The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-11-05
OUh AMERICAN GIRLS.



Pie, and n asaphy sscs Ansonx the Gtfis
In the Connectiomt valley.
From Daniel Mscraes Noteson America.
The paleness in the American girls, though
often beautiful is too universal; an eye from
the old country begins 10 long for rosy
cheek. Lowell said that color was thing OF
climate and that should find plenty OF rosy
cheeks among the mountains OF Name where
there is more moisture ia the cir. 4 msy Dc
| 30; never got TO her Maine mountains %
see. But as far as my observation went.
| never saw any either on mountain or valley
| n .ny mart Of New England. Ny private
| i'm nress,ou is. making all allowance tor the
influence OF dry air. that the peculiar pale
ness OF the New England girls connects II
self With too much metaphysics, hot bread,
and pie. have strong convictions or ins
subject Of pie. Not to speak OF mere pale
| nes-, don't see how the Americans can rec
| oncile il with their notions OF what II due 70
| the lava OF nature, 10 live to the age they
do considering the amount of pie they eat,
/ and The rapidi,y with which they eat it.
don't remember that ever sat down to a
dinner in America, even in 2 poor man
house. without finding pie OF some kind-oft-
en- Of several kinds--on the table: and with
on. finding that everybody pastook OF it,
down to the microscopic lady or gentleman
whom we should call the baby. Pie is indis-
pensable. Take anything away, but leave
: pie Americans can stand the prohibition OF
all Intoxicating drinks but attempt to pro-
! hibit pie and you would plunge America into
revolution IN Gay.
II Thsninetaphys sizes In one family which
| visited 10 the Connecticut valley. two OF
the girls we're deep in the study Of algebra
and metaphysics, IS voluntary exercise,
E and shut themselves up for three hours .
| day with Colenso and Sir William Hambieton
and Kant fhis was, perhaps, exceptional.
but the New England brain is very busy.
: Ii develops very soon and very fast, and be-
6 gins At an exceedingly early age to exercise
r itself with The abtruser studies Parents and
! teachers often told me that their difficulty,
with the girls especially, was, not to get them
urged on, but to get them held back. In one
young ladies' seminary which | visited, they
were held back with the following light stud
ies, in addition TO all the ordinary branches
9 Virgil and Horace, Latin prose and compost
: ton, anatomy and hygiene, moral philosophy
! rDental philosophy, and quadratc equations
| TO this add pie and hot bread, and what
could you expect bat psleness, even among
the mountains OF Maine?
Q Paeness and pie notwithstanding, the
J. American girls are very delightful. And il
!. one point they fairly surpass the mejosity
: OF English girls-,hey are all educated anc
!. well-informed. II is painful, but fear
u too incontrovertible fact, that most of The
J girls on this side are very ignorant on gen
- sral subjects. ] don't blame them l blame
:. the system of education. Some girls are fas
u cinatng, whether they are educated or not
IS but to be left alone, rs one sometimes is
n with girl who knows nothing. in g roou
j with no piano, is exceedingly embarrassing
!. after the weather has been exhaused
q There is never the same difficulty with Amer
t, lean girls. The admirable educational system
r Of New England, covering the whole area o
4 of society, has given them education, whethe
they be poor or rich; has furnished theu
e with great deal Of general information, AM
81 mercsp girl will talk with you about any
thing, and feel Tor hat has the same effect
- seem to feel,) an interest in it. Their ten
le dency is perhaps to talk too much, and +
is talk beyond their knowledge. With the Gle
" verer Cor as they would say themselves, tn
) smarter, )of them it seems TO me someiimest
" make no percpptble difference whether The
= knew anything OF the subject they talked sbou
a or not Mentioning this feature OF Amer
!. can character to q Boston gentleman,
said: at is true, | was struck in Englan
with the silence of the people when they hs
s, nothing 10 say. One time travelling in tn
is same carriage with nobleman, asked hir
bis opinion Of the ballot. He replied, :
= have not considered that subject yet Yo
u might travel all over America" said m
n friend. 'and never hear q man say that.
But the American girls generally know Iii
tie of everything, and their general in,elli
:. gence and yivaciiy make them very delight
III full companions.
,h had an idea before going ont that tn
, New England ladies spent time over intellet
tual pursuits to the neglect Of household DIT
10 ties. | did not find it SO. Comparing elias
with class. they are quite as good housekeef
OF ers as | have seen anywhere. They hs
in need be. fer service at present is in yer
sretched condition 10 America; 30 much .
~ that midde-class families in the countr
r. often dispense with servants altogether. Th
on young ladies' can make beds as we'll as den
- onstrate propositions, and their mental phi
s. losophy, W hatever it amounts to, never II
y terfe-es with the perfection of pies. Samu,
y johnson used to say that man would rAthl
Y that his vii. should be able to cook goo
H. dinner than read Greek.
.