Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-19

of the same absurd custom 1t is sad to
see young children die, but it is terrific TO see
the young and gifted, just budding into wom-
anhood, passing away, burying the hopes and
aspirations OF eighteen or twenty summers,
with all the care and culture bestowed upon
them, under the sod And yet / know that
the number OF young girls may be counted by
thousands who commit suicide by appearing
at parties balls, and festivals, with bare arms
and necks, thin shoes and stockings, and late
hours.
1t really does seem that American women
spend time and money without stint to make
themselves as miserable as possible. Here is
the thermometer at zero; wind blowing chill
as Lapland; but Mrs. Makeshow is to have
party guests to arrive at half past nine P. NJ /;
young ladies in flutter of excitement all day.
New bands, laces, 1ounces, and frils to be
arranged for evening, and often all this ac-
companied by consciousness that if new
toilet Is made it must be by working old things
into new, not to make them more becoming or
tasteful, but because it is ''perfectiy rdcu
lous"-so says Mrs. Brainess, wife of Sir
Gripes Brainless-"to wear the same dress
twice in one season to party"
So it is worry, worry all day-don't want a
bit of dinner, excitement has killed appetite,
of course no supper, because Mrs Makeshow
always gets up such splendid suppers. And
some delicate girl, who wears a heavy merino
or delaine all day, with pair of knit wooen
undersleeves. las like as not, and a blanket
shawl around her neck to keep her from freez
ing in warm room, finds herself ready at
nine O'Clock at night, after twelve hours of
labor and excitement with an empty stom
ach, an exhausted system, cold feet and
throb5ng brain, ready to dress herself in
gauze lace or silk, with low neck or short
sleeves, to take off her high boots and COM
mon stockings, and supply their place by kid
or satin and thin silk, and to pass from the
cosy, warm, home sitting room, into Mrs.
Makeshows double parlors, that have been
neither warmed nor aired for six MONTHS
and are now only fortieth part OF degree
above freezing point.
Oh those naked arms, pimpled with goose
flesh, and purpled with frozen blood. Oh !
that shivering form, gliding among the bellies
and beaux, the former as sense.essly and un.
comfortably dressed as themselves the latter
Ill those knit under shirts, up to the very roots
OF the hair; good white shirt over that a
double backed and double breasted thick satin
vest, well wadded on the back and breast, over
that; broadcloth coat lined and padded over
that; at least six thicknesses of thick cotton
f1annel and broadclOth over the neck and
shoulders, and four thicknesses from shoulder
10 WRIST, ana not bit too warm; with WOODEN
hose and calt-skin boots on their feet Man
is the lord, of course he must keep warm-but
"AngeL Woman % ah, me ! it is dreadful to
think of a battle field, with its killed and
wounded, but il the truth were known, par
ties and balls, in high life or low, will kill by
fortunes, more women this winter throughout
our country, than will fall in the conflict be.
tween the north and south.
Won't you, won't you, won't you, won't you
Take my counsel girls,
Wear your high-neckd long .seev'd dresses,
With your smiles and curs?
And, boys! if they dou't, do take pity on
them, and put their poor shivering arms into
your coat seeves-for you will then be more
warmly clad than they in pity, don't let
them die!