The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-08-30
How the World is Filled With Made
Over People.
.Manted-A Girl to make oyer"


The above appeared in the advertising
column of city paper. 1t is so indefinite
that the reader is left to imagination as to
whether the girl is wanted to make over as
a wife, or seamster, or merely to serve as
model for some one whose training, preju-
dices, bigotries and ambitions are seeking
for an educational outlet.
Every day some young man is looking
for girl to make over. While she is his
sweetheart she is simply perfect, but as
soon as the honeymoon is ended the making
over process begins 1t has its regular for
mulas, one of which is like this:
'Did you make those biscuits, Helen?'
"Yes, dear; they're not quite right, but l
am going to improve on them"
II supposed you knew how to make
bread when married you"
"Why, Charlie! didn't want to wait
year on purpose to learn how to cook, and
you said you never cared what you eat,
and didn't want to marry a cook, and all
that?"
"Pshaw never said such word. Give
these bullets to the cat and kill her. I'd
give anything for one of my mothers tea
rolls
"Well, dear, will write to her for a re-
cipe. LII try hard to learn"
But man who finds fault with one
thing will find fault with another. 1t does
not occur to the young husband that his
mother is so years old and farmers daugh-
ter, and that he married a school girl who
is as different from the mother-stripe as he
is from the father pattern. He is just ca
pable of expecting her to make sausage and
soft soap as mother did. Eventually he
makes her over into a nondescript that is
neither a companionable wife nor COM
Portable housekeeper And his highest
praise is the omission of faultfnding.
David Copperfeld tried the making over
process on sweet, sunny little Dora, his
child-wife She tried to live up to his
kitchen and market requirements, but was
glad to die and end condition so unsatis-
factory.
Children are perpetually required to
make over. An original child is run in u
groove, fitted to another soul. 1t is dwarf
ed and expanded at the arbitrary will of
parents, until it becomes an epitome of its
IaCner, mOGner, uHcle Ut cOuSlH. these
Gadgrinds of learning incline the twig in
their way, give it their limited sky to reach,
and when it is no longer living branch
of air and sunshine and riotous life, point
to it as the dry stock of their grating.
The world is full of made-over people.
A great number went early to their graves,
discouraged with the demands made upon
them.
'What shall [ do to cure my young
daughter of laughing and looking in the
glass?" wrote a mother to a celebrated di-
vine. And the answer came
''Let her alone. Time and sorrow will
cure her of both, all too SOON"
A popular novelist has depicted scene
between husband and wife, where the
wife wishes to take journey for her health.
'sYou don't want TO travel" says the
considerable husband Kit will disagree
with you; travelling always disagrees with
me"
She urges sea-voyage.
'You will be sea-sick-a sea voyage al
ways makes me sick" Etc, etc., etc.
Made-over people, like made-oyer clothes,
are weak and unreliable 1t is no sign be.
cause Johns father is shoemaker or far
mer that John will be. He might do
worse, but he may do better. AT any rate
he has right to ascertain his own value
and do that best fitted for him. BLESSED,
thrice blessed, is the man who has found
his work, " says Carlyle. "Let him seek no
other blessedness"
1t is responsibility the thoughtful, Ca
pable soul will shrink from, that of making
over a human life. But the narrow, unwise
bigoted theorist is always willing to try
his hand, on the principle that 'sfools rush
in where ANGELS fear to tread