The Baltimore County union., 1884-02-23
What to do With our Girls.


"Good day, gentlemen"
"Good day. said the horse reporter, looking up and
discovering young lady in the apartment.
at would like to show you a work which l am
seling," she began, ''and am sure it will prove
both interesting and instructive"
'What's it about ?" asked the horse reporter.
"The book" continued the fair canvasser, 'is
by one of our best-known writers and speakers,
and is entitled what Shall We do With Our Girls p
The question is certainly of paramount i'm
pOrtance, and"
"Are your girls bothering you much this sea-
son ?" inquired the friend of Maud S.
"Why no" said the young lady, blushing vio
lently-'that is why of course l haven't any
daughters"
"Oh, you're out on the road telling people what
to do with their girls before you're even married,
let alone the mother of few visions ofloveiness?
Well, that's all right. Some of our best cook
books have been written by people who didn't
know gridiron from the Fifteen Amendment"
"But this question of what shall be done with
the girls is really an important one," continued
theyoung lady, "have you ever given it thought?"
"I can't say that 1 have" replied the horse
porter. "I suppose we might tie 'em up in the
back yard when circus comes to town."
"I hardly think you comprehend the question
in all its bearings. What is the legitimate sphere
of woman; in what field of action can she best
display and make use of the God-given talents,
attributes of mental force, and physical grace
with which she is endowed? These are living,
burning issues, and must be fairly met. When
we see"
GAN right" said the horse reporter, "you can
meet them if you want to. Woman's sphere, SO
far as have been able to discover, is to never
have breakfast on time. 1t is no doubt a some
what limited one, but she is gradually reaching
out into the great unknown, and will eventually
grasp with her lily-white fingers the black demon
Of injustice that has so long oppressed her, and
n,1os 4bou CIV Oha1d nf fho
great wrong which for centuries has bafled her
efforts at advancement along the great highway of
progress"
@Why, that's lovely '' exclaimed the young
lady. 'You believe in lady suffrage, don't you"
"Lady who?"
'Lady suffrage-beieve that ladies should vote,
and have all the political privileges that are ac-
corded men. That's just what this book says
That chapter is perfectly sweet. It's just lovely"
"I presume so. But how about the chapter
that says women should not cramp and distort
their bodies with corsets and their feet with tight
shoes? The gaunt demon of unrest that turks in
the maternal bunion may in the child of that
mother, become an ever present monster OF pain. =
"0h, those chapters are horrid What the world
is interested in are the nober attributes of wo-
man-her soul and heart"
eyes, the soul-and-heart business is all right,
but you must remember that the humble liver,
good scheme, and without health woman can
never attain success. The deadly clasp of the
steel-ribbed corset and the fatal grip of the geam-
ing garter are burying to early graves the wo-
men of our land. The beautiful eyes that should
sparkle so brightly dull and ustreless, the
cheeks whose whiteness should be relieved by the
rosy blush of health is sallow and wan, and the
fairest temple ever made is rendered a CHASTITY
ruin by the one who should take the greatest
pride in its beauty"
"And will you buy book?" asked the young
lady. "Pm sure you talk beautifully"
NO." replied the horse reporter, 'I cannot
buy book, because actions speak louder than
words, and I do not wish to disturb the dramatic
critic who is in the next room trying to write soul
without large s."