Wichita eagle., 1889-03-19

0orSel1 wears WOOL, WltuOut JcoPoA utAinS
interests that center around her child's
future. But this may be better understood
further on. As soon as the possession De-
comes really an established fact, you will
doubtless find. what many have found out
before you: sealskin never walks alone;
nor will it walk in mean company
If so it can help. Silk, velvet
trimmed, will be necessary for its
comfort in place Of the soft-cling.
ing cashmere you are wearing, and which
have satisfied heretofore the tastes of your
daughter. Plush and plumes will crowd
off the stage felt and pigeon-wings; I'M
dressed gloves will be slipped aside for
long wristed, close-itting, expensive kids,
and even kid-covered wrist will need
pendent gold, and the exposed throat
plain gold necklace or fligree. Work
the problem as many times as you please
add from the bottom up. and from the
top down, and you will find it coming out
with nearly the same result every time.
Now, to return to the first: dressed as your
daughter will dress now that her attsn-
ton has been turned that way-that is,
if there are dollars forthcoming-and be-
side you, who have doubtless retrenched
as she increased expenses, she stands
head and shoulders above you, overtops
you completely-why, you are but a brown
chp-bird by the side OF the gay-plumaged
bird of paradise!
But she will not stand beside YOU for
long, but will pass ON soon in front of you;
of your own free act she is first, why
should she not walk first? She will soon
receive recognition first, will talk first,
and in mere space Of time be first. Then,
when, trifie dismayed, you look round
for the check-rain with which in former
times you have guided her so easily, aud
find that it is nowhere in existance, but
that, for all her inexperiencs and light
medicines and lack of knowledge, she
knows more than you can tell her, and
that she is actually taking her own gait
down through life, do not go far from
your own door seeking the why and
wherefore. But back of this, who gave
you the privilege of changing the God-or-
dained notation and stepping back to
second place, yielding her the first which as
mother was assigned to you? Who freed you
thus from responsibility? You can not
fill secondary place in some things and
then reach and claim those of the first in
others. A mother who dresses in an in
ferior way to the daughter who is under
her home control lowers her dignity; If
we cease 10 honor ourselves we must not
expect but that others will in a measure
cease to render US honor. "But every
where we see the daughters dressing a.
the mothers can not?" Yes, and every.
where we find some daughters, in spite of
all the aids and helps for character-rear.
ing of the present age, developing into
small-statured women. But, again, you
had better not have been tempted into
purchasing the garment, even when it was
offered at such great discount, inasmuch
as it forces a discount upon the pure aims
you have instilled into the mind of your
child formerly.
You passed through streets teeming
with things that would have proven ac-
cessories to rich knowledge, aids to
growth of mind and soul, and which had
been pointed to by you as being of price
less value, yet, with money in your pos
session, you pass them by, ignored their
presence, balanced the coin lightly while
the yeas and nays were disputing within
you, and tossed it down by the side of ex-
pensive indulgence, and what, in your
case and with your means, was over dress.
In so doing you lowered the high standard
you have been bearing for the eyes of
your child to turn to. You swept aside
the bulwark of pure example you had so
carefully kept firm, and trailed in the
dust true worth as placed in the scale
against things of lighter weight.
Who dare say that for all
time this may not rebound with telling
influence upon the pure character of your
child? She glories in the possession of a
luxury but a short time back dreamed of,
and which foated her way by wave of
chance; she realizes it to be a luxury
really unafforded; but if this be right,
why not others? Perhaps Betterself-a
child of your own rearing-rises up with
in her in protest: she can silence it with
one wave of-"Mother thinks it is all
right" The silken train can be adjusted;
the worldly garb donned, the burden of
keeping in fashion assumed, and-she has
mother" for authority. She may pass
through the ordeal unscathed-some do
but it is not possible that, with the gold
carelessly spent, grave was dug for vir-
tues you had planted with fondest carer