The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-04-10
Mothers as Match Makers.
BY AMELIA +. BARR.

American girls. when under 20
years Of age, are apt to feel that
the earth and the fullness thereof,
Is only made for them. They have
firm belief in their ability to
guide themselves as well, and a
great deal better, than their moth
rrs can guide them. And to sup
pose that evils or dangers exist for
which advice or guardianship is
necessary, is 10 suppose something
which insults their sense Of their
own merits. Nevertheless, the
words "lraining" "and "educatlon,"
AS applied 10 he Young, imply a
conscious need Of guardianship {:
nor have we found out yet that
young maidens can do without
mothers to guide them; or thai
molherS survive for them, only in
The form Of chaperons. Through
infancy, childhood and girlhood,
the mothers'S wisdom has been ac.
knowledged and deferred TO.
Nurses. teachers, physicians, com
panluns, friend, books. costumes.
she has chosen all, and chosen all
we'll; and the daughter, led by
her love and advice, has grown up
10 be a beautiful and desirable wo-
man. Is it possible that The kind
ness and wisdom hitherto 50 sufli-
cieni, now becomes anliquaIed
and Insufficient, and that The moth
er who has hitherto directed her
daughter in every situation and
emergency of her life is, in the
choice OF a husband for thai
daughter, suddenly smilten with
blindness and ncapacity ? Does
The sweet, strong love of a mother
lurn tn selfshness and folly, when
the most important crisis Of her
daughters lie arrives
There j. no race of young people
yet born With old heads upon their
shoulders; nor should we desire it.
The uureasonaGleness, the eXlrav.
agances, and the illusions of youth
are part ofils charming conditions.
Bat husband il to be chosen, not
alone Tor the quickly fleeing hours
of youth: he Is TO be a friend and
supporter through The burden and
heat OF the day and a companion
for The long shadows of The even
ing of life. Therefore, no girl can
afford 10 choose a husband as she
would choose partner in dance,
and yet this is what many girls are
inclined 10 dO.-
There Is, therefore, a kind of
matchmaking which 1t is a moth
er's duty 10 attempt. But il has
strict limitations. 1t resolves it,
self into the simple duty of intro
ducing to her daughter young men
whose moral character is good,
who are in position 10 marry,
and who, physically, are not likely
to repel her. The young people
may then safely he lett 10 their
own instincts. There should be no
attempt cOerce; 10 moral force
used 10 make even suitable mar
rage though extremilies NAV
lawfully be used to prevent an
evil marriage.
The American mother of high
social standing is apt Io assume a
Pharisaical attitude on this subject,
and To thank God that she is not
as those French mothers; no, nor
yet as many English mothers, she
allows her daughters TO marry lhe
man Of her choice. This class of
Amenran mothers are a little clev-
erer than French and English !
but in the end they do !
abont the same thing. They fol-
low the tactics OF The gamekeeper
who wishes to drive pariridces into |
a particular iurnip field. He SIM
ply drives them out of all other
fields. aud tie birds, after trying |
all other stubbles IN vain. resign |
in sheer WEAKNESS 10
iae iurip field. So also these will
lul young American girls. after
finding a dozen hopeful "airairs"
broken of, resign Them
selves 10 the husband originally |