — even if he asks you too. This is sure 'social' suicide," the handbook says. 

Wendy Ward Charm School Handbook

Kari Martin-Rollins

Standard etiquette rules are offered:

Wendy Ward Charm School Handbook

Kari Martin-Rollins

As well as a page called "Your Legs And You". 

Wendy Ward Charm School Handbook

Kari Martin-Rollins

The book suggests pinning back your ears if you have big ears.

Wendy Ward Charm School Handbook

Kari Martin-Rollins

There's also this great section on getting a date. The advice starts out somewhat timeless, stating men aren't that different than women emotionally — we all want to be loved.

Then you get down to the bottom of the page.

In all caps: "DON'T DIE AND DON'T GO STEADY. EITHER ONE WILL TAKE YOU OUT OF CIRCULATION."

Wendy Ward Charm School Handbook

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    Mute Ole dan tucker
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    Nov 1st 2019, 7:20 AM

    Ya right

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    Mute The long walk home☘️
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    Nov 1st 2019, 8:16 AM

    @Ole dan tucker: Whatever about him the Garda and police have allowed this get to where it is. They allowed signs be posted that defame and send threatening messages to staff, was any poster dusted for Fingerprints or DNA, no because nobody wanted to move them. 70 incidents in the last few years and no arrests. Quinn is a gambler that’s problem caught up with him.

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    Mute Dow Dubrov
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    Nov 1st 2019, 8:22 AM

    @Ole dan tucker: He’s getting a bit of heat from his actions and is trying to tone it down temporarily. He hasn’t gone away, you know.

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    Mute SF Knee Knockers
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    Nov 1st 2019, 9:01 AM

    @The long walk home☘️: ye it’s the Gardas fault. Border area has always been peaceful and law abiding. Police need evidence and witnesses, the local community know who these criminals are and are the only ones who can provide the Garda with the information needed to lock them up.

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    Mute Kyle
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    Nov 1st 2019, 7:34 AM

    Ye Sean, we believe ya

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    Mute Mark Johnson
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    Nov 1st 2019, 7:56 AM

    @Kyle: I notice there has been no statement from or interview with his son on this, Sean Jnr

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    Mute Levante Dublin
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    Nov 1st 2019, 8:12 AM

    @Mark Johnson: or his wife or sisters. Or the postman, or the priest

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    Mute James Douglas
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    Nov 1st 2019, 8:23 AM

    @Mark Johnson: I’d say you love Cluedo, Mark?

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    Mute Mark Johnson
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    Nov 1st 2019, 8:30 AM

    @James Douglas: just stating the obvious: Interview the young son, not the father pensioner. @Levante Dublin what has the postman and priest got to do with this?

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Nov 1st 2019, 9:41 AM

    @Mark Johnson: the one who ran away?

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    Mute The long walk home☘️
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    Nov 1st 2019, 8:30 AM

    If he really was contrite he would stop blaming banks, regulators and everyone else and apologize to his staff for his gambling that almost led to the loss of their jobs, to the taxpayers that had to bail out his underfunded insurance company and thank the management of his former companies that got the finance together to save local jobs, and be grateful he still lives in a mansion and still has a sh*t load of money for a man that was bankrupt.

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    Mute Conoroconnor
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    Nov 1st 2019, 12:40 PM

    @The long walk home☘️: he still has an awful lot for a man who ‘lost everything’ CAB should be on his case.

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    Mute John Killeen
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    Nov 1st 2019, 8:55 AM

    Any chance of an apology to all the people in Ireland who have to pay a levy on insurance to pay off his gambling debts?

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    Mute The Great Unwashed
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    Nov 1st 2019, 7:27 AM

    It’s inconceivable that these threats and attacks could take place in that part of the country without the direct involvement of or consent from paramilitaries.
    The question is who is the ‘paymaster’ the QIH directors keep referring to?

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    Mute The Great Unwashed
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    Nov 1st 2019, 7:30 AM

    An ‘ordinary decent criminal’ can’t even sneeze there without permission from paramilitaries.

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Nov 1st 2019, 9:43 AM

    @The Great Unwashed: that would be some other lad, like.

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    Mute Chin Feeyin
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    Nov 1st 2019, 8:30 AM

    Sorry, Sean. Don’t believe you.

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    Mute 2thFairy
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    Nov 1st 2019, 9:08 AM

    Perhaps the directors are standing up to racketeering. I’d say Quinn paid a hefty amount to gangsters in his day and nurtured a nice easy income for some nasty people. These directors are brave men and should be protected at all costs.

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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Nov 1st 2019, 11:18 AM

    @2thFairy :Maybe the nub of the problem!

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    Mute Bass demon
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    Nov 1st 2019, 10:45 AM

    Interesting that when Quinn Holdings rehired SQ for a year all the intimidation stopped .We saw what happened in Cherry Orchard recently where CAB went after 2 goughers who had a protection racket going on against a construction company I wonder was something similar going on here.

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    Mute Tom McHugh
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    Nov 1st 2019, 9:02 AM

    Ahh the Badlands again. The narrative has been written in such a way that these areas feel they have been completely neglected and must look after their own. The criminals can act with impunity flying under the flag of convenience of “republicanism” etc. This is just a magnifying glass on the vagaries of life from which those living in cities have been protected. Instead we are worried about same sex marriage…

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    Mute Keith Mac Suibhne
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    Nov 1st 2019, 10:07 AM

    Pull the other one!

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    Mute Tony O Neill
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    Nov 1st 2019, 9:27 AM

    Two faces ?

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    Mute Irish big fellow
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    Nov 1st 2019, 11:16 AM

    Godfather – Mafia – Omertà
    Sounds familiar! These instigators go around pretending to be pillars of society. Misguided people look up to them.
    Big mansions no mortgages – send in CAB to flush out the person(s) behind the attacks on the Directors.

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    Mute Rebecca De Stanleigh
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    Nov 1st 2019, 11:31 AM

    Sure cause you’re a stand up guy! As transparent as my window so he is.

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    Mute Paul Dooley
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    Nov 1st 2019, 12:05 PM

    If it’s this bad now I wonder how many small businesses got strong armed and intimidated by certain big businesses over the years

    It would be great if these people rang joe Duffy and put an end to this fraud pretending to be an angel

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    Mute Noel O Sullivan
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    Nov 1st 2019, 9:35 AM

    A boycott of businesses and services in these areas should begin.

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    Mute Denis Logan
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    Nov 1st 2019, 8:05 PM

    @Noel O Sullivan: why?

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    Mute Olive Whyte
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    Nov 1st 2019, 9:10 AM

    He was abducted the 17th September, not 23rd.

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    Mute Elizabeth Sheehan O'Reilly
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    Nov 1st 2019, 12:13 PM

    @Olive Whyte: irrelevant. He was abducted

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    Mute Olive Whyte
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    Nov 1st 2019, 5:45 PM

    @Elizabeth Sheehan O’Reilly: it’s not irrelevant. If you write a news article you have to have your facts correct. Basic rules of journalism, that I’m not sure those who write for the Journal understand.

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    Mute Robert Hand
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    Nov 1st 2019, 8:36 PM

    Golden Rule: Follow the Money
    Criminals won’t work without reward. Risk is so big, the Reward must be BIG. Who has pockets deep enough. Who has grievance big enough. Clearly, only ONE answer

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    Mute Jp Murray
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    Nov 1st 2019, 5:55 PM

    Sean Fitzpatrick and David drum are the root cause of this. They are the ones that manipulated the Anglo share price by there unlawful activity.Sean Quinn along with many others were buying shares in a bank that had false accounts.
    The Irish state should also hang there head in shame for having him put in prison for something that was not his fault.

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    Mute The Great Unwashed
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    Nov 1st 2019, 6:20 PM

    @Jp Murray:
    Quinn bankrupted himself with Contracts for Difference, not Anglo shares. I’m certainly no great supporter of Sean Fitz or Drumm, but they were horrified when they learned what he had done.

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    Mute Denis Logan
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    Nov 1st 2019, 8:00 PM

    @Jp Murray: you’re speaking rubbish.. Seán Quinn gambled with people’s insurance premiums and lost. Now we’re all paying for his gambling. He belongs behind bars. You sound like a sneaking regarded for these murderous thugs. You should be ashamed of yourself

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    Mute Denis Logan
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    Nov 1st 2019, 8:04 PM

    @Jp Murray: he should still be in prison for gambling with the insurance premiums. You sound like a sneaking regarder of these murderous thugs.

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    Mute martin hayes
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    Nov 1st 2019, 1:56 PM

    This is too little to late front the head honcho. People are so involved in this now they will not have the desire to pull back .

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    Mute Eleanor Dowd
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    Nov 1st 2019, 10:23 AM

    Not before time ,too little too late for Mr Lummey and his family.

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