Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-02-24

little shy" without readjustment
OF the English lexicon. She is seldom
slightly studious. She endangers her
physical aud mental health by too much
ambition while atschool, aud she usually
let's her accomplishments and serious ac-
quirements 90 to the wind after she is
out Of school. The American girl gem
orally obeys her parents conscientiously
so far as they demand her obedience.
Bat she is allowed TO roam like young
tiliy in pretty extensive inclosure-uu-
watched among many hills aud dales of
society--and she is about as psssiyely
obedient as that sprightly animals uu-
der similar circnmstAnces.o One sees a
filly now and them standing at the bars,
her ears pricked forward, and that eager
look in her eye which shows she Is half in-
clinfd to jump over But she may gem
orally be found quietly grazing or kick.
ing up her heels within, the prescribed
limits, be they wide or narrow. "Tamely
religious" the American girl may be now
and and then, but as rule she is either
6avagely religious or not religious at all.
In many cases she is Que or the other by
turns, as ii suits their imperial fancy. II
she be an Episcopaliau or Roman Cath
olic, it depends somewhat on the season
Of the year. During the Lenten fast so
far from being "tamelyp religious, she
exhibits aierocity ofreligious enthusiasm
before which the young man Of society
tremblea and retresis The New York gitl
has q special costume fol. Lent, made
by fashionable dressmaker and taste
fullyappropriste to the barbaric intensity
of her devotions. At other seasons she
seldom allows considerations of future
life to interfere seriously with the imme-
di4te interests of the present She has
her own ideas Of heaven, aud generally
contrives to realize them on this side Of
the grave. This reminds us that her
tastes are simple" The simplicity,
fear, is on the side of her father, who
pays the bills. "SAe has no preference
tor anything" One might name several
things for which an American girl has
preference II one is not himself
among the number he rarely enjoys the
bliss OF ignorance. "Her aims incline
mildly toward a future of balls to come.
The American girl in her teens has a
short past and boundess present of
social gsieties. But her future balls to
come" is prospectively limited in her
own mind as in practice by her wedding
day. With few exceptions in ultra
fashionable society she nearly or quite
disappears from the world Of dancing
and pleasure mediately after marriage
She seldom resppesrs except at long in-
tervals, aud then as q mere locker on,
until she becomes herself hostess with
marrisgeable daughter to fll her former
place. She calls this disappearing frem
society after marriage settling down."
and she persists in it with a tenacity De
culiar to herself whether her husband
wishes it or not, Her rule OF life is an
hourly reference to mamma" In many
American families the majority of refer
ences 90 the other way. An American
mother, perhaps, advises with her
daughter about as often as she advises
her; ana the mothers commands usu.
ally assume the form of suggestions
thrown out in respectful consultation.
The American family, if not exactly
republic, is an extremely limited mon.
archy Thackeray noted and admired
this popularity; other English writer's
and some Americans regard it as dan.
gerous.