The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-25
FOUR FORTUNATE DAUGHTERS,

Whose Wise and Wealthy Mother Trained
Them in Useful Arts and EaRdicrafts.
There was once wise mother. This
extinct. though some cynical people.
whose top hair IS somewhat thin. sup
port the idea. The wise mother was
the wife OF a prosperous father, who
was a successful Liverpool merchant.
She was also descendent Of one OF the
oldestand proudest families in Engla nd.
Associated with this father and this
mother in the business Of family life
We're four daughters. There wasn't
the least prospect that any one OF the
four would ever be called upon to earn
her livelihood but it was right here.
nevertheless, that the mothers wisdom
asserted itself The eldest daughter re-
ceived musical education. which, in
itself. would have brought her good
income. In addition to this she served
an apprenticeship TO confectioner and
pastry cook. She paid heavy pre-
MUM for it. but the things she learned
to make would have warmed the Heart
OF the coolest critic to praise.
The second daughter was initiated
into the mysteries of clear starching.
so that her laces and kerchiefs and
other dainty fabrics were the envy Of
all her friends. This wasn't enough
to satisfy the wise mother. however,
and this daughter, in her turn. served
her time at a large outftter's, whose
business was almost entirely with IL
dla and the colonies. In that business
success depended not so much upon
the workmanship of the goods as upon
the manner in which they were packed
This wise woman's daughter learned
how to pack everything, from tailor
made gown to Venetian glassware.
Incidentally it may be mentioned
that, in packing for long transit. gloves
were put into bottles and sealed up
with wax. like SO much catsup. This
is because otherwise the thread would
become rotten, causing the gloves to
rip.
Thus were two daughters armed
against fate and fortune by the fore
thought OF their wise mother. But
there remained two more to be cared
for. and one of these was delicate and
threatened with the loss of her eye
sight. She was encouraged to study
vocal music. This was to strengthen
her lungs, and as she could practice all
day long if she chose in a darkened
room, it did not tax her eyes
The fourth daughter, much against
the will of the wise mother, was as
bent on studying to be a governess as
the famous frog who felt a settled in
clination toward wooing. The mother
wanted her daughters to be proficient
Ill directions where their talents would
shine with peculiar lustre because of
the scarcity of competitive lights. But
if her daughter was determined to be
a governess she should be one whose
right to supremacy none would dis
pute, SO special tutor was engaged to
coach the young woman in university
studies. Music and drawing were
added. not as accomplishments, but as
means to an end.
OF course, all OF these four daughters
might have found their lines lying al
ways in pleasant places, and in that
cas- -, ~treine wisdom of their ma
ternal training would not h 80
SO palpable. But it happened that '-''
governess, after the lapse of some
years, found it necessary to earn her
own living. She at once secured po-
sition at salary double the usual
amount paid. This was followed by
teaching the congregated children of
several families who sought for SUI
perior services, until finally she had
one of the finest schools in that part Of
the country.
Thanks TO the wisdom of that mother
every one of her daughters could have
made good living had the necessity
arisen. Except in the one case it did
not arise. But the training they had
received was by no means lost. even in
the fortunate places that fell to their
lot.-N. Y. Sun.