The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1889-12-20
chlldren's School Drl ssea.

Chlldren's School Dr{saaa.
School has begun again, EanG wo arc
talking about what tho ohItdrcn shall
wear, and making necessahyr changes
for growing bodies md tho ysablo-to-bo-
out" elbows and knees. School attire
has come to receive, III IL cities, towns
and villages ut least, almost rs much
thought and outlay of timo and expense
as the "Sunday best" or tie ssrmrty"
suit. Go into tho school-rooms of to-
day md you will DO surprised, if you
have not heretofore been observing, to
SEQ how our schoolgirls are dcckcd ont
i'll silks, pushes, v~clvcts, laccs, chains
and lockcts, bracelets and other FL
agree! Sometimes the teacher sets this
domornlizing fashion, though not often
wo arc anxious to bolicyo.
Tho influence Of this upon our girls.
many Of them not yot in their teens,
must DO very evident oven to q half
thoughtful mind. Their tender and
growing minds cnn but be diverted
from their books, md, thus carly alb
sorbod in dress, who can estimate tho
harm? Then there cnn but DO n feeling
OF jealousy by those less fortunately (?)
circumstancod and possibly sin COM
mittod III trying to follow thor unhnl-
lowed example.
"But what can L do?"' somo mother
oxclnims, ''my girl would mako n terri
bio fuss if [ should insist upon her
dressing moro plainly"
L dare say. but hnvo you not n duty
in this lnnttor that you cannot sllirls
with ilnpunity to your child? If You
havo neglected this too long, it will
doubtless require much porsuasivoness
and gentle firmncss to bring about tho
needed change; and this difficulty in
correcting g bad habit, should DO "
timely warning to mothers whose little
ones are as yet innocent. Talk with
your daughters about this matter Of
dress, show them tho tendency and evils
OF over-dressing i'll school; reason with
them. Perhaps at your suggestion or
under your guidance, they could form
a society of girls pledged to observe
would make it castor, and by being
popular" would have u following.
Teachers wo believe could easily start
such bands and give them prestige and
power. Even without any organize
tion they could quietly discourage and
preach against these foolish and harm
ful practices.
Wcro tho effects Of elaborate and
fancy school dressing confined to tho
family indulging i'll 1t, the consequences
would be serious enough, but rs in
timatcd, it leads to q grcnt strain on
tho purses of those poorly circum-
stanced, Mrs. A., the washer or Sow
ing woman, knowing that her girl is
fully rs bright i'll her studies as tho
merchants or bankers child, is dcterm-
incd she shall dress as we'll md thus
stand n chance of being admitted INTO
the same ''set"-and to do this the poor
mother rubs and wrings hcr hands oil,
or sews herself blind, but, alas! the ro-
suit surprises them. In njno cases out
Of ten, their girls grow Gp vain, idle,
selfish and basely %ungratcful for thoir
mothers foolish, wicked shaving! How
much better to have taught them to
dress within their means, depending on
trne merit for position in the worldl
If any mother doubts what I hayo
snid, just break away from your house
hold cares, my sister, and visit tho diff
fcrcnt rooms of your school and take
note for yourself; count the necklaces
and bracelets, tho elegant and clabor-
ately mado dresses, and the beautiful
hats and wraps. I am sure it will furn-
ish food for thought, and I trust for
action i'll some wise, wcll-dirccted why.
Inexpensive. plainly made garments
should be tho conventional school dress
and all unnecessary or foolish adorn-
ings should be discountcnanccd. This
would mean q healthier toned mind,
better lessons, and less worry and OK
cnse to parents. Will wo engage in this
unpopular reform?-IIouSckccpcr.
s~UpERsTITIoNs BABIES.
In Ireland q bolt mado Of a woman's
hair is placed about q child to kecr
harm away.
Garlic, salt, bread and steak arc put
into tho cradle of Il newborn bnbo in
Holland.
Roumanlan mothers tic rcd ribbons
around tho ankles of their children tc
preserve them from harm, whilo Els.
thonian mothers attach bits of nssafD.
tida to tho nccks Of their offspring.
Welsh mothers put n pair of tongs on
Il knife in tho cradle to insure the safety
Of their children; the knife is also used
for tho samio purpose in somo parts o.
England.
Among Vosges peasants children borl
Mt q now moon are supposed TO nave
their tongues better hung than othors
while those born ut tho last quarter art
supposed to have less tongue but better
reasoning powers. A daughter borr
during tho waxing moon is always pro
cocious.
At tho birth of n child in Lowor Brit
tany the noighboring woman tako 1T il
charge, wash it, crack it's joints, ant
rub its head with oil to solder tho cra
mum bones. 1t is then wrapped in (
tight bundle and it's lips are annointel
with brandy to mako it a. full Breton.
Tho Grecian mother, before putting
her child in its cradle, turns.throo times
around before tho fro while singlnghc 10
favorito song to ward of evil spirits.
In Scotland, it, is said that to rocl
tho empty cradle will insure tho coming
Of other occupants for it.
Tho London mother places n bool
lndar tho hrn1 of tho naw.l,Orn infon