Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-01-06
Ay HoUIL GLANCE ron GIRLS.

IN EQUIL CHANCE FOR GIRLS.
IT i not too much to say that it is
simply impossible, as rule, to bring
gils to vigorous maturity in city life.
A iulcious mother may prevent their
growing up confirmed invalids, but she
cannot command the conditions required
for positive health. As the fragrance of
garden or hay field, which is exquis-
itely diffused through the open air,
would be sickening and oppressive in
tho confined air of parlor, 80 the az
tivity of healthy childhood would he
overwhelming in city nursery, and is
never called forth by the freedom of the
Lack yard, or the measured exercises OF
city walks, neatly dressed, under the
care of a nurse or governess, supple
mented, perhaps, by few dog-day
weeks in the restrained freedom of n
country hotel or boarding house. The
presence OF Bridget excludes them from
household exercise; higher standard
Of refinement and morality shuts them
Ill from the freedom OF the street, and
no substitute for these outlets is pro.
videl.
We repeat with our girls the expert
enc, of Casper Hauser. We surround
them from birth Ivy conditions that SO
stunt their growth that they early cease
to crave freedom which their weak
frames would find burdensome. The
70 mddtions OF future invalidism are
solidly laid before they are 10 years old.
They have, by that time, been so trained
II physical passivity, so imbued with
the ilea OF the unbecomingness of activ-
ity and the desirability of being orna,
mental, that they are thenceforth un-
conscious co.operators in the work.
Like the Gagged canary, if they attempt
flight they find it SO fatiguing that they
return voluntarily to the open cage.
They have no idea that the strong pin
i'ns and the soaring fight of the wild
bird should have been theirs. The great
difficulty in improving the health Of
women is that they have lost the idea Of
physical vigor out of their own concep-
tion of women, and therefore out OF the
standard at which they aim for their
children. The arrangements Of the
nursery and the school reflect this fatal
disbelief, and make it reality. The
work begins from the very cradle from
the assumption of short clothes every
step forward is in the direction of in
creased freedom of movement and slim
ulns to activity for the boys, and of
diminishing liberty and indirect repres-
sion OF activity for the girl.
Nature makes no such difference in
bringing up the young of other animals;
she inplants precisely the same impulses
TO physical freedom and activity in all,
Independent of sex. The kitten gam
bols and climbs with the same uncon-
trolled energy, whether it be destined to
develop into the demure tabby or the
pugnacious tom. Nature grants the
same privileges to human beings. In
them she also holds sex in allegiance
through all the early years of life, that
the individual growth may be accom-
llished, uutrammeled by its require
mtnts aud restraints. The laws for
hea thy growth at this age are identical
FIR both sexes. Nature has not one
standard for the girl and another for the
hoy. But we do not initiate her wise
reserve. We do not, like her, regard
childhood MS a neuter sex. Reversing
her laws. we do not wait for sunrise, but
even at ca, Hest dawn make looming
events cast their shadows before" and
thus notify the girls surroundings, to
the detriment of her whole future, by
ideas and feelings which should exert
no influence upon her till the approach
Of maturity.
Outdoor life, muscular activity, q
dress that is protection and that is not
a constraint, freedom from any sense of
being required to be an ornament to
society-these are absolutely essential
to the physical welfare of the little girl
as of the little boy; they are the simple
necessities of childhood, irrespective oil
sex. When these are provided, in what
ever shape it may best be S1one, nature
will take care that the physical vigor
thus developed shall be turihed, at the
right time, as'surely into the grace OF
--Nomanhood u into the for&e OF man.
hood. Then, and only -.s we shall
cease to hear complaints Of the feeble
health Of women. Until then we must
console ourselves by far-fetched theories
for the fact that other races-the
Africans, the Irish, the Germans
whose women have retained the un-
civilized freedom of physical growth,
supplant us whenever they come into
competition with us. In homework
they take the widest and most profitable
field of occupation out Of our hands.
As mothers and nurses their superior
vigor raises up posterty which is
rapidly entering into and taking posses.
sion of our land.-Dr. Emily Blackwell,
IN Boston advertiser.
THE FLORA OF EUROPE.
The fora Of Europe is more varied