The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1894-09-28
The Ideal Young Woman.

Woman in all ages of the world,
has been the fanciful ideal of poet and
painter. She has been made demon
or an angel just to suit the taste of
those who wrote about her, and not
according to any real traits of char
acter. But slightly changing the
words of Burns, ga woman's a
woman for a that" The ideal
young woman of the nineteenth CEN
tury is practical being, though she
has lost none of the graces which
make her dainty and womanly. In
these times when all the professions
are open to her, when she can be as
mannish as she pleases in dress and
manners and ride-any way she
wants to,-without being out of the
fashion. l say the first duty of
woman is womanliness. 1t isn't
necessary that she should be very
learned, but she should understand
the philosophy of digestion and the
poetry of clear coffee and light bis
cults. Among her requirements in
natural science ought to be darning
and patching, for like picture in u
frame, she never shows to such per-
feet advantage any where except in
the home-light. Give her all of the
fine arts she is capable of learning,
but along with sculpture, music and
painting teach her something of the
beauty ofplain sewing, and of cutting
and fitting her own clothes. If |
were given the commission to paint a
picture of "Thc Ideal Young
Woman," Id paint her seated in Il
cosy corner and in her hand some
thing to mend. l should bang her
hair after the most approved fashion,
and Id put into her eyes a look Of
inquiry, as though she wanted to
learn of the great outside world.
Beauty is the birthriyht of woman.
She has right to improve that talent
which God has given and make it as
many fold as possible. In this
direction she uses gladly what natur-
al attractions she possesses and scorns
no innocent art that adds to her per-
sonal charms. Her dress is always as
good as her means will allow, in color
modest, in make simple rather than
brilliant or elaborate. She is al
ways neat and presentablc whether
she comes from the parlor, the kitchen
or the wash tub, and she always
gives her friends the same royal wei
come which shows them that she is
really glad to see them, and that she
is ashamed of no duty, however low
ly. She is the jewel Of her mothers S
heart, the light of her mothers eyes,
the hope of her mothers years, the
comfort of her fathers life, the stay
of her younger sisters steps, and the
consolation of her brothers sorrows,
the sympathetic companion ofhls sun
shine or shadow, and God bless her,
sometime she will be the joy and
comfort and centre light of another
home, home other own. In society
she is not leader, or if so she leads
so tactfully that she seems to follow.
-cffacemcnt is her chief accom-
plishmcnt and her greatest genius is
seeing the good in others. She talks
we'll, and listens graciously ly to those
who have no such conversational
powers as herself. Where books are
concerned she has read only the best,
and history and fiction have shared
her attention. In religion she is
fervcnt, but not fanatical. In charity
she is generous and noble, but prac-
teal rather than over lavish. Her
charity extends to hcr words and
manners and she gives good words
and smiles without stint after giving
all the money her purse can afford.
In public she is never ntatjous,
hut retiring, sclfposscsscd and mod
est, sott-steppcd and low-voiccd the
paths Of privilege are all before her,
the temples of fame and the gates of
heaven arc open to her that she may
enter forth in her sweet womanly
ways.-FANNIE HOBsON IN )Voyri
and Works.