The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-10-09
GIVE TIE GIRLS a CHANCE

GIVE TIE GIRLS a CHANCE.
by MRS II. A LOUGHARY.
So much has been said and writer
about "Our Girls" that il would seen
that the subj CT is an mex haustible one
We can scarcely take up paper, bool
or magazine but we see some Of the fol
lowing articles, "Hiuts to Girls" "Ad
vice 90 Moihers," lessons OF Economy
for Wives" eic Almost any beardles'
boy feels quite comp-teut aud author
lied TO advise wives IN the duties O
housekeeping, and mothers how to train
their children. Notwithstanding al
that has been said and written, much
Of which is mere cant and undue criti-
cism, there is a much reform in
the manners and customs OF training
girls.
Now, hope none Of the girl reader
OF the New NORTHWEST will think
tha, they are about TO receive another
castigation, for it is the fathers aud the
mothers, aud society in general, that ]
propose to address. / am interested ia
the dear girls, for | am the mother ot
girls, and feel that few perhaps are
more paiued than to see the misllrect.
ed ideas and wrongs resulting thefefrom
in the training Of our girls from birth
to womanhood aud wifehood dyes, far
ther back still, to their prenatal condi-
tious. To abroga;e some Of these,
submit the following: First, give them
sound aud healthy organization and
right conditions Of living through child
hood; second, give them a comprehen-
sive education; third, give them en-
ployment; fourth, give them money
fifth, give them property; sixth, give
them the power to protect property.
In my opinion, none Of these PROPOSE
tions is so important as the first. Every
child born, whether girl or boy, is enti-
tied to a sound organization, physically
and mentally, aud parents ought to feel
that they have no moral right to be.
queath sickly, dwarfed, poorly-organ-
[ lied children to society. Society 4.
made up and dependent on individuals,
and individuals are dependent on soci.
ETY.. This fact suggests another, that
individuals are entitled to a pure and
healthful society in which 10 live. Not
puny babe can wall and suffer and die
Z without to a greater or less extent af-
fecting society, il it is but to touch and
pain the tender cords Of sympathy. The
dreadful mortality among children !,
truly appalling. Wherever we go, We
are brought into the association Of sad
and bleeding hearts. Some one Of the
/ dreadful maladies which choose children
I for their victims has suddenly swoopeC
down into community, like a terribl,
simeon, snatching a victim here ant
there ere we can realize the fact. Their,
is certainly a wrong somewhere. Chill
dren ought to be born to live. Parent,
should give their children such pur,
and healthy surroundings and condi
tions as will contribute to their comfort
health aud happiness. Give them pur,
food and drink, good clothing properly
adjusted, pure air, exercise aud recrea
tion, and we have thrown around then
powerful safeguard. Our girls OF th,
present day are placed in hot bed an,
pushed from the cradle TO the grave
Almost as soon as they drop their bah,
robes, they are pushed into fight-fittin,
garments, stiff laced boots, embroidery
laces, aud crimping pins, which rol
them Of many of their natural, health
ful, girlish sports and exercises. At to-
early a period they are pushed int
schools, exposed to so many OF the dan
gerous surroundings and influences o
school-rooms, aud their prematur
minds overtaxed with task duties
Added to this they must have paintin
and drawing, or some of the fin
arts. Music has become a kind @
mania, which almost every body is at
tempting, while only the few make it
success. 1t is fashionable, and ever
little girl, before she enters her "teens,
in addition to her already over-taxe
mind and body and unnatural surround
ings, must be doomed to spend two o
more hours each day practicing" i
one Of those uninviting places ealIe
parlors, where scarcely a ray Of light O
CLEAN Of sunshine ever enters-too mic
for living room, and not fit to be sic
or die in. In childhood they are pushe
into society, assuming the places an
occupations Of women. Instead of ou
laughing, sporting, rollicking, froliek
ing Susans and Frankies and Mamie.
they are merged into "Miss Morse.
miss JONES'" or "NTiss Smith, Fror
J fifteen to eighteen they are pushed int
matrimouy, to assume the responsible
! duties Of wifehood and motherhood be
fore the organs Of either mind or bod
are fitted for such positions-becaus
society requires it, aud the laws, whic
mothers did not make, permit it. oh
how we are panied to see the many poe
/ girl-mothers, the roses faded from thel