Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-12-02
Something for the Girls.

- lOuCbSu W SuOH Iniu''SS co - 80 -
the correspondents column of ladies' pa
pers, where Lucia wants to know if she
ought TO let a gentleman kiss her when
she comes home with him from con
cert, and Caroline is dubious whether
she ought to correspond with her friend s
betrothed in secret. One cant but
sympathize with these young ladies,
knowing how iuconsiderately some one
has neglected duty towards them. Moth
ers and guardians seem often to fancy
that knowledge how to conduct them
selves in the delicate dilemmas of life
como by instinct. Girls leave boarding
school land 90 into society with the
yaguest of notions about their relations
With it, and stumble through its small
difficulties, and hide their embarrassment
as best they can, keeping brave front
to the last, while the world never knows
the secret tortures they undergo in trifiing
matters. Often enough for mere restless
craving for novel condolences, young la
dias seek public rather than private adj
vice, when their mothers and friends are
quite ready and competent to give them
all the help they need. But there is a
great deal of trial that besets young la
dies a. the age when they feel failure
most keenly, which the best parents for
get to provide against. They ought to
recall their own debates of etiquette in
in youth, and teach their children pru
dence before they need it. Forwarned,
forearmed.
"Nelie, see here" said a prudent
father to his girl of 16, in her tarletan
ball dress, warming her slippers before
the fire, waiting for her esc0rt--if girls
ever do any of the waiting. You are
looking freshly sweet to night, and as
fresh in heart as in dress, | hope. You
are to stay SO, do you hear, madahen.
You are not to let people hold you close
when you waltz; nobody has any bust
ness to touch you till you have a lover
or husband of your own, l don't want
my girl talked about. Remember, no
body has the least right on any pretence
to do more than touch your fingers. or
lay his hand on you in the PERMITTED
freedom of the waltz, unless he is your
relative, or going to be-
And after chat she would probably
sit in the conservatory, letting handsome
Jack, the fast flat and lady-kller, slip bis
arm by degrees from the back of her
chair, lift her locket from her bare neck,
and kiss her hands till he dare kiss hen
lips, and gather her close to him, which
would be probably the sixth time they
bad met, at the farthest. You see men
and women like such things.
It's right they should! 1 am not 90
ing to belle the blood that beats in this
wrist one instant, to say they should not
Only one may have some choice as tc
whether one will accept caresses from
the Wholesale stock of natural liking, OF
the special, reserved fund of preciou:
preference. Suppose, young warm
hearted girl, that as you lean on thai
broad shoulder in the half lit parlor to-
night, thinking how nice it is to have
somebody fond and protecting, and how
dear you seem to be to him, suppose YOU
should by some invisible magnetic sense
be made aware of all the cheeks thai
had rested on that shoulder, and all the
forms that arm encircled. 1t is fortunate
you don't know these things. 1t might
lead you, however, to keep yourself more
sacred for some one who will love you
as entirely as you love this man, who
"takes lite as it comes" and by force o.
habit, if not by inclination, could not re-
member one woman six months if bis
happiness depended on it.
Did you ever see the old fashioned
look on etiquette called Tile YounC
Ladies Friend? Good Mrs, Farras viii
never guess the benefit that straightfor.
ward, wholesome book has been to girls
She knew the class she was writing fol
and gave her opinion in such frank word:
as these quote from memory. "You
are to allow no personal freedoms from
gentlemen of your acquaintance. If &
finger is put out to examine chain OF
locket Oh your dress, draw back and
take it off for inspection if you choose
The reason for this rule is clear to those
who are better acquainted with the
world"
The reason is perfectly clear to every
one who comes to 25 years of age out
side of reform institution. A man o
society, who dealt in occasional rough
ness Of speech, said once in a parlor be-
fore ladies, that he would never marry {
then New York girl of fashion, for the
class allowed themselves to be handled
too much. A girl who protects herself
from the freedoms too much in vogue in
society, increases her own value if she
only knew it, with those she may have
to repulse. l don't believe in prudish
ness or suspicion, but do believe thai
when men and women are not content
with the friendship that can be expressed
by frank, kind eyes, and cordial, brief
handshakes and clear words, one is moi
ashamed the world should hear, they
should know what intoxication they are
sharing. 1t strikes one curiously to see
ladies forget their hands ia a mans clasp
while they are talking so earnestly: there
is great deal of expression in the near
ness of two conversationalists often which
tells a little more than people are aware
of. It's all right and innocent Of course
but if people are properly indifferent to