Smyrna times., 1869-08-04
MSSceIIu21 IL e OWS.
THAT GIRL.

Through the four seasons that have passed, |
and several that have preceded them, the Girl
of the Period has been discussed without
pause: Forgetting, probably, that she is still
girl the writers Of the day have singled her out
| as the subject of ;heir penniest dabs and their
lnkiest C! itlcisms No sooner does she reach an
age which permits her to purchase her own
gowns with her father s money! and dress her
| own hair with the BARRIERS assistance), than
she meets fusilade of criticism and remark
under which she must sink in shame and self
reproach, or against which she must defend
| herself with brazen cheek and immodest conf
dence. Does she expand her skirts with
hoops? The critic makes an arrow of every
wire. Does she retire within the limits of her
own contour, and hang her skirts out of the
reach OF mud and sewerage? Her observers
at once appropriate her cast off redundancy to
hang her up to the gaze of an unsympathizing
pubic. 1T her bOnnets are small, they are too
small it large, they are too large. If she wears
her hair en- lcGterfdU, it is ridiculous; if she
lets it hang down her back en- nature, it is affec-
ted. In "a word, she can neither dress, nor act,
nor walk, nor speak as she should, and she
goes through the world an ill-sorted being,
whose duty is as imperative as it is impossible,
living dlSjOinted life, only, in all probability,
to give rise to some breach of etiquette at her
funeral
Is it not time for us to inquire into the ma
ture OF our present complexion? May we not
], stop on the threshold of an approaching centu
: ry and beStow word of mild remonstrance on
: those who would throw the wheels of Time off
the track? Our first plea, then, would be, lei
this Girl alone. Why our American Cir
should be in need of such incessant scolding We
cannot perceive.
The truth, plainly told, is that that Girl
\ greatest danger comes from her own ranks. No
i that she is any less charming or useful becaus,
e she dresses as she pleases; not that her hal
d by changing color or shape derOgates from he
+" intrinsic value; not that she becomes frivolou
:, because her intuitive perception of the beauti
r. full leads her to initiate the seasons, and plac
,e her graces in more beautiful setting by adopt
ing an occasional change of foliage; but be
cause her modern aunts and grandmas ar
teaching her lessons of masculine discipline
:. which bid fair to eradicate the delicacy her an
cestors bequeathed her. A poet has spoken @
"A perfect woman, nobly planned.
e. To warn, to comfort, and command;
to And splrit-still and BRIGHT
I'd With something OF an angel light"
IS 1t that Girl receives the instruction which
y now forced upon her, we must expect to Sc
n n. this angel light" which has been so long ar
preciated, crammed into ballot box, or fol
of ever hidden in the deep pocket of futur
d. manly costume. There are some of us not quit
ne ready to give up that Girl. We have rea
Of Of many pleasant things about her, have hear
IS, many beautiful songs sung in her favor, hav
ng believed that there was much in her natur
necessary to the fulfment of mans happ
ness. Yet present appearances seem to forboG
ne ne that we may lose her. 1t is said that in deaf
.Mir M the last image on which the eye rests is indie
IRE IDLY pictured on the retina. If so many of tt
rv- feminine eyes of the period cast their la
glances on pair of pantalOons, and die carr
Is ing that representation to another world, W
it require very active working of the Darwi
ne ian principle to obliterate entirely the gentl
is. sex from among the creatures of this globe
How shall we obtain an antidote? Happil
!he easily. By making our girls recognize the ia
n% that home duties are steps in the upward pat
sst way of life and that the Roman mother W
looked upon her nursery as her casket was,
the intention of the Creator a more perfect
ing than the Amazon who sought distinct
from her CULVER by teaching her that woman
5s voice, while often discordant in public halls a
ood crowded auditoriums, never fails to chord wi
ans ans the harmony of nature when heard in cOnfli
anu of lowlier life, drying with smile the tel
D." of the unfortune and directing messages OF 10
to those who need her nursing. Our great
possible favor at present, be we grandfath
SS rgraadmothers, will be to let the Girl alol
,ep. ~ y Tribune