Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1881-09-17
= on FSTOWN JEFFERSON COUNTY, W VA SATURDAY SE
COIRSE GIRLS.

They are everywhere. They confront US
on the street. and at the stations. They
whisper in cur ears in the concert-hall. !.
They indulge freely in peanuts, and taugh
loudly at their own poor Jokes III the cars.
Even the lecture-r00m and the church are
not wholly free from them. They stare at
lis in the stores and jostle US on the walks.
Apparently their chief amUsement consists
in ridiculing the misfortunes OF others.
Alas. TOO, for the slang, used even by we'll
educated girls. liz listening to company
4 at the prescNt day, how puzzled poor Or.
Webster would be to recognize his own En-
glish. There are girls who would reproVe
their brothers for profanity, but who utter
expressions nearly Is fo.clble, and suggest
ING the same spirit Are not those' sindica-
tions of bad breeding becoming more nu-
mer0us? Does not the adlentot Derry mats
and u,sters tend little to render girls icud-
er i'm tone and less modest in dcmeanorG
Lately ] CHANGED to see 4 party OF girls
on their daily ride To 4 school near Boston.
! Apparently they belonged TO families OF
competence. They were bright girls, but
so lacking IN refinement. They forced their
conversation upon all the occupants OF the
car. One in the questionable hat and ul-
ster. with hands in pockets, walked through
the train, not omitting the smoking car,
seeking Frank" We queried whether
" Frank" would appreciate 30 pronounced
an attention. Il would have been crafty
ing to hear some allusion to study, some dis
cussion of facts in natural history, new the
/ orics in philosophy, or the thousand delight
/ full bits of knowledge one could not fail to
oc1uira I'm any New England school; but
/ their remarks were wholly foreign to such
grand objects.
If bad names au1 shocking grammar
were confined to girls whose daily struggle
( is to obtain the necesaries of life, | should
have more charity There is nothing deba-
sing in measuring of ribbons and laces IN
/ the store. in plying the needle in tailors
shops or drcss-making establishments.
There need be no lcssening of fine percep-
ton in the lie of the operative. IL Is new
er honest work that degrades. Still, in the
lives of such busy ones there Is less time lor
culture. for books fcs all that ought to Gle
yatc. With these tired, tired specimens OF
womanhood / would only have great sym
pathy. For their more favored sisters, who
would quickly resent any insnuation as to
their not being ladies, but who are not lady
like, have censure.
There is something beautiful, fascinating,
even to their own sex, in bright but mod
est girl, in one who does quietly the duty
nearest to her. never shrinking from the in
cyitablc, never seeking publicity. Even a
bad man respects such character, and in
the presence Of pure girlhood restraints his
yulgarity and profanity.
If only girls could realize the secret of
their power Seldom to the platform can
they lool, for their greatest influence, or to
any public life, but always at home, where
all good manners, all good thought for 9TH
crs, is sure to carry sunshine.
1t has been said that manners are not
morals, but manners and morals are never
far apart" A girl who guards well her
thoughts, her expressions, will never fall
into immortality. There may be mcrriment
without bosterousncss, wit without vulgar
It's. TO every girl ! would make this ap-
peal: Don't be coarse. Don't allow your
self to listen calmy to anything lowering to
your innate, God-giycn standard Of pr0pri-
ETY.. Don't get calIous. Initiate, rather,
the sensitive. which shrinks even from the
approach Of cyil.-lLrs. Robinson M Witch-
man.