Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-28
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whose Fault Is II?


There are SO many weak. silly. frivo-
lous, half educated young women in the
world, that many good men. who, from
their cradles have been trained to be self
reliant and strong. consider this the nor
NAL state of women. But let us take into
consideration the vast difference that ex-
lists in the present day between the train
ing of boys and the training of girls; and
then try to. imagine what would be the
result were the same principles introduced
into the social education of each.
Men and women are what their ideas
make them; our acts and words through
life are the outgrOwth Of our ideas. Then
how important that our thoughts and
views of life should be the best and high
est.
A boy is brought up with the under
standing that when he is Il years Of age
he will be an independent man; that his
own brain and hands must do for him
what is to be done. One of the first con-
siderations for boy il, "What is he 60
ing to make of himself? How will he
earn his bread ?'' All this makes him COM
prehend early that there is something
definite before him. and that he is to de-
pend on his own resources, So we find
thoughtful, energetic men, capable Of fill
ing responsible positions.
The first thing that the infant brain Of a
female child is made to grasp is the fact
that she is little girl, and for this reason
she must walk. while her brother runs !;
must play gently in the yard while he
scours the hills and fields She must be
quiet and lady-like, is taught to sew patch
work and play with her dolls. She must
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seminary, but alter that her life is blank.
OF course no one will tell her that her
business is to catch a husband, but she
hears marriage constantly dwelt upon and
made Of first Importance, and grows ac-
customed to hearing her friends speak of
those who have married satisfactorily as
though their lives were settled
and they had ''done WE'LL And so our
maiden bethnks herself that this is what
is to fill the vacuum in her life, and as she
grows up and finds this subject still en-
phasized it becomes conviction, and men
say, "All that girl thinks about is getting
a husband.
Would it not be vastly better to put
something definite in the little daughters
life? Inculcate politeness and order, but
let her know the value of exercise both
indoors and out. BY all means teach her
to sew and to play with her dolls. but be
sure that she understands that she is to
have a life-work. definite line Of thought
and action. Teach the little girl that
there is power in her which must be
developed.
Would it not follow rs a natural result
of this training that she would think more
of being a strong. noble. whole-souled
woman. and less of speaking French as
fluently and playing the piano as vigor
ously as her schoolmates, dressing in the
height of the fashion. and arranging her
hair in the latest styleP
Then with fuller education and way
of gaining her own livelihood. making
her independent she will not look upon
matrimony as the end and aim of exis- |
tence And should she enter into mat |
rimony she will make more intelligent |
wife-a helpmeet indeed, and when |
motherhood comes it will find her more |
capable of training the minds and bodies
of those committed to her care.
When men begin to realize fully that in
order to have a wise, intelligent. Christian
community they must have wise. intelli-
gent Christian mothers, then will we see
every effort put forth to train and educate
the Young women of the land in such |
way rs will bring out all that is noble and |
great in them. Then will every way and
walk of life. every moral and intellectual
advantage be open for them. and the
fathers and brothers will stand at every
door. saying. Come in here, and here
learn of the best and wisest, so that YOU
may teach your sons and your daughters
the best and noblest way to live.
ta4e Hearth.