Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-03

scalpel of foreign surgeon. 1t is well
| however to read of ones faults, and
honest criticism like drastic medicine
may be beneficial. An American poet
II had almost been written the American
poet speaks of stepping stones of dead
selves, as means of ascent to higher
things, and a knowledge of points of
weakness given by the criticism of an
outsider may lead to improvement that
shall be widespread in its effects
This shrewd observer speaks of tour
gtrls' most pleasantly, and the freedom
he finds accorded to young women, es-
pecially excite his comment. While this
comment is not altogether unfavorable
it is easily apparent that such license
does not meet his full appreciation In
contrast with the English maiden, he
says that an American girl is piquant,
that she looks one full in the face with
unabashed eyes as q sister might a
brother. That she seems to have a
thorough understanding of the masculine
species and adapts herself with equal
ease to the boy, the beau or the patri-
arch. This same maid en- has her opinions
on most subjects, and these opinions she
as unhesitatincly expresses in the pres
ence of the wise scientist or the grave
professor. This young woman is as in
dependent as she is self-posssssed; she
has her society and her club, and her set
that father and mother seldom lnvesri-
gate and often do not even know.
This writer admits that SO much free
dom makes her quite charming, but
questions if there Is not drawbacks asso-
ciated with it. An observant person
must readily admit that there are, and
some of them of q serious nature. To
say nothing of the lost charm of a
shrinking timidity called in old fashioned
parlance maiden modesty, that is NOT re-
placed by any modern acquisition,
there is most always observable an ire
verence pervsding her entire nature.
She speaks filppantly of serious matters,
she is assertive with her parents, and
appropriating in manner. At home she
entertains guests and is rs unmindful of
her mothers position as hostess as if that
mother were only the housekeeper her
manner towards her indicates. She is
impatient of restraint, and resent
full of interference the natural result
of freedom that began to assert itself
during the long dress period of her
bebyhood. If her father presumes to
question the propriety of her actions or
tue cHhracLer OF ner associates, pRrticu-
larry her gentlemen friends" she
considers him an intermeddler, and if he
carries his intermeddling TO a disagree
able issue she is sure to pride herself
on thwartIng him.
This of course is the extreme, but
there is reason for the belief that the
freedom of the American girl is fraught
with danger to herself and to social life.
Preventives are better than cures, and
it is the wise captain who, seeing danger
ahead, shifts the course of his vessel and
thus avoids the rocks and shoals threat
sning the safety of the vessel. The
daughters of people are a nation g |
priceless treasure, and when family |
vigilance relaxes there is danger. |
Rachel is heard weeping for her chill |
1ren, not so often because they |
are not, as because they are She |
has decked her daughters in the
purple and fine linen of Tyre !
and sent them forth into the market |
places unattended and unguarded. They |
have fallen among thieves and now |
robbed OF that which il priceless