The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-05-04
THE AMERICAN GIRL.
Her Self Reliance, Independence and Pru'
dencc in Love Affairs.

| Her elf-Reliancc, Independence and Pru-
| denco In Love Affairs.
The English girl, with her Gloom of
rugged health, her physical vigor that
grasped tho alpengtock and trampcd
through Switzerland, her skill in horse
manship, turned the current of public
opinion In this country, knocked the
old ideal from its pedestal, and substi-
tuted rev order of being. The crisp
air became bracing, dyspepsia and
neuralgia were whistled down the
wind, and in their stead came the love
of exercise, a generous appetite, ply
sical and mental poise. certain dash
and daring which, added to the natural
endowment OF beauty, have rendered
her irresistible. The education of the
American girl throws her on her own
resources, develops self-rolinnce, makes
her Independent. In England u girl
is secluded; in France she has little
freedom, and rarely faces the reali-
ties of life until she is married; in Ger
many she bows to the decision of her
parents without thought of question:
ing its wisdom. In all the older civil
izations the mediaval notion Of her in
feriority unconsciously prevails and
gives color to her social relations. In
this country she is habitually in the
company of gentlemen, aud so famil-
iarly that the romance of the situation
very soon gives way TO practical judg-
ment. American methods have shown
the advantages of an early association
of the sexes. While there may be
some loss in this there is certainly an
overbalancing gain. The American girl
does not become mannish, but simply
prudent There is no change in the
fineness of her fiber, though we some
times detect a degree of worldly wis
dom which seems II bit premature. She
very early learns to forecast her future
and make preparations for it with due
regard to the necessaries of life-a
comfortable home and u fair bank ac-
count. She is not mercenary, but sim
ply self-productive. She does not give
love in exchange for wealth, but merely
holds her affections in allegiance until
the providential opportunity presents
itself, making herself the sole Judge OF
the providential character of that op-
portunity. 1t would, however, be un-
just in an article of this kind to forget
the claims of the American wife to our
consideration. She is too frequently
neglected in the literature of the time.
This arises partly from her own love of
retirement, but mostly from the fact
that her daughters occupy all the space
in the foreground. In most countries
this order of precedence is reversed,
and the matron is the center of observ-
alton, while the young ladies remain
in the shadow The peculiarities of our
matrons are well worth study. 1t will
repay us to break through the bevy
Of gay girls and examine the lives of
their mothers. There are few spots on
earth where the wife is more truly
helpmeet to her husband. She is full
of vitality, shrewd in the use of her
resources, able to comprehend Il mans
energy and enterprise, and practical
enough to become his confidential ad-
wiser. A good wife is always the best
part of her husband, TO employ a Hi
bernicism, and the American wife de-
serves the admiration and reverence of
the world. She sacrifices without a
murmur, endures without a cry of pain,
makes the best of poverty, and adorns
wealth. She worships her children, is
unspeakably proud of their triumphs,
scorns all mercenary motives in her de-
sire for their happiness, wears the
white crown of old age with grace and
dignity, and by patient endurance of
and Christian resignation under the ills
of life earns the alteration which every
true man gladly lays at her feet. While
there are exceptions to this rule, they
only serve the paltry purpose of prov
ing it to be generally true. Take it for
all in all, we doubt if there is spot
on the green earth in which more hap |
pincss abounds than in an American
home.-N. Y. Herald.