The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-09-11
LADIES COLUMN.
HARoLINE HAKoLD, EDITOR.
The Care Of Girls.

In the education of European
girls the chief emphasis is placed
on three things: Absolute limo
cence, habitual dependence and
amiability of temper Her absO-
lutte innocence is secured by the
constant companionship of the
mother, or of some elderly woman
employed for the purpose. She IS
not permitte / to place herself for a
single moment in a situation where
it wonld be possible for any one to
tempt her. The companionship OF
which we speak is not made irk
some. On the contrary, it is so
pleasant, so friendly, so youthful
in It's manner, so sympathetic, that
it is delightful. While the girl is
brought up in such absolute limo
cence, she is not left ignorant of the
duties she may be called on to per-
form as wife and mother; on the con
trary, she is carefully instructed con-
corning them. The system Of COM
partnership with the mother, or with
an elderly friend whom she respects,
must necessarily create habit of
dependence and Difference, and a
disposition in which amiabilitv is a
marked trait. The rigidity of the
system, the care of the parents to
carry it out during every moment of
the girls life, is quite surprising to
the American who observes it for
the first time. The writer of this
was once, on Sunday morning,
laughingly refused to walk to
church in plain sight, with two
English girls, who were sisters,
the mother reminding them that it
would be an improper innovation.
If any one asks how such system
can exist in the light of the nine
teenth century, the mother would
reply that the light of the present
century is its hest justification.
Moreover. the young man who
wants a wife demands one of whose
innocence he has an absolute guar
anty, whose amiability is unques
toned, and whose habit of defer
ence is established, and the system
is supported by his preference for a
wife who has been brought up in
the strictest conformity to its CON
ditions.
The Weather families of Ameri-
ca, we are told, are beginning to
adopt it in a modified form. How
different our care OF girls has been
every body knows. The European
plan is regarded with the utmost
scorn by the large majority of our
people. Nor would we follow it in
all its features. Yet we have no
question that part of it might be
to American society |
with great advantage. Our meth |
DDS have certain tendencies that we
fear. The Eurpean system does
not work i'll. We might suppose
that a girl brought up under it
would be weak and aimless Great
are, insipid, characterless. But the
French wife, on the contrary, is pro-
active and capable, nor
loes the English wife lack charm.
The common idea that at marriage
he French woman leaps from her
into a life of doubtful
is true only of those whose
ZONES are in Paris boarding houses,
md whose husbands have learned
he vices of the capital.
Those who have formed an eX-
ensive European acquaintance do
lot find the system Of educating
Urls Objectionable; on the contra
y, there is a growing apprecia-
ion of it among Americans who
rave examined it thoroughly. And
when we think how many of our
,irls will be permitted this week
o take long walks or rides in the
.ountry with gentlemen who are
lot relatives, how many, when they
eturn from the country. will go to
he theater in the same manner,
low many will be sent to the parlor
lo1e to entertain the gentleman :
aller, how many next winter will /
o in groups, with as many jolly
Dung men, to drive in sleighs until
ate at night, and, perhaps to alight
t some hotel to warm themselves !
nd partake of refreshments before
we cannot forbear shud-
er. All these things are consid
red part of the independence
7hich properly belongs to a girl.
We dissent emphatically.
No mother should indulge her
aughter in such independence. No
-irl should desire it. The chief
are in the education of girl
hould be- the development of
haracter proof against temptation
nd vices; but at least secondary in
crest should be taken in the exter
al guards and restraints. In the
fort to fortify the character of her
laughter the American mother ex
els; and if she has paid too little
ttention to other things, her good
ense will lead her to confess her
ault and amend her methods, when
he is convinced of the danger to be
uNiIa6 n tbriotioD XVotohpnan