Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-03-16
TlM.RlYS,

Why is it that the "Tom.boy" has always
been considered q name Of rcproach, and that
Us class it is one forever prosecuted and bera-
ted Simply because it has become custom
with us to consider that there Is no develop
ment for the young but the mentsl-that our
daughters do not need beautifubfDrm but only
Gloves" o. dresses--that Jessie, or Jennie, or
Halle must not be children, but tiny women
Just mamma in duodecimo.. This is mistake.
At this day, when our young men want so sadly
what is terSely termed backbone" when our
young women want stamina, when, as people,
we need physical strength, there is a refurm''
upon this subject very much needed also.
/ would have mothers remember that their
daughters lungs are no better adapted to bear
without injury the putrid air of close and hea.
ted rooms than is tho breathing apparatus of
their sons. would have them remember that
if physical education be restricted, enfeebled
health, and purposeless, simless life, are not
calculated to bring out the genius and build up
the reputation of their so9s; neither are they
to be depended on to do this Tor their daughters.
would have them encourage their little girls
to exercise, effort, industry and energy, so as
to give them the hsSstil, Tigor, activity, and
power to expand mt6Ea glorious womanhood
in q word, would that they bc encouraged to
become real bona .f4e flesh and blood Tom
boys"
My idea Of q Tom-boy" docs not necessari-
ly include rudenesS, uncuuth manners, or out
landisll ways" geuerally-by no means. The
"Tum.boy" is an eager, earnest, impul,ivc,
brght.e, ed, glad-hearled, kind. souled specimen
Of tue gems JeminG. If her laugh is q little
too frequent, and her tone triile too emphatic,
we arc willing to overlook these for the sake Of
the true life and cxulting vitality to which they
are the eScape-valves )" and indeed We rather
like the high pressure nature, which must close
off its supertluous steam" in such ebulltiuns.
The gancing eye, the glowing cheek, the fresh,
balmy breath, the 1.-the and graceful play OF the
limbs, tell tale of healthy and vigorous physi
cal development which is natures best beauty.
The soul aud the mind will be developed also
in due time, and we shall have befor, US a wo-
man, in the highest sense Of the term.
Tie Tom-boy" is beautiful in her way
she is wise also in way peculiarly her own.
She can ride horse without bride or saddle,
q la Joan dare, can tell you what the spade,
shovel, and hoe are made for: sue knows where
the first blue violets grow, and where the wild
strawberries ripen. She can describe to you
for she's caught the silver shinerS" many 4
time: can inform you when the young brood
in tue birds nest will be ready to fly, for that
household is under her especial protection and
her native countenance is full of the visions Of
the weather-seer, as she explains tn you that
"it il certain to rain Tomorrow" for the "pink-
eyel pimperneP has closed, and there is q deep
sigh from the south among the trees.
When the " Tum-boy" has sprun. up to health
full und vigorous womanhood she will he ready
to take hold Of the duties Of i(a to become d
worker in the great system Of humanity. She
will not sit down to sigh over the "work given
her to do,' to simper nonsense, languish in en-
nui or fall sick at heart-but she will ever be
able to take up her burden Of duty. In her
track there will be sound philosophy, in her
thoughts boldness and originality, in her heart
heavens own purity, and the sword will be
better that she has lived in it," That beautiful
idea, so well expressed by Longfellow, Life is
real, life is earnest" will be the soul
OF all her actions; the will early realize that
woman, tue worlds great verb, was created not
merely I" TO be-" but "to do," aud too often,
alas! "to suffer" aluo, But to this, her allotted
task, she will bring health, visur, energy, and
spirits, and these will give bsr both tho power
aud the endurance, without which her life must
be, in some respects at. least, faillrv,
Would that everybody Gould learn tu love
md appreciate that beautiful embodiment Uf
freshness, grace, sincerity, simplicity, aud ma
ture, the "TomboyI"
A Coop OSE.-Durlng the recent session OF
our Legislature, proposition was under discus.
sion to change the time Of meeting of that body,
from November to October. Among other o.
jections was one SO supremely ridiculous, that
it is worthy Of notice: 1t was so sickly in
October, that no one from the mountains would
be willing to come here at that season! A
friend at our elbow says, that the member must
have been ns hard run for an objection, as was
the little boy for not obeying his father, as re-
lated in the following anecdote. a deep snow
was on the ground. Bob was seated in the
chimney corner, and the fire not burning freely,
the old man said: Bob, can't you 60 out and
rustic up few chips?" "No, indeed" quoth
Bob, "while am rustling up chips, I might
rustic up laundering big snake !" The dam
ger from snakes under the snow, is equally as
probably story, as Raleigh being siclily at any
tlme-Spirit of tie Age.
E The origin of Pennsylvania is thus
given by an old cpigrammatist:
Penn refused to take his hat off
Before the King, and therefore snt OF
Some other country to light pat on
Where he might worship with his hat on!