Middletown transcript., 1882-02-03
OUR COUNTRY GIRLS.

Some time ago Western editor, in
a farming community, offered this CO.
nundrum to his readers "What shall
we do with our daughters ?" At the
same time neighboring editor made
the inquiry, "what shall we do with
our corn ?'' A rival editor answered
both gentlemen with this reply, ''let
us feed our corn to our daughters.
Now this certainly disposed of one
half the surplus, but just as certainly
left the daughters still uncared for. If
these damsels could have spoken, they
would doubtless have said, what shall
we do with ourselves e? The clinging
vine, dependent female, has very much
gone out of fashion, with the trailing
skirts, thin soled slippers, and much
bepuffed and beplaited hair of our
great-grand-mothers the helplessness
and inanition, the swoons and tears of
an Evelena OF Clarissa Harlow, would
be as much out of place now as would
be the admission of their six volumed
distresses into modern book club.
The girl of the period is not given to
fainting dead away like the two impos-
sible heroines I have mentioned, and
she is almost as much ashamed of cry
ing as her big brother would be. She
appears on the scene in stout shoes, a
short walking suit, and her hair done
up in compact and convenient style, as
if ready for action and above the need
of protection for she certainly looks
quite able to support herself. 1t may
have been true, in the good old times
we read of, that man, and presumably
woman, wanted but little here below,
but in this day and generation their
wants and needs are increasing all the
time, and we can appreciate the senti-
ment of the man who said he "would
do without the necessities of life if he
could only have the luxuries."
The time has gone by when the farm
er's daughter is content with her old
calico dress for morning wear, and her
neat new calico for afternoon adorn-
ment /; she has ceased to appear in the
traditional sun-bonnet she wants raj
ments, if not so fine as her city sisters,
at least near enough in style not to
shanoa hnr bnforn tbau
She needs pretty things, she longs to
travel, she Graves books, and she ought,
if possible, to be gratifed, for the farm
er's family is so thrown upon it's own
resources for enjoyment and amuse-
ment it is important that into the farm
house should come every comfort and |
every attraction, and pleasant SAVIOR
of the outside world.
But if this is accomplished the ques-
tion arises whether farming life can
support the increased demand for luxu-
ries, few years ago undreamed of in
the country; unless the farmers daugh-
ter comes to the rescue. and with wo-
mans wit and perseverance becomes
the industrious producer, instead of, as
is often the case, the passive consumer.
Every year the number of self-sup-
porting women is increasing, and they
are no longer confined to a few beaten
tracks wherein to earn their living
they have invaded numberless occupa-
tions, and have made successful and
honorable livelihood in all they have
dared to do. Although L freely admit
it is a matter of choice, do not believe
it is necessary for the farmers daughter
to go out from the shelter of her own
vine and fig-tree to earn her living and
add to the income of the farm, if she
will look about her and seize the possi-
bilities that lie at her door, There is
a saving that is not stinginess, look
ing after the little things that will
bring in time the large results.
There is so much always going to
waste on our farms. The farmer oc- {