The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-11
OPEN LETTERs TO YOUNG GIRLS
On the opp *rtunities of oirIhood.

"What shaINwe play ?' is the discoD-
solate question heard in word Tor deed),
alike from ths tiny prattler, and from
our youths. when recreation is no
longer spicy p you, and you feel list
less, though uneasy, my dear young
girls, the tinie has come for work
your play timemust not cease, but with
the gay, bright hours will be mingled
useful ones. #But what can / do ?'
you say. Ahs what can you not do +?
Everything is before you, and even
drudgery can be made delight if we
but enter into3t with the genuine en-
thusiasm which makes one excel.
Not long since l was watching lit
tie girl stir up fhe batter for some nice
savory breakfa$t cakes, and though she
had often beer instructed before, the
questions asked of mamma" were in
Vulnerable How many eggs did you
say to put in, mamma ?-oh, yes, and
now mucn HOuI Anu just as GDey
were being baked, "Oh, mamma, for
got all about the soda. What shall
do ?" So 1 sayst you, my dears, learn
to do without help those things easily
within your grasp-not spurnipg house.
hold duties, however, because they may
seem common or are ordinarily turned
over to the care Sf servants. When you
are older you Win realize what rare
and pleasant accomplishment it is to be
able to work deity and skillfully with
your hands.
You have often seen your mischiev-
GUS little four4year-old brother sit
sweetly down among his playthings,
hammer everything to pieces, to see
how it was mad<, and finally cut open
his fine new rubber bali to see what
was inside that made it bounce-then
look up at you with those pretty deep
brown eyes of Ais and ask you inno-
Gently why it Wouldn't bounce any
more. Perhaps you half wanted to
scold the little king. And yet it is just
that spirit of investigation that 1 could
wish you to cultivate in yourselves.
No duty is too simple to perform
thoughtfully, and unreasoning work in
any branch of labor whatever, is of the
irresponsible kind variable in merit,
and never approaolI1o real parfection.l
Poor untaugEs Esfdget masses up her
kindling, laying every stick in very
carefully and solidly, and then ruefully
watches the smoke curl up where nice
bright flame should be. She must yet
learn that for d brisk, cheerfully crack
ling fire, plenty of oxygen is necessary.
So, after all, scientific thought, we see,
is at the very basis of common life.
After visiting with your little friend
and eating dark, soggy bread and
"greasy" food, did you not seize upon
''mamma's" nice, fakey loaves and
juicy vegetables, with new relish, and
wonder that good food could be so ru-
ined in the preparation Now every
young girl, whether she is one day to
grace home of her owD, or whether
she is to become great writer, orator
or musician, should know how to pre-
pare a dainty and wholesome meal.
And if she would put her brains into
her cooking as wonderful little
housekeeper expresses it, she should
know something Of the natural laws at
the basis of hygienic living. An intel
ligent, practical mother was heard to
say that she never knew the naturally
fine flavor of the Irish potato, and the
more succulent vegetables until she haG
eaten them prepared after the hygienic
method. The clear, active mind needs
a strong, healthy body, and how neces-
sary then is it that you should know
everything that would conduce to good
health. The happy, bright, clear headed
people are not those who are pursued
by dyspepsia and innumerable similar
ills; so you see how much joy we can
give to ourselves and others by know
ing how to do we'll the work of the
kitchen. Then when we learn some
thing of the laws of hygiene, we shall
want to know more about the physical
system. We shall see how beautiful
and how wonderful in construction is
every part of the body, and how each
organ works in concert with the others,
just as the cogs in the wheels of a
watch, fit so prettily into each other.
Just think of the marvellous mechan-
ism of the leg and foot How the
bones with lightness combine strength;
the muscles great toughness, develop
mental force and flexibility; and the
nerves minuteness, yet exquisite sensi-
tiveness And all are operated by that
wonderful electric battery and tele-
graphic centre, the brain. So, with a
wider knowledge and deeper study into
these questions, what fascination may
the study of hygiene possess for you
But yet further, and even more sat
isfying is the thought that practical
knowledge, my dear young friends, will
bring to you practical power and thus
the ability of comforting real benefits on
all about you. And so, from your no