Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-30


direction since. She was girl of splendid
mind, but actually too lazy to retain an idea
uniess it was presented to her orally. She
simply would not read her lessons over, but
IL she could lounge in her chair and toast
ner feet in winter or fan herself In sum-
me-, ana induce one of the girls to read or
Glik over the lessons, she would come to the
CLASS with perfect recitations. 1t was such
peculiar trait that could not but remem-
Der IL. She was large, SNOWY GIRL very
iona OF dress, and was as particular about
her person as she was ca reless about her
studies; she would have fine clothes, no mat
ter what happened, and she would secure
comforts some way, not always with
strict regard for the rights of others. yet
she was liked by everybody, because she
was thoroughly good natured.
she was too lazy to get angry. l think.
She married, almost on leaving school, an
active, energetic business man. as exactly
her opposite could be imagined, but one
with wealth enough to keep her In the style
she adored and with sufficient executive
ability to answer for half a Dozen The
match was nine days wonder, because of
the difference in temperament. We forgot
all about 1t when the principal actors ois-
appeared from the horizon. Twelve years
later l met Anna here in Washingto ton. She
had not changed in the least: she was Just
as averse to activity as ever. and, in her
Slow. dangerous way. was just as cha rming
as remembered her to have been when We
girls used to flag for her at college She had
one daughter, girl Of ten, she told me- and
from that moment l was possessed with a
desire 10 See that girl. 1 have an odd sort
OF liking Tor the study OF types" In the
human I
ihs what would result from u union OF the
KIND have mentioned.
Lacked nome Training,
Anna Hunts daughter. / found, mad all
OF ner mother good traits ana her fatner 9
as Wei, win not mucn taInt o. tns bau
ones VI either. she was u pretty child,
gentle ana loving. bright could be- but
reticent, fuli Oh ambition and energy about
any thiAs that pleased ner, but as purpose-
iess as prairie mower. She oid u srea,
Ldny Things mat girls usually do al q
mucn more advanced age. anu old them
veal Sne eouAd pay the plano, v...-
pfoioer, sins, CONVERSE IN three Iais uases
anu uenaseu wan me most perIecI pro-
prieCy-tnIs uttIe maluen VI Ien, but IL Was
All aiInosl ihoorn, Tor grew up as IA
oiscIpiined d Weed. her renGn nurse
anu German Eoverness were eAcellenIiy
chosen eompanions Ior slri whose motiisr
was woman OIL the world, win no idea
or moral responsibility. she was not An
moral. dear NE. no. but she WAS what was
quite as bad. She seemed to THINK that all
that was required OF u mother was To
that her offspring was kept warmly clothed,
given abundance OF foou, as much euuca
uon as possible, all the accomplishments
that she developed a taste Tor. ana for the
rest, be kept out of her way. 1t was
against her principles, such as she had. to
be worried with details. Women like Anna
Hunt are numerous. you meet them every
day. 1t is not the fault OF such women as
she that the world does not grow worse
every minute.
Well, Meta, Annals daughter. grew UP,
received an excellent education graduated
with a flourish. and after q br.rf reign in
the social world married e. government
clerk. There was the usGS; blare of
trumpets over 1t. with everything that goes
to make a swell wedding, then came the
prose Of life. Anna and her husband went
to another city, and Meta and hers began
housekeeping in a pretty little home which
they were buying on time. This home Anna
furnished; and she did 1t in the style to
which her daughter had been accustomed
at home. without regard to the fact that
she would have to live very quietly, with
only one servant. and that Of the one thing
needful for house mother. a knowledge Of
housework, Meta was as ignorant as girls
of her class always are.
Ignorant of Housekeeping.
i remember WOHucflHS CuTlOuSly, tne uE9t
time l called there after Meta got settled,
II she would ever be able to manage a
house herself, for 1 knew how utterly she
was untitled for such responsibility, and a
feeling Of anger came into my heart against
the mothers who permit their daughters 10
grow up perfectly ignorant Of the duties in
cumbent upon a woman who aspires to
wifehood 1t Is crime against humanity
to set a girl adrift on the sea of life with
no knowledge whatever Of how to SO steer
her frail craft that she may escape the
sands and shoals of unhappiness. sure to
come to one who has no chart to sail by
II Meta had had her mothers wealth at
her command she would have weathered
the gale, but she was the wife Of a poor
man, and one whom the exgen cies Of poll
tics threw out of Office this spring. hence
my fear for her future. and this moralizing.
My ring was a long time unanswered. and
Just as was about to leave the door was
opened and Metals pale face peered out
at me. She was glad to see me, and held
out her hands with a pleased little cry.
Next to my mother. 1 have needed you
this morning, or some one who will let me
led me into the back parlor. Don't look
around you" she went on with a rueful
smile. until I have told you all my trou-
bles. Isn't this an awful place? 1 am
prove it, but 1 don't know how. Do you
know" she burst out almost angrily, as
she laid my hat and parasol on the piano.
already piled rerilously full Of traps"
do you know think a mother who lets
her daughter marry before she Is fully in
structed how to conduct a home. and to
know how to keep house from largest to
smallest detail, is guilty Of a crime?'
Servants for Everything.
My very thought! But I didn't say any
thing. / saw that the child's heart was
FULL and that she was near breaking down.
so mechanically began folding papers and
bits Of fancy work. closing books and put
ting in a package the cards that were in
Discriminatory scattered on the table by
which sat.
1T isn't right to think the thoughts about
ones mother that have been ranking in
my heart for the last week." she went on
as she sank into chair: but do think II
Is wicked and un-Christian to let ones
own daughter run the risk of spelling not
only her own life, but that Of others as
well. / ought to have had a little sense
myself. but you know we never had much
Of a home life. and with servants to do
everything but thinking for me, and per-
fectly willing to do that If called on to, and
paid enough money for It, 1t Is not much
wonder that I am an ignoramus. is II,
Sara?' still smiling. though through tears
by this time.
Little by little learned all the troubles.
and they were not light ones that seemed to
be settling down about Meta With her
husband out Of Office their small savings
were in a fair way to melt away, and in
the end the home might have to be sacri-