The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-03-06
LADIES COLUMN.
HARoLINE HAROLD, EDITOR.
What Girls Should be Taught.

1t is fearful thing to turn a hu-
man being adrift upon life with nc
knowledge of its responsibilities or
its possibilities. The old German
sovereigns showed their prudence
when they required their children
each to learn some trade which in
time of need might prove more val
ne than crown or scepter.
1t is a favorite boast of Ameri-
can citizens that they are each and
every one sovereigns in their own
right, yet they do not initiate, many
of the, them prudence of the king
that counts his estates by hundreds
and his soldiers by thousands.
1t is not only necessary that girls
should be taught professions and
trades as boys are taught, not as
something they take up merely as
an occupation until they marry,
but they should aspire to excel.
The world demands to-day from
workers of every class, and of both
sexes, a greater skill and a greater
degree of excellence than has yet
been required.
There can be nothing more dread
full than the prospect of frettting
away miserable years an intruder
an unwelcome and poor relation-a
pensionel on the bounty of those
who give the little that is bestowed,
grudgingly and with reproaches.
What girl before whom rises such
a prospect cannot picture herself
bearing the insOlence and cruel tyr
ranny OF children, acting in the ca
pacity of nurse and governess in all
save receiving the troublesome bits
of household drudgery which fall
to her because they are trouble
some, wearing the faded, cast off
garments of those who remind her
constantly of her helplessness and
poverty, while her eyes grow dim,
her hair turns gray, her cheeks
grow hollow, and her Leart grows
cold and bitter, or breaks.
1t breaks enough to grow old at
best with those who love US. But
helpless, friendIess, dependent old
age is the worst OF all the ills Of
life.
Such fate is so terrible it seems
to me that every woman would do
all that lies in her power to take up
some kind of work-even if she
should be a! present. beyond the
seeming necessity OF it-and mas-
te- it thoroughly, SO that she will be
ready, while health and strength
are hers, to meet whatever may
befall.
There arc always places and wa
ges for those who do well til At they
undertake, and, better still, the love
and respect of those whose good
opinion is worth having.
1t would be considered disgrace
full in a young and healthy man TO
spend his days IN idleness, depend
ing upon the father who is growing
old, for food and clothing. 1t
should be considered disgrace for a
young and healthy woman to expect
all the pleasure and Inquiries of life,
and told her hands while the years
go by, giving nothing in return.
The world owes every woman, as
well as every man a living, but it
only owes it to those who have
made the world their debtor by
using the minds and the hands that
have been given them in making it
something better.
No human being, with the free
use of the faculties of mind and
body, can say that nothing is asked
or expected of him, and the colse.
quences of shrinking, or doing her
duty unwillIngly, are as dire to a
woman as to a man.
There is a satisfaction in know
ing that work has been done, and
well done, that nothing else can
give, and not only is there satistac-
ton, but the beauty and comfort
that money can buy, and the feel
ing of independence with which
one who, as a dependent, would
stand crying on the threshold, re-
ceives the honors that are bestowed |
upon a we. coined guest.
l repeat again that girls should be
taught, from their childhood-that |
there is a future OF active useful |
ness and glorious possibility for
them, if not in some happy home
which their knowledge and skill
ian make more beautiful and happy, |
n the active and busy world. Let
mind and hand both be trained so
hat she shall wait for the future
With a brave and hopeful heart, and
lot with the weak and abject fear
If coward Mary Il. Krout, i'll
he Charlottesville (Ind.) Journal.