The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-02-12
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
THE AMERICAN GIRL ABROAD.

In WOMAN'S BEHALF.
THE AMERICAN GIRL ABROAD.
Advantages TO BE Derived From . Year
or Two Spent In Europe.
Since Miss Trafton's charming book
bearing this title, which appeared nearly
or quite quarter Of a century ago. the
peripatetic individual therein described
has been SO often duplicated and her
wanders SO explicitly told that it seems
almost absurd to write any more articles
about her. In some instances maligned,
in others ridiculed, the American Girl
Abroad has ceased to be an attractive
theme, and so far as my acquaintance
with her permits me to judge, she would
like to be let alone for season, until
she has established q new character for
herself, quite distinct from types here
toforc portrayed.
Let me, then, twist this matter around
little, and write Of what the American
girl will find life and study abroad, to
her advantage.
Last summer, during short visit to
America, received letter from an
old friend whom / had not seen for
many years, one paragraph Of which
read something like this:
4 have daughter just seventeen. who grad
mates next year from our city high school. She
has musical talent and good intellectual abll.
ity. and We wish to give her all possible advant-
ages OF education. may be prejud,ced but I
can not see how, as an American girl destined
live her life In her pv AR she derive
any sTecial advantages in general culture tmu-
sic of cotrs. exceptedD from year or two OF
study abroad. say In Berlin or Paris
This letter set me, not exactly to
thinking, but to thinking concretely,
minutely and with definiteness, over the
advantages and disadvantages of foreign
training, with results somewhat on this
wise:
Ever since America set up for herself,
nearly one hundred and twenty years
ago, and has each year been celebrat-
ing the anniversary Of her self-asser-
tion and independence, there has been
. premium in the minds OF our young
people on these two very popular attri-
lutes of an honorable rebellion against
tyranny and oppression. The occasion
Tor revolt overcome and independence
established. the spirit nevertheless re-
mains, and its cultivation in greater
or less degree goes on in our education,
our habits of thought, our modes of ex-
preston. Our children are born into
an atmosphere Of democratic independ-
ence which has tendency to magnify
self and its chances often far beyond
the foundations of worth and fact. As
children, and wild children, too often
their every positive expression of opin-
ion is hailed with delight, as q token Of
that assertive character which is sup
posed to be essential to the preserva-
tion Of our national institutions. They
are put forward on parade just as soon
as the least exhibition of individuality
makes them at all interesting, and grow
up with a sense of their importance in
the home and in society which is never
observed among the young people Of
other countries.
The American girl sent abroad for
study and general cultivation of mind
and manners, is ushered into the midst
of dispensation where the young per-
son is not the important being that she
! Is in our own land. Here she finds that
age has its precedence and privilege far
beyond what she has known at home.
II she ventures to pass through door
way in advance Of lady older than
herself, or If she permits herself to be
seated in a room where even one older
person is standing, she will soon re-
ceive, either by word or look, an en-
phatic reminder of this fact. She must
walk and sit and drive always at the
left of this older lady. must watch for
every possible opportunity of rendering
, her service, and must in tone, attitude,
word and manner give expression to
that reverence which age with its ex-
perience and accomplishment has q
right to claim. She will find also that
the strong assertion of opinion, natur-
ally hastily formed and immature, will
not advance her in the good graces Of
cultured people; and their attitude to-
ward her harshly-expressed likes and
dislil1es will not take the form of anus
ed tolerance. as it is apt to do in Ameri-
ca, but, at the best, of quiet condemna-
ton. none the less severe because Of its
quietness. She will often find herself
! regarded with that pitying air
| that one has for spoiled
child. Her extravaganza in dress,
her endless small expenditures for candy
and unsubstantial trifles, will be looked
upon as results Of training and educa'
ton that have very little tendency to
curb wrong impulses, and to restrain
unwholesome tastes and tendencies
She will find her irregular, desultory
ways of living and studying looked up
on with wonderment approaching al
most to disdain; and her irresponsible
conduct, which is thought SO pretty, otter
in society at home, regarded with tha'
elevation of eyebrow and shoulder tha
betrays question as to her real charac
ter and principles. She will soon learr
that she carries her country on hel
back, for with every loud conversation
with her friends in the street or railwa,
car, some native inhabitant will muir
muir under his breath, Americans.
This is the saddest feature in miscon
duct away from home, and especially IL
these older countries, where Americ;
is looked upon as the land whence al
sorts of eccentricities and extravagance
may be expected. Let the American
girl be patriotic enough to see that n
evil report Of ''the land we love tn
best" come through her inattention t
these minor (?) morals, which are real
ly as truly required in America as else
where, and prevail there far more thai
some of our travelling public have givel
foreigners reason to believe.
can not seem to blame SO much ou
system of training young people, with
out adding word Of cheerful congratu
lation that in SO many, many importar
particulars, the young men and wome
who sojourn abroad for time, leave a
impress upon this older community an
society no less needed and no les