Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-02-12
THE TRAINING OF GIRLS.


field, Mass, recently sent out circulars
to mothers in that city asking, l..
What arc the most common defects in
the training of our girls? 2. What
principles of conduct are most impor-
tant, and what habits are essential to
the development of noble and useful
womanhood At a public meeting
the results of his inquiries have been
given. Female habits of dress were
referred as more injurious than male
habits. Most women, too, take much
less outdoor exercise than is good for
them. The lack Of exercise is largely
caused by foolish dress, which makes
active exertion impossible. 1t is gen
orally of improper nature and unsuita-
bly, adjusted, and creates many of the
nervous diseases of woman. Another
mistake on the part of many girls is
in passing their time out of school
hours in idleness and frivolous amuse-
ments, doing and learning nothing.
The speaker thought that more is done
in wealthy families to teach the daugh-
ters habits of industry than in those of
moderate circumstances. A cores
pondent referred to one woman who
says that she is proud that her daugh-
ter never did any sweeping another
would not let her child do any kitchen
work. Another mistake is to make
dress the main business of life. One
letter referred to a woman who said
over her young infant, 81 am so glad
it is girl, | can dress her so much
finer than could n boy" and Mr..
GLADDEN. added, 80, woman, to what
depths Of degradation you have fallen
when you can look in the face of a
baby and have such thought as that
find lodgment for an instant in your
mind What can such q woman do
but destroy the soul of her children.
Still, he thought the woman not wholly
to blame, because their vanity is stim-
ulated by the foolish admiration of
men; the girl that catches a husband
only by fine dress too often finds that
the prize she has won is a broken
heart. The next mistake is devoting
too much time to novel reading, which
exercises morbid and unreal ideas OF
life and a craving that can never be
gratified. 1t is mental dissip patton of
dangerous haracter-scarcely less
so than that of drink. Another mis-
take is to early initiation into the
frivolities of society. The average
young lady of Springfield, according
to the lecturer, makes her debut at
three. when she hegins to go to the
children's parties, in dress elaborate
enough for n fancy ball. and is in
structed in the acts of vanity and co.
quetry. At six or eight she is a mem.
Der Of clubs, and enjoys frequent
evenings out. One good woman wrote
that she had the heartache for the un.
natural, unhealthy and stimulating
excitement of the roller skating rink
which has none of the advantages OF
outdoor skating. The last error al.
luded to is the neglect to honor, and
obey parents. Some sad instances
were brought forward to show that toe
often a girl of thirteen regards herself
as her own mistress, and passes her
time at parties, sociables, etc, or on
the street, instead of studying. A
correspondent narrated the facts about
four respectable families in one con.
gregation in the city, in three of which
there was one daughter each and in
the other there were three. Each OF
the first three left school when she
wanted to, passed as much time .on
the street as she pleased. and is now a
by-word and reproach. The other
three likewise went to ruin while their
parents were attending the prayer
meeting, and professed to know moth.
ing of their daughters habits.