The Washington bee., 1892-12-24
TREATMENT or NERVOUS GIRLS.
Encourage Contact with Strong Minds
by Means OF Literature and History.

/
by Means OF Literature and History.
| According to DR.. Louise Fiske Brr
son nervous girls are} those born witt
an unstable nervous system, those whs
have what is known as the insane tenn
permanent, yet who msy never become
insane, and those who suffer from some
definite form of nervous disease
Doomed throughout life to inevitable
periods of disablement and constant in.
terruptions in continuity. their early
education, to be practical, must lie in
directions of universal interest that will
last lifetime and will endure when
everything else fails or is outgrown.
OF these permanent interests gen.
eral literature stands first. A love oi
good books is one of the highest source.
of human enjoyment, for through them
chiefly is contact with superior minds
made possible. Another interest that
lasts always and should accompany tie
study and delight of general literature
is history, the most important thing for
woman to know, SO the French say.
It is the record of deeds that have made
civilization possible, an account of gov
ernments, customs, religious beliefs, OF
the progress of industry, art, intellect
and morality. History, when properly
presented, breaks down prejudices,
does away with intolerances, leaves the
mind open to conviction, teaches it to
suspend judgment and interprets pres
ent events according to the worlds past
experience Social economics comes
next to history and literature in impor-
tance. These three may be taken in
their elemental forms at the same time,
the horizon of each widening as years
go by.
Social economics embraces practical
politics, and knowledge of the funda.
mental principles of government. The
way in Which a woman can bring her
influence to bear upon the State is by
assisting to develop the social condition
OF the people. Without, therefore.
ever having vote, or even desiring a
vote, women can effect a radical change
in politics by Transforming the social
condition of those who cast the vote.
Every improved household means an
improved vote. Somewhere between
history, general literature and social
economics, in point of value, stands
science, which concerns all mankind
for all time. Perhaps the most availa-
BILE and practical branch that girl can
take up is botany, presented in the
right way, by making the acquaintance
OF plants out of doors, instead of look
ing at pictures of their skeletons in
books.
"To know the secret of a weeds plain
heart" is to be rich in resource and
proof against some of the sings and
arrows of an outrageous fortune thai
compels too often the unoffending ner-
vous girl to suspend the willingly un-
dertaken tasks of every day life.
The best thing that cen happen to a
nervous girl is to be liked Placed
Outside the combat frequently and un-
expectedly, on account of lack of phys
ical strength, it is fortune to her more
than to another to have warm friends
whose sympathy and interest are never
failing. Hence it is the first duty oil
the guardian of any such child to instill
into its mind the spirit of self-denial
that has for its outcome graces OF
speech and movement, silence and self
pure tones and distinct ut
terances, together with tact and
good spirits. The constant effort nec-
10 ho al, f,,I II
in spite of physical weakness, lessons
and mental Incidence,
and rouses activities of mind that might |
otherwise remain dormant. To please
md be pleased, if early taught, remains
| fixed habit in spite of vicissitude and |
change. 1t is social custom expires.
'ive of high order of self-control,
fashion that is never out of date.