The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-09-19
Our Girls.

nlgner 6OuchGlOn, 80 InuCn discussion
of the question whether or not our young
women are having all the advantages
which they can make use of, that one
would naturally think the females of our
time were favored and cared for beyond
all complaint. But alas if the wisdom,
the modesty, the gentleness, the woman
illness of the "coming woman are to be
Judged and measured by the character of
the present girl,-then have we fallen
upon sad days indeed The question
has forced itself upon my mind again
again and again in these times of lib.
eral education, of excellent schools, of
wide knowledge, and abundant literature,
| What is done for our girls That there
| is great lack somewhere, no one can
| fail to see who notices carefully that
large portion of every communicate
schoolgirls, who from the age of twelve
to that of sixteen, throng the streets of
the city, and the promenades of our sum-
mer resorts. Does education reach them
all with its beautiful, civilizipg touch
There is scarcely difference, in respect
to education (so-called), between the
petted girl of wealthy parents, who at
tends "private educational establish
ment, and the poorest child, whose name
is upon the "roll of any of our public
schools. All are equally we'll taught. To
rich and poor alike the pages lie freely
open. | have sometimes listened with
surprise-in passing through crowded
streets, toward evening, when the young
folks were all abroad-to the very correct
and perfectly turned sentences from the
lips of all, even of those who dwelt in the
humblest homes. This is the work of
our public schools, of the grand scheme
whereby the child of lowest estate is
lifted out of all poverty of mind, and is
given that most enduring of riches-a
good education. 1t is noble 1t is
worthy of our great, free, advancing
country But as l watch these girls Of
our land, everywhere I find one great
blank, which the schools, aud the books,
to supply Perchance the "higher edu-
cation will fill the need. If so, then let
us have that higher education without
another months delay For verify for
one sweet, modest, quiet girl, whose cheek
can blush, and whose eye droop, who
shrinks from the public presence arr
seeks the background shadows, whose
voice falls gently, and who does not as
sert herself-we would give all the modern
female " Students" sixteen-year-old "es-
sayists," classical scholars, and wondrous
girlgraduates." We do not find the
old-time schoolgirl. She is not in any
group in the park, upon the street, or in
the public conveyance. There are no
soft-voced, bashful, timid girls, who leave
us at nine in the evening, Oh, no {!
The modern girls talk loudly, stare
boldly they are upon the sidewalk or
the beach, or the hotel piazza, as late as
any one-they 60 up and down, arm in
arm, with noisy laughter and distinct con-
versation; perhaps, even, with snatches
of song from some operetta. Occasionally,
during their promenade, there occurs
something comical at which they make no
effort to repress the laughter which at
tracts so much attention. Shall we never
have again our old-fashioned, retiring
schoolgirl whom we looked upon with
pleasure, thinking of the woman she
!. would grow to? Where does the fault
lie y? Doubtless with the mothers in most
cases. But we have thought much lately
of that "higher female education the
DRY, and wondered if our faithful, earnest
teachers might not add this to their lis,
of duties-to teach the girls the great
, value of modesty and of quiet demeanol
, everywhere /; to tell them of the beauty Of
! soft voices and gentle speech; to give
, them instruction in that true "wisdom
whose price is above rubies to show
them their proper paths, lying narrowly
along the low, unseen valleys, where bird
sing and flowers bloom, and not upon tn,
{ thronged highway where older feet mus
| fraa1 Wnnld n ha tho frat aoi
q movement toward that "higher educa
|. tion of women, if our teachers SHOULD
{ give each day-sde by side with mathe
t MATES and Latin, if you please-som
careful instruction regarding the beaut,
9 of girlhood as shown by modesty, un
= selfshness, by transformations care TO
a others, and especially for those who ar
t older, by quiet ways and words in all pub
: lie places, and by gentle yielding to thos
t in authority. Let the schools make it al
i important study. Give it high grade
t Let it be put into immediate practice, un
u der the watchful eye of the teacher. lie
a our girls be taught to be true girls, wit
It girlhood ennobled and gorified and Sc
o apart for pure and special work. Yes
a we have come to believe in higher edu
# cation We see the need of it. Let GU
u girls no longer be deprived of their rights
,, At fourteen they are capable of highe
and better things. Let them be admitte
to the full course" Let them go a
high as may be, until they are surrounde
and upheld by that rare and radiant a
10 mosphere which widens and colors int
y perfect womanhood. Then may we wal
if in our streets and public resorts, and /
,e no more annoyed and ashamed-as "
n now are-at the bold manners and lou
n voices of our girls,-Jennie Harrison,
il NeW York Observer.