The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-05-22
From the Boston Olive Branch.
NATIONALITY. .t
BY MRS. N. A. pENNIsoN.


Ono of the Hrst principles instilled into the
minds of American youths should be pride Of
country. They should be taught to Let M mau
nndervalue our institutions IL their presence.
The prestige Of family should he ruthlessly set
aside, and every Child be trained To stand by
his own merits. And as women have the
name of controlling society in oil It's civilized
phases, go let her be educated that the ADM
ration of a titled foreigner shall be no blot up.
on her cscutchcon. a. ,sf f.T a.s' lt.4
In $50 called) good society, the question is
not usually asked. who is he? but who and
what are his family? The poin, If aristocrat-
ic descent being satisfactorily settled. though
tho person In question be a libertioe aud q
brawlcr, be is admitted within the charmed
circle. This is wrong. No true American
could 50 outrage tho laws of republics; and
until spoh senseless policy is changed our
daughters will fall in love with charming
counts from Italy, aud German barons with
unprononnceable names. while anv galet or
barber, who can jabber tolersble good English,
may establish his claim to fashionable conside-
rs'iaD and fascinaie our anti American women
merely by asserting his descent from the sris-
tocracy of broken-down nobility.
Who can forget the noble American woman,
who, on asking an Introduction to the Pope,
was told il was the custom Of all foreigners TO
kiss tho Toe OF his holiness. Sho replied With
spirit
"Oh! cannot do that. sir.'
but" said the cardinal with astonishment,
none but sovereigns arc exempt from the
custom"
{" cannot help that. sir" she returned, with
equal pride and promptitnde, /" come from a
country, where wo are aH sovereigns;" and
she did NOT kiss the mandates too.
"You must not play with that little girl, my
dear" said an ipjudicous parent.
But. ma, ! like her. she is a gond little girl,
and I'm sure sho dresses as prettily as over |
de-; and she has lots of toys"
81 cannot help that, my dear" responded
the foolish anti-Atnerean, ''ber father is a
shoemaker"
"'Bpt don't play with her father, play
With her; she aint a shoemaker"
How wise an answer ftomthe lips Of child
a d in after years when the lawyers daughter
refused the shocmakers son, and accepted
a life of intollorabe misery with the bro.
ken-dnwn scion of broken down first family
and when that same prohibited little girl
became the wife of distinguished diplomat
aud the discarded son look his seat in the nails
of Congress. bitterly did The foolish moi her
regret her contomplible policy. Alas! that
sho should live 10 SEQ her child bend ng over a
drunkard's grave, and tho children of d at
daugl ter, dependent for their daily bread. on
the poorly paid labor of tho needle.
An American! il is tho nobiest. Tho broad
Get. the highest, he best tile in all the world.
/ had rather 60 to ROME as an American lady
than to bear. in the pomp of hereditary glory
tho credentials of Queen Victoria. / want nc
mobility bu, that of genius. Let the word be
forever banishod.
And now, mothers. yon are tho agents to car
ry on this reform where il is the most needed
at your own fresidrs--in your private and pub
lie assemblies. 1t j. for your sex, sumo o
whom will spend an hour in discussit III,
merits Of Paris bonnet nnd five minutes in
porpetrating etter--blunders and all II i.
for YOU t. study and understand clearly the
history of your own coupiry above all Others
and thoroughly to in-lil the elements If ma
,ionatv in your little Americans IL is fol
you 10 exemplify the characters of our honest
republican ancestors; to contrast the lives o
mighty conquerOrs who fought for supren
control, with tho career of Washing tor. who
sought only aud entirely the best uood nf III,
people. and turo"d quietly from tho grandeo,
Of cemmand. and the cmoluments OF high
posilion, to the pursuits of The fi,rmer-thu-
blending more than kingly power with the no.
Bile attributes of labor.
Let evcry American mother, then do hcl
part. aud like the Mary of holy wri,-her re
ward shall not be taken from her.