The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-08-01
tFrom the Milwaukee Sentinel.l
Girls of the Period.

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quite sensation in the literary world Of
late. Unsuspectingly they have become
the great objects Of comment and criti-
cism. One can scarcely pick up a peri
odical without finding some reference to
those prosecuted creatures. As Washing
ton Irving said of Shakespeare "Every
casual scrabbler brings his farthing rush.
light to swell the cloud of smoke and l.,
like my brethren of the quill, am also
prompted to have my say.
| lind myself, however, sorely tried by
the numerous unjust and unreasonable as
sertions. Perhaps some illustrious critic
contrasts girls Of the past with those of
the present, signing over chignons, trails,
etc., and raving about the beauties of the
petticoat and short gown, and grows fear.
fully eloquent on that all.important subject
"woman's sphere" would say to those
immortal listeners, it is strange indeed
that the thought never occurred to you, that
to obey the very law of the universe, girls
manners and dress must change. 1t would
be quite unreasonable, would it not, when
the customs of those of the masculine per-
suason are constantly changing, that the
girls alone should remain unchanged AS
for the lost spinning-whecl period, 90 il
you please to the manufacturing cstab-
lishments, and there you can find the
same, though perhaps slightly improved
Again, in the words Of Irving, "Noth-
ing is so easy and inviting as the resort to
abuse and sarcasm. 1t is the alternative
of a morbid mind, fretted into petulance,
rather than warmed into indignation, "
and for my part, think we have received
our full share
Then please my ungcntle critics listen
to me while / show you in what respect
you are not philosophical
You complain Of the weakness and van.
tiles Of the girls of the period, while if
you will stop a moment to regard their
whole course Of training, you will find
that it is you, yourseires, who are making
them what they are. Follow with me il
you please, girl from the cradle to the
grave. Her first appearance on the great
stage of life fills her whole audience with
disappointment, because, like Florence
Domby, she is not a boy--she is not a
Paul. Defeated, then, as she has the ex-
pectations of her audience on the outset,
and considering the many other disad-
vantages she ever after labors under, how
can it be expected that she will play her
part as her more favored brother, who,
while she is confined indoors piecing
quilts or playing With dolls, he, with thick
boots and comfortable clothing roams
wild and free through the open air, thus
founding constitution which will be able
to resist the wear and tear of life.
AS the curtain falls on the first scene,
it rises again on the unequal contest at
school. Half of the world think a girl
need only know enough ofgrammar to be
able to answer a question correctly,
enough of geography to find her way
about her native village, and enough OF
arithmetic to be able to number her own
children. With this and smattering Of
French and music she is graduated and
sent home, while her brother cheered and
encouraged is sent to college there to con-
quer Greek roots, neutrality-suspicious.
solving some difficult problem in calculus,
while she at home is solving that still
more perplexing problem how to cut to
advantage that old silk dress, that she
may get out those rufies, appear at Mrs.
Mrs. Grundys party like "other people, -
captivate the coming man, and thus no
longer be burden on her fathers hands
Then | repeat, owing to the great disad-
vantage she is constantly obliged to con.
tend with, what more could be expected /?
There are some, however, let me add, who,
surmounting all obstacles, rise to full
equality with man.
Guided as we are by public opinion,
why is it that so few young ladies are am.
bilious, with no aim, no object in life
uselessly, aimlessly drifting along, accept.
ing the opinions and judgment of others
without stopping or even desiring to think
for themselves i?
Why is it that so many young ladies,
ignorant of all kinds of work, and in the
midst of busy, bustling life sit down and
calmly fold their hands with nothing to
do?
1t is because they are educated, made
to believe that it would be unwomanly'
beyond their sphere, to aspire to anything
higher than the rolling-pin as their scep-
tire, or the narrow limits of the parlor
walls as her undisputed empire.
Let the world go as it may, come what
will, there is limit Of her sphere beyond
which she dares not venture. Then,
hcdgcd in as she is,with some one to think,
some one to act, some one to speak for
her, what remains but to fulfil the great
mission of her life, namely: to await the
"coming man" and if by chance he docs
not come, what then
Owing to the large pumber of men kill
ed during the late war, there remains
surplus Of women, consequently a large
number cannot marry, land shall say
perhaps half the number would not if
they could. Since then, dear critic your
plan cannot be carried out, why not &C.
cept mine. Give women the advantages
which her lords possess and learn by ex.
perienee who will be behind in the race of
life. Refuse to do this, and | see no al
tentative but to accept Gail Hamiltons
plan, and serve girl babies as you would
kittens, Save the fifth and drown the
rest ALICE STEWART.
We find in an exchange a poem called
the "Song of the Farmers Boy" begin
ming. "Ho, brothers, ho!" Nothing
could be more appropriate if the farmer
sticks to his vocation but there be far.
mcr boys we wot of who go to the city,
whose songs after little while might be
read "Rake. brothers, rake - and be
very appropriate. After a while they
sew their wild oats, cultivate the affections
Of some budding beauty-get silken-tied
10 her--anl then tho sono is MCradle.