Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-02-07
Fair Play for the Girls.

If it were not for the more sensible
methods of dress and diet adopted for
girls while they are growing, within late
years, they would be much farther behind
their brothers than many now are, in point
of health and strength. But many fond
mothers, who give their girls fair play
when young, begin to sacrifice them to
their clothes us soon rs they are big
enough to call " romps," if they are ut all
natural in their behavior The Philadel-
phia Ledger hits their folly deserved
blow, in plea for more freedom for girls.
1t protests against the system of training
that makes the young girl CT sixteen as
anxious to avoid all causes Of injury to her
apparel as her mother was for her when
she was six. The impulse to run and jump
and bound has been so carefully kept 10
check that it is no longer felt, and while
her brothers still enjoy the merry cricket
ground and bali match, she is content with
Il eisurely stroll that will not disarrange
the folds of her graceful draperies. The
consequence is so plain that we can but
wonder how any one fails to trace it. The
hoy grows up strong and rosy and capa-
wv Win y vi uIuoSIb una CltSLlC-
ity of frame of which he is justly proud.
The girl is pale, delicate and comparative
| ly feeble, needing constant care to protect
her, and often toncs to stimulate. While
he is struggling manfully with toll Or hard
ship. she is often at home, the object of
tender soicitudc. If they are both stu
dents, the course marked out for him
would be thought far too hard to exact of
her.
This difference of power is generally
attributed to the natural disparity of sex,
when in fact it much more truly belongs
to the vast inequality of privilege they
have enjoy ed. We are not among those
who claim the exact smilitude Of the
sexes; but let us beware how we palm off
upon nature inequalities that only result
from our unequal and artificial training.
If there is any impulse shared in common
it is that Of activity. The love of motion
in the infant, and of free, buoyant exercise
in the child, is alike natural to both sexes.
IT, during the impressible years of youth,
it is freely encouraged in the boy, and
vigorously controlled in the girl, surely we
have sufficient cause 10 account for the
difference of physical strength and capaci-
ty without seeking further. Could it be
proved, however, that the girls bodily
viSor could never, under any regime,
equal that of her brother, nay, that his
would always be ten.fold greater, should
that debar her from the full development
of all she has2 Would it not rather be an
additional reason for giving her every OPP
portunity to make the most of such powers
as she does possessP
There is among some a lurking fear lest
girls may sacrifice part of their gentleness
and delicacy by free sports and vigorous
exercise. Little girls are admonished not
to become rompS and hoydens by partici-
pating in their brothers. games, and the
older ones somehow imbibe the idea that a
rosy, healthy, strong and active maiden
cannot be quite so ladylike as her timid,
nervous or languid sister. Truly such a
notion sets at naught all natural and wo-
manly instincts. If boys can enjoy the
full freedom Of buoyant exercise and open
air sports, without its preventing them
from becoming gentlemen, surely we may
trust girls to do the same, without forfeit
ing any element of true ladyhood. Wo-
men have certainly as strong regard for
propriety as men, and their native nodes
ty will as quickly check whatever is un-
seemly or rude. Health lies at the very
root of all excellence, and whatever tends
to perfect it, also indirectly cultures the
best of everything that is in u.s.