The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-07
HELPLESS YOUNG GIRLS.
Suggestio ms as TO What They should
Do With Their Time.

| Suggestio MS as TO What They should
Do With Their Time
BROOKLYN, n, Y, Sept. 6.-The follow
ing, from u girl of II, seems to me as sad and
| hopeless a communication as any l have
ever received, and that is saying good
deal
What shall | do with my timer this
young person inquiries. my education is
| finished, and thei o Is nothing in the world
I left for me TO do. My maid attends to my
clothes, and have no musical or artistic
| talent and care very little for reading. The
| days are so frightfully long that l always
| try to sleep till II O'Clock III the morning. in
order to kill the time. If you can suggest
something that would amuse me would be
your debtor forever"
have given the exact language of my
correspondent, though not the wuolesof the
letter, which is a complaint and a lament
from beginning to end.
The effect of this epistle would have been
| considerably mitigated if the writer had
asked me to suggest an occupation instead
of an amusement The fact is, though |
strove hard to find it, there was not one re-
deeming clause in the communication. But
there was the seventeen years, and who can
fail to be sympathetic with youthl Then
TO think of an education finished at that
agel The pathetic and the ridiculous Joined
hands here, but the first had the larger
hand. unfortunately. for one who is power
less to be of service. Surely,
one might better laugh than
or is useless, and right here | should like TO
have my thoughtful readers take this mat
ter to their own hearts and ask themselves
if they can think of any advice which
would be likely TO be of service in such q. case.
1t Is Ger ainly tue most consummate folly to
tell such glrl what she ought to do with
her life, because the pc son who can
declare her education finished at II eau
have no possible conception of her
duty to herself or her neighbor. l might
advise her to devote an hour or two each
day to the study Of photography, for this
normal school graduate, this finished"
schol lar, spelled amuse with z, addressed
her letter to Rhoad Island and evidently
knows as little of geography as orthography.
1t seems to me that the girl whose sole am
bition in life is to be anu ed can only be
developed by the experience of suffering,
and this she will be likely to have. As a
striking contrast t. this case let me mention
an incident which came under my observa-
ton this summer. A trained nurse was
needed for a child at the seashore. A
telegram was sent to the proper
quarter, and in few hours a beautiful
young woman appeared on the scene. Her
face was radiant with the anticipation OF
her work, and when she put on her gingham
dress, long white apron, snowy cap and
linea armlets, she was as sweet aud insp iring
picture as was ever presented to mortal
view. When she gave hor name, the
mother of the little invalid drew back in
atnazement. What" she said. you are
net Blanche-so and SO, daughter of-so and
| sow "Oh, yes," her companion calmly
replied, land l hope that fact will not make
me appear less useful in your eyes"
"M ny, no." the lady answered. lit will
have the opposite effect, but | am so sorry
| for you, dear. When did your father lose
| his money!
My father has not lost anything" said
the young woman with smile, but grew
| tired of leading useless life, and nursing
was my one, solitary talent. My father, who
loved me more than himself, yielded to my
opportunities, and here | am all ready for
for my patient, if you please"
The account of this young womans work
with the sick child thrilled me through and
through. Such nursing, even in these days
| OF competent and professional care of the
| sick, was seldom known. II could not spend
my life changing dresses and making and
receiving visits" she afterward explained.
Existence seemed too sacred a thing for
that. Then, from little girl l had deter
mined upon being self-supporting. This
step is great shock to some of my friends,
and there are several among my acquain-
tances who decline to recognize me when
they pass me on the street."
How does that make you feelF she was
asked.
Il am simply sorry for their narrow
ness" was the noble reply, 'but we all have
to work out our own destinies in our own
fashion, and | chose the line OF my apti-
tude," she added thoughtfully.
When asked by very practical society
woman how would like to have my sister
or my daughter become a trained nurse,
confess that for a moment | was staggered,
but not because | considered such a calling
ignobla. On the contrary, l have no words
to express my admiration for these coura-
geous and self-sacrifcing souls who go to
this work from feelings of love and duty.
But the profession is so arduous. | was told
by the matron of the Homeopathic Hospital
in this city that the average life of q
trained nurse is only ten years. This fact
would keep me from desiring such voca-
ton for one whom / loved and was in
measure responsible for. But | hope |
should respect talent and applaud con
science even in 50 intimate a matter as the
| one referred to.
Any occupation is better than idleness,
and would much prefer my relative or my
friend to fill a position as cook in a respecta-
bic kitchen than to live life Of discontent
and uselessness as the daughter of rich
parents. A good cook is certainly doing
something for humanity, but a woman who,
to shorten the days, lies in bed till IL O'Clock,
and then has maid to dress and walt upon
her, Is poor creature indeed. No one with
common sense caa doubt the value of
riches in the hands of the properly edu-
Gated, and when one thinks of the help aud
inspiration that such a girl as my CORE
spondent could be to the less fortunately
placed, if she were only possessed of proper
moral sense, 1t is not easy to refrain from
saying bitter things. The woman who has
no talent for the arts or the professions, and
has no need to earn money, can do some
thing for somebody else. At least it seems
to me that she can, and. if she does not, the
time W i'll come when she will wish she had.
ELEANOR KIRK.
! IF YOU WANT
II you want DAY BOOK MADE