The Washington times., 1894-04-22

| that is pretty nearly true statement So
many opportunities for education and for
careers have opened up for the girls OF this
day which their grandma's, busy with spin
ming and weaving. or making OF garments,
| had no time to even think about, much less
crave. With ones own mother it was a little
| different, for while domestic duties had not
changed, the manner Of performing them had,
| and they had more leisure, and by this time
/ women began to seek fog wider opportunities
| and ask for better chance for an education.
The nineteenth century girl has merely come
into her inheritance.
| She is as interesting as she Is novel, for no
change can ever make her anything but
girl. She ought to be finer and higher type
than any of the girls who came and went their
way before she was born. Happily that is
the way OF the world. She is independent,
knows little of n good many things, and a
good deal of some things. She has been in
telligent enough to appreciate the opportuni-
ties. She has been through the high school
and graduated with honors. She has taught
school, sent herself to the college and univer-
sity and graduated. She has chosen q pro-
fession or business and set up for herself,
and gone into the full swing of successful
career. Or she has switched Off, side
tracked" her career for the present, and gone
into the old business Of home making, bring
ing into that occupation the high health
which walking and the gymnasium have
given her. She will be a better mother for
that. She need never drown If knowledge of
how to swim can save her, even If her matri-
monial ventures should prove "a failure"
for she has profession and can, If need be,
take care of herself.
There is some comfort in that thought to
her friends, and it gives her dignifled con-
ddence in the future that is refreshing.
The nineteenth century girl is found In So
ciety as well rs among the people. There
the society writer heads her up as the "fin de
steele" gipl, the '.girl OF the PERIOD" and she
cuts dash, leads a fad, or joins club more
or less swell. But everywhere she is fresh,
interesting and more or less taking. She is the
product OF the evolution of the old-fashioned
girl.
Whatever her hand finds to do she does
with vim. She is good around the house
and gives the dainty touches which make
home look home-like. She makes after de-
signing her own dresses whenever she wants
to either ''lend hand or carry out her own
ideas of how to save on one thing to spend on
another. She is nobody's fool, and she en-
Joys herself immensely
Our girls Of to-day are the best kind of
girls the world has yet produced. But they
are not the last novel on the development of
girls. Other centuries will bestow something
on this hall Of creation.
In a few weeks the Summer girl will be with
US in all her glory, and with some things not
to her glory. for there are two kinds OF Sum-
mer girls. One is bold and aggressive, 'chic,"
loud, If not rapid; the other just as "chic,"
but modest and self-contained.
When the mocking birds sing in my trees
know that Summer is at my doors, and when
Summer girl appears in all her radiant Spring
attire know the excursion season is upon US.
The Summer girl whose pa has big bank
account goes to the seaside, the mountain,
and resort to air her finery and to show her
self in all her goodness or her badness of
behavior. But there are other radiant Sum-
mer girls who stay ut home all the season
through. and make home CHEEKY by their
presence, keep our streets from becoming
desolate, and contribute by their presence to
make the excursion season an ever-seeming
delight. Without their presence an excursion
would only be an ''outing' for elderly people
and an airing for the babies. Just imagine
what hollow mockery midnight sail on the
Potomac would be without a Summer girl on
boardl No picnic could "go" without them.
Sometimes she goes along with her young
man, unattended by her mother or any chape- |
rome. Well, if she is not too young and giddy |
to be trusted alone there is no reason why she |
shouldn't, especially if she is engaged and |
knows how TO carry herself properly. Very |
young girls in their first teens should never |
be permitted to go alone simply with an escort |
on an excursion. There may presumably be |
one wolf In every promiscuous assembly wear
ing the guise Of lamb. Married ladies with |
daughters of their own are always ready and |
willing to take little outing with other peo- |
pies daughters added to their party.
A mother gave me this sentiment for her |
contribution 10 my study for our girls. Said |
she:
I'VE mothers talk and talk and sometimes |
wonder if what we are SO anxiously saying is |
needed. when one day our indifferent and |
dumb girl turns over a new leaf |
when we have about given up all hope of |
making an impression. She just astcnishes |
and delights us with the way she comes out,
just as we would have her to be. Oh, tell |
you there is lots OF comfort as well as anxiety
on being the mother of girls in their 'teens.''
If they were always just right. then our
girls would be girls no more-just fine young
women. AUNT EMILY.
Crying Child.