The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-09-18
A GRACE AND IT'S SIGN.

ue w lSe HAL Vi lhTdSl long ago COIL
pared fair woman without discretion
to "a jewel in a swine's snout." The
phrase has a cOarseness of sound often
sive to modern ears, but it would be
hard to find another of adequate force.
What is discretion? 1t is the power
which unerringly sees what conduct is
fitting to any given time, place or cir
cumstance; the sense of propriety which
is innate with few, which can be taught
to more, and which is essential to all. 1t
is possible for some to possess this power
without the inward graces of purity and
truth; and it is also possible for some of
the finest traits of character to exist in
one who has it not; but without this in
estimable gift the fairer or the more
brilliant the woman, the more she is pit
liable.
In Solomons time, and later, as the
powers of woman were not yet known,
and she was not supposed to be capable
of exercising discretion in her own be-
half 1t was considered necessary to Sc
clude her from the world in harem or in
convent, lest she become her own de-
stroyer. Now that generations of noble
women have proved to the world wo-
mans right to be trusted with her own
guidance, there has grown up a tendency
to over-contidence, and too many young
girls are left without the help which they
so need, and older women could so easily
give them.
Youth should not be considered to be
above or beyond instruction. The world
truly moved, and sweet Rose in bloom"
as beautiful as once was her aged grand
mother, knows much more of some
things than the latter has ever dreamed
of; for manners have changed as we'll as
fashions, and science has made such
rapid advances that the variest Ounce of
school girl would be astonished at
NewtOn's ignorance; but of the worlds
greatest problem - human nature-the
grandmother, if she be possessed of but
ordinary wit, must know vastly more
than dear, sweet, and overtrustful little
Rose, therefore the latter should heed
the voice of age when it speaks of man
er or improper.
Discretion or a sense of propriety-by
either term is the virtue known-is like
perfume. 1t cannot be touched, seen,
weighed or described, but it exists, and
makes its presence and its absence
known, and is as essential to every wo-
manly woman, no matter what her age,
intellectual accomplishments, beauty, or
social position, as is its perfume to per-
lection of the rose.
The woman who has this precious gift
is by it alone protected from harm as by
an invisible armor of proof. She may
not be safe from the tongue of SANDER,
for the finest armor may be splashed
with mud, but she will be safe from any
real injury. Mud can be washed away.
Only wounds leave scars.
The youngest or most friendless girl
who uses her wits and needs the warn
ings which she will surely receive from
her inward sense of propriety whenever
she is tempted to violate its laws, can
never go very far wrong. 1t is safe
rule to leave undone everything whose
perfect propriety is not certain, unless
some larger consideration is involved.
There are cases where a noble and I'M
selfish aim will atone for breaking the
laws of propriety, but they seldom occur,
and even the few that do, bring many
evils upon the law breakers. In a good
cause one must be willing to suffer; but
let no one imagine that suffering of one
sort OF another will not follow every
breach of the laws of genuine or even
an artificial code of propriety .-HdrDer's
Bdzdr,