Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-26
American Women.

The men OF nation inevitably make the
women what they will, and the women In re-
have received from their own fathers Hence 1t
comes that the existence of the American
woman has become almost as purely objective
as that OF the man. Her ideal of life from her
cradle has been associated with The maximum
OF eXertion. There is no quietude among Amerl-
cans and wonderfully little egotism In their
lions and mental Shocks which keeps the whole
no time for any quality a save o that ati0c Of
s energy to develop itself symmstrc
her thoughts and enslaved by her duties, how
ever light, as the man. Even when she visits
she has no air of repose. Her conversation Is
She does or suffers not what she thinks or feels
There is no reverte about her, no suggestion OF
that orooding spirit which indicates a capacity
1Or imprisoned affection, capacity which to
bachelors is always ideally seductive, however
little the married man may appreciate or return
1t. Iet. generally speaking, undemonstrative
as the American girl may be, she Will wear her
life out in working for the man she loves. She
forgetS all about being for him in that merct-
less energy which always drives her into doing
for him.
There is, again, an other reason why the
American girl seems cold to the superficial OBJ
server. 1t is because she Is free. Size is edu-
Gated to repreSs emotion because her indepen-
dent movements expose her to contact with
men OF all classes, among whom there are many
very ''vi' e persons" Her GOODNESS Of demaanor
lueIelOTe, Is neT arllOr against 1mpertinence Or
even worse things. Sue passes, Diaua-lke
through crowds or men every day, not one OF
whom FOR one instant suspects her OF being
other than she is, because her manner shows
her at once to be free born, spotle5s American
woman. They never dream that because no
one Is watching her She means to 90 aStray
The defects OF the American girl may be done
away with by giving less prominence to the
purely Intellectual or purely practical side OF
her education. For While one class of men !;
striving TO solve the problems Of life by educat-
Ing Wome intellectually, there Is another class
| which Is shouting for education in domestic
matters. While the professors at Harvard are
| rejoicing over some girl who can take in their
PHILOSOPHERS or their mathematics the news.
| paper editor sings the praises OF her who can
| roast turkey, bake tread, or make her
| own dresses. Neither gives the poor gtrl
any chance to tftst, but only TO work,
| with either hand Or brain No one saws no to
| her. - GU are not only yourself, but possibly
| The future mother OF other beings. Do moi
| therefore allow yourself TO be driven by either
school or apostles beyond what you NAV do
easily, comfortably. or pleasurably. The healthy
balance or your nervous system Is far more In
| peftanl 10 you and Jour future family relations
man all the mathematics or dreSs-making, or
even roasting OF turkeys Occupy yodrseIf
| SteadFaStly. but without strain without hurry
| ana without emulation. AS the apostle said
| (ahd IL must nave been meant expressly for
AmerlcanSl, avoid emulation Find out first
| what you can do best, and even Ii it does NOT
! come up TO somebody elses standard learn TO
| content yourself with hat."-ytl'u 4ttan.tc,