The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-25
A Word to CountryGirls.

IF. NJ. Atkinson in Inter Ocean,
A letter lies open before me. only q
girls letter." sneered a cynical friend, as be
caught sight of the long running hand with
dainty curves and fine strokes.
"0nly girls letter." it is true, rhapsodi.
cal, and full of mixed metaphors and wild
fancies but it tells me Of girlhood, mex
perienced and undiciplined, yet rare and
sweet and sad. l can almost see the writer
in her distant country home-a maiden
with tremulous, rose.tinted lips and dewy,
breeding eyes,
standing with reluctant feet
Where the brook and river meet"
and gazing wistfully toward her life to be,
her soul tumultuous with discomfort, long
ing, and aspiration.
- am tired of this hum drum country life
and its never chan giDg routine" she writes.
I'VE have no society, no amusemeRts, no lie
braries, no educational advantages, nothing.
! have learned all that is taught in the pub.
lie schools, and have read the few books We
own and can borrow, and / must stop there,
suppose as We are poor and can not be
spared from home. I am crazy for books
and education. My soul is athirst for beauty.
dream OF the lakes and mountains OF other
lands, of noble cathedrals, of ivy.grown
feudal castles, Of famous paintings and
statuary. 1t is hard to be denied all these.
Ienvy the girls In the cities. who, even if
perior schools and public Libraries. They
can visit art galleries and hear eloquent SER
mons and grand organ mnsic, and see some
thing Of life. l feel like Gagged bird vainly
be sting against prison bars"
There are thousands of girls On farms and
in villages, Of whom this one is fair repre-
eentative-Riris seemingly merry and con-
tent, even frivolous, yet filled with an un-
spoken longing for something better, for OPP
portunitiee, for DEVELOPMENT.
To these would say that it is the children
OF poverty rather than those of wealth who
become learned and renowned, and that
they Is frequently come from the country
as from the city 1t 10 not so much where
you live as what you make of your life The
mainspling of oil education, en- joyment and
success is to make the most of your oppor-
tunities. If yon can not 60 to college, learn
at home II you have not books, study
natures ncyclopedia. The habit of obser-
vation is above all else the educator. All OF
physical science We owe to observation. All
We know was thus originally learned. OBJ
serve fact, from 1T and others draw correct
coDclusions-this lie the genius of all our
knowing. Books are only the result of ex-
perieDce aud observation. The cultivation
of the habit OF looking at and into things is
one great educational need. Compel every
thing around you to be your teacher-tais
is the foundation OF broad education.
To the dweller In the country illustrations
OF branches of physical science are on every
hand, free as the alr. With q good text
book OF geology, botany, astronomy, or nat
ursl history. the girl who has pluck, perse-
versnce, and habit of observation can be-
come we'll yersed in the elements OF those
sciences.
Do you need books that you have not
means to purchase, te II your desires and in
terest your associates in your pursuit,
whether history, literature, poetry, or sci
eDce: form reading club. and establish a
tnsll circulating library through such con.