Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-07-22
Captive Maids.

regulated woman OF the Occldent re-
ioices over the birth of daughters,
necause. as a fine interpreter of ma
ternaI EN- otions lately remarked, 1ou
can dress girls SO much more sWeetiy
than boys
As mere babe, indeed, the girl has
not perceptible advantage. Inc same
long skirts and heavy en-
oroideries heat and weary masculine
legs as we'll as feminine. The tencer
boyish spine is Jared, the Wiuklng
boylsh eyes dazzled, by daily outings
In the same sumptuous perambuiator,
nnder the same laced aud embroidered
traupings that pertain to the alrlngs oil
The a,rl. But from the age OF two
wears the distinctive superiority OF the
female infant rs an exponent OF ma
ternal TASTE asserts itself. The male OF
the species gradually degenerates luto
cloth, linen, aud substantial comfort.
Bat his sister can easily be made the
rival of her mother In the cost, lntri-
cacy, and besetting consciousness OF her
hablliments.
And since it is the destiny Of girls In
general to behold in existence an Him.
liable vista of clothes, the wise aud
tender mother early inures her Oil
spring to this fate. AS the Flatheau
Indian squaw applies the unyleldins
board from the beginning, that TIT
uaby forehead may retreat ut the fash
lonable angle, 80 the matrcn OF gentll'
lty makes ready her machinery. This
includes costly and perishable bonuet,
u velvet coat, with lace adOrnments or
still costlier fur, ose-fitting sleeves,
embroidered skirts, and O frock which
Is mystery Of cashmere. lace, anu
ribbon.
"Erail, but a work divine,
Made 50 fairly well,
With delicate splre and whorl,
How exquisitely minute,
4 miracle of deslgu!
In word, the tiny maid is on dress
parade the livelonR day. A fine SENSE
of harmony inspires the mother to
make her behavior c0nsonapt with her
attire. She is not to roll on the floor,
uor climb over bedsteads and Chair
Backs, nor play rough games with the
bows. She is not to race and shout,
out of doors or in. She is Lot to play
cook with real flour and moulding
board, nor house-maid with real brush
and dust.pan, nor gardner with real
spade and sieve, for all these occupations
spoil her clothes. When she goes out
she is to wear veil and gloves. with AL
eye to future exigencies Of complexion.
Presently she Is old enough to attend
dancing school. Motherly devotion
would nave her carriage graceful, and
her motions set to music. 1t IL an admir-
able end, to be- achieved by the inter
vention of fresh millinery. The after
noon juvenile class CT any fashionable
Professor Baps looks like court ball
room in miniature, and cheaply
dressed child, were such an anachro
nism possible in hightoned establish
menr, would be tacitly left to the
bitterness of repentance by her elect
comrades.
Throughout her boarding school days
there is slight limit imposed ON the
maternal administration Of clotaes.
But from the day when the textbooks
are fiuslly shut, the daughter is the re
plication of the mother, I" like to q
double cherry. seeming parted" Oar
young girls wear the fabrics and even
the jewels OF dowagers. Many q de-
butante of this season has made her
first courtesy in trained gown as costly
as her mothers, and Us elaborate with
fringes, lace, and embroidery. VIVA! un,
tried heritage of gauds and splendors
is left her to enter upon AS marriea
woman it is impossible to conjecture.
The unthinkiDg are prone to depre
cate this manifestation of millinery al
folly and waste. But is it not plain
that only women Of. great force Of
character and tireless ingenuity could
be equal to such q labor? Natures
hints are 30 plain that the most COM
monplace and dull of mothers need No,
misunderstood them. She makes her
babies with adispropOrtionate head and
stomach. to signify that their CHIEF
business is TO assimilate food for mind
and body. She gives them legs and
arms that are never at rest, that the
circulatory processes may be quickenen
She bestows lungs, throat, aud q voice
that demand constant use, that thou
sand minute cells may expand and in
crease. She implants an lnsatiate thirst
for activity, natural affinity for what
we wiseacres are pleased to call dir
and disturbance. And by Inference
she insists that the raiment which she
is forced to permit US to choose shall
AZ little as possible interfere with bel
orderly method of disorder.
She, too. wise and tender mother o.
the race, would have graceful children
To that end she insists that they be lef
unconscious of themselves and thei
clothes AS long as possible, allowed t.
scamper In the open air, ungloved. un
yelled, in easy shoes that leave thu
little feet free, in loose garments tina
permit each growing tissue its full
room.
When the time of study came, Nature
would have strong young body ready
to bear the severest strain the minG
might put upon it. When the sohool
life was ended, she would present Il
society lissome. graceful maid, whose
free and simple life had given her sncb
u complexion and such outlines as ask
only the slightest aid Of dress to reveal
their loneliness. Aud presently she
would lead this unspoiled maiden
through happy wifehood to blessed
motherhood.
1t is fair scheme to look at. The
ordinary mind accepts it as good and
final. But the great brain and the ex
allied soul of the merely fashionable
mother recognize something better, feel
after it, tnd find it in an apotheosis Of
Clothes Hsrper's Bear.
Discipline.