The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-07-12

pldCt. 30 lnucn so lnaC one can ScaTcciN
take country walk anywhere without
finding if. 1t may be known by its short,
branching stem, small, pointed, downl
leaves, tiny, pale blue, irregular blossoms
and proportionally large, inflated peri
carps or seed vessels.
THE FATAL "JlMSON" WEED.
One more poisonous plant will nearly
exhaust the list This is the jamestown
or 'jimson" weed. 1t is large, showy
plant, and seems to delight in waste
places and old, neglected gardens, 1t ha;
stout stems, large, rough leaves and very
pretty though strong scented blossoms
tubular in shape and white, shading into
pale purple or yellow in color. The SceC
vessels are very large and prickly. Guilt
waited varieties OF jamestown are very
handsome. They may be seen in all theil
elegance in ornamental grounds or al
Georges Hill in the park
To the above might be added ''soul
grass or sOrrel, as this contains oXai(
| acid and as children are fond Of eating
it. But this will only prove hurttul whel
eaten in large quantities, as the proper
tion of acid contained in the leaves and
stem separately is very small. Peach
leaves are more to be dreaded, as they
contain prussic acid, and in greater
amount
The safe plants are usually those re-
sembling in general characteristics roses
IlleS, daisies, mint, hOneysuckles, buckle
berries, beans, pinks, morning glores
cabbage blossoms, evening primroscs anC
fl,l, mi,
resemble buttercups, poppies, potatoes
fox gloves and parsnips, though some o
our most beautiful and valuable plants
belong to these same orders. But the
principal exceptions have been pointcC
out above. philadelphia Times
A Girls Equipment for Self-Support
No one will dispute the abstract asser-
ton that any given girl may some day
have herself and perhaps her family tt
support and vet our schemes of educa-
ton for girls are framed precisely as il
this We're hot and could not be true As
rule no provision whatever is made fol
such contingency in the education of girls
no recognition whatever is given to the
fact that the chance exists. We shut
our eyes to the danger we hope that the
i'll may never come, and we put the
thought Of it away from us. In brief,
we trust to luck, and that is a most un-
Wise-l was about to say an diotic
thing to do.
Each one Of us has known women to
whom this mischance has happened, and
each one OF us knows that it may happen
to the daughter whom we tenderlv cher
ish, yet we put no arms in her hands
with which to fight this danger: we equip
her for every need except this surest OF
all needs We leave her AT the mercy OF
chance, knowing that the time NAV come
when she whom we have not taught tc
do any bread winning work will have
need of bread. and will know no way in
which to get it except through depen-
dence. beggary, or worse. She can teach .
\ es, II she can find some politician to Sc
cure an appointment for her. She can
prick back poverty with the point Of her
needle Yes, at the rate of seventy five
cents week, or, if she is skilltul needle
Is it not beyond comprehension that
intelligent and aflectionatc fathers, know
ing the dreadful possibilities that lie be
fore daughters whom they love with fond
est indulgence, should neglect to take
the simplest precaution in their behalf
We are dull, blind, precedent loving
set of animals, we human beings. We
neglect this plain duty, at this terrible
risk, simply because such has been the
custom. Some few Of us have made III
our minds to set this cruel custom at de
tlance, and to give our girls the means of
escape from this danger. 1t is our creed
that every education is fatally defective
which does not include definite skill in
some art or handicratt or knowledge with
which bread and shelter may be certain
ly won IN case Of need. If the necessity
for putting such skill to use never arises,
no harm is done, but good rather, even
IN that case, because the consciousness
OF ability to do battle with poverty frees
its posSessor from apprehension, and
add to that confident sense of security
without which contentment is impossible
All men recognize this fact in the case OF
boys its recognition in the case of girls
is not one whit less necessary. It seems
TO me at least that every girl is grievouS-
ly wronged who is suffered to grow up tc
Womanhood and to enter the world With
out some marketable skill. Geo. Cary
Eggleston, in Harpers Magazine for July