The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-02-19
A Word to the Girls.

al believe that during the twenty-six
years have practced in this city, 10000
children have been carried to the cemete-
rles, sacrifice to the absurd custom of
exposing their arms and necks."
So says distinguished physician of
Paris, and may not tho same be said in
this country, of the same absurd custom9
1t Is sad TO sec young children die, but il
is terrific to SEQ the young and gifted,
just budding into womanhood, 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 appear
ing at parties, balls and festivals, with
bare arms and necks, thin shoes and
stockings, and late hours.
IL really does seem that American
women spend time and money without
stint, TO make themselves rs miserable as
possible. Here is the thermometer, at
zero; winds blowing chill as Lapland, but
Mrs. Makeshow is TO have a party guests
TO arrive at half.past nine p. NJ, young
ladies in flutter of excitement all day.
New bands, laces, founces and frills to be
arranged for evening, and too oflen all
this accompanied by consciousness that
If new toilette is made, it must be by
working old things into new, not to mako
them moro becoming or tasteful, but be-
cause il is perfectly ridiculous so says
Mrs. Brainless, wife of Sir Gripes Brain
less, "to wear the Same dress twice in
one season to a party"
30 1t is worry, worry all day, don't
want bit Of dinner excitement has kill
ed appetite, of course, no supper, because
Mrs. Makeshow always gets up such
splendid suppers. And so some delicate
girl, who wears a heavy merino or dclane
all day, with pair of knit wooden under
sleeves, and a blanket shawl round her
neck and shoulders 10 keep her from freez-
ing III warm room, finds herself ready
at nine O'Clock at night, after twelve hours
of labor and excitement, with an empty
stomach and exhausted system, cold feet
and throbbing brain, ready to dress her
self in gauze, lace, or silk, with low neck
and short sleeves, TO take off her high
boots and common stockings, and supply
their place by kid or satin and thin silk,
and to pass from the cosy, warm, home
sitting-room, into Mrs. Makeshow's splen-
did double parlors, that have been neither
warmed or aired for six months, and are
now only fortieth part of degree above
the freezing point.
Oh those naked arms, pimpIed with
goose flesh, and purpcd with frozen blood.
Oh! for that shivering form, gliding
among the bellies and bcaux, the former
as senselessly and uncomfortably dressed
AS themselves; the latter in close knit
woolen undershirts, up to the very roots
of the hair, good white shirt over that,
a double-b backed, and double breasted sat-
in vest; broadcloth coat lined and pad
ded over that, at least six thicknesses of
thick cotton, flannel and broadcloth over
the neck and shoulders, and four thick
nesses from shoulder to wrist, and not a
bit too warm; with woolen hose and calf
skin boots on their feet. Man is the Lord
of creation, of course he must keep warm
but "AngeI Wonanr" all me 1t is
dreadful to think Of battle field, with
its killed and wounded, but if the truth
could be known, parties and balls in high
life, or even in low, will kill, by slow tor
lures, more women this winter through
out our country, than will fall in the con
flict between the North and South.
Won't you, won't you, won't you, won't you,
Take my counsel girls,
Wear your high-neck'd, long slcovcd dresses,
With your smiles and curls?