The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-01-19
What Can She DO2

JusU now there is much said and
written on giving boys a chance to learn
trade. There are training schools in
nearly every city where boys are taught
the use of tools. Carpenters shops are
being opened in connection with schools,
and anvils are used with books and
desks. All this is very good thing
for the boys. How about the girlsp
What chance have they to learn the use
of their hands and sensesp Who is
teaching them to earn a livingP There
is Mr.. Leland, in Philadelphia, who is
teaching girls modelling in clay, design
ing and working in wood and brass.
Here and there a public or private
school is doing the same thing. This is a
good thing for Philadelphia girls, but
who is doing anything for the girls in
other towns.
Now, if there be any girl reader of the
Golden Rule who, in a wise and woman
ly way, wants to help herself, who
wants to be mistress of something, let
here observe this: The commercial
value of anything made with the hands
depends wholly on its art value. Is
that hard saying? Put into short
words it means the most beautiful thing
is worth the most money. If a girl
knit to pairs of stockings, two silk
purses, make two hoods, tides, etc.,
and one is in any sense prcttier than the
other, that one will sell for the highest
price and sell first.
1t does not really make so much diff
! ference what you do. 1t is the manner
of doing that counts. If girl finds that
she must do something she decides TO do
! that which her taste, education or incli-
! nation tells her she can do best. What
ever it is. this holds good; the best work
brings the best pay. The more beauti-
full YOUR work the more it is worth.
How shall a girl know which is the
most beautiful What beauty can you
find in a pair of stockings? Three
/ kinds, easily. First the stocking must
/ fit; that, is, it must be useful. If the
toe is too broad, the heel too deep, or
the leg too long it will not fit. 1t is
useless for wearing, and of no value
whatever. The fact that it is good fit,
that it really can be worn, makes the
stocking beautiful, because it is useful,
because it has the beauty of utility. 1t
is quite true that the stockings for sale
in the stores are not lovely. The reason
is plain enough. They never fit. They
can be worn after fashion, but if you
were to see stocking really and truly
made to fit you would see at once
that the machine made stockings
of the stores are ugly. The sec
ond kind of beauty is form or
shape, and it comes, as you may see,
from the first. The stocking is of a
handsome shape because it fits beau
tiful form. God made the human foot
beautiful, and true, well-itting stock
ing takes the design made by the Crea-
tor. Lastly, there is color and material.
A silk stocking is worth more than n
wooden stocking, because silk is more
delicate, smoother, and has a better
color than wool. The wool or silk may
be dyed, and so you can choose the
color of your sock. Here comes another
element of beauty. There are reds and
blues and browns and grays in count
less shades and varieties. Your taste
must decide which is best, and you may
be very sure that the best and most
beautiful color will sell the best.
This is homely subject, but the
same rule applies to everything you
may make. IL should be beautiful,
however simple or cheap, and the beau
, ty of everything will depend on these
! three things usefulness, form and col
. or. If you know how to put these into
everything. everything will be beautiful,
, each in its own true and honest way
, GhGrls.s Barnard. IN Golden Rtlle.