The Washington times., 1894-06-10
OUR GIRLS
AND OTHER GIRLS


looked at little askance by well bred people,
as have constantly noticed. Why? Because
it is assumed that, having had the usual Eng
lish education, she is either not fit to take
entire charge of herself, or-it is too late to
matter.
An American girl travelling alone is not
looked at askance. People may not quite
know why. but they recognize the custom OF
the country. The truth is, in America, where
education, like most other things is ahead Of
us, girls are capable of taking care of them
selves, and they habitually do SO take care.
In most girls schools, so l am informed. there
are physiological classes held for the wise and
decent instruction of the girls in the main re-
eponsibilities pertaining to physical life.
When the girl is about IA Is the parent is
applied to. DO you wish your daughter
to attend these classes this term?" The
mother replies, "Yes," or she replies, "No;
my daughter is young for age. prefer to
put 1t OF for year or two years" do not
say that the classes are always adequate, but
say they are a safeguard and preparation.
The prnciple is wholesome and reasonable,
and the girl receives at least certain amount
OF knowledge of the world in a grave, decent.
| open and honorable manner, which enables
her to recognize pitfall when it comes and
saves her from at anv rate laundering into
| run.-Nineteenth Century.
A man has been entertaining himself and
others with speculations as to what Richard
son and Fielding would have thought OF
modern heroines and the feminine speechify-
| ing that is going on in our day. When
Pamela was asked TO express an opinion. she
always modestly replied sit becomes me not
to speak" and Pamela's excellence was re-
| warded with the hand OF the rich squire, Mr..
B., whose maid servant. it will be remembered,
she was, and by no means a Ruth and Boaz
affair. A no less estimable person was Sophia
Western, who was honored by the hand OF
Tom Jones. Mr. Allworthy, you will recall,
said of Sophia, "She always showed the high
est Difference to the understandings OF men
quality absolutely essential to the making
| of good man."
1t scarcely need be said that these are not
the qualities that distinguished Evadne, the
superhuous woman; Dodo, the yellow aster,
and Eva. The heroines of Mr. Howells have
| enough to say for themselves, however be-
hindhand they may be in the new modern
qualities that distinguish the new English
| types. The author of 1.-THE Heavenly Twins"
and responsible for Evadne's views gives her
the opportunity at an early age to express her
| opinion Of Tom Jones as prize package in
matrimony. This and kindred opinions
would doubtless surprise and pain Richard
son, Fielding and the gentle essaytsts, who
gave so much consideration to the female sex
| in their own day.
Dodo is supposed to be a real character. 1t
| Is said that the original OF her is Margot Ten
nant-Asquith, Stanley's sister-in-law, but SO
was Sophia real character Fielding ac-
knowledges that she is modelled on Miss
whom he married. II both these heroines
were drawn from real live women Of the time
we can only confess that women as well as
times hvae changed.-Philadelphi Times.
A young woman. typewriter girl, think,
| goes down town with me in thu same elevated
train every morning in New York city. says
Eliza Archard Conner. She is fair, whole
| some-looking girl, but ignorant-how igno-
rant!-of real life, and with not grain OF
common sense OF orwomanly dignity. She made
the acquaintance Of some young fellows who
went down town at the same hour. Whether
| they were worthy or the most disreputable
villains alive she knew no more than she know
Sanskrit but her head was full OF silly novels.
This foolish, unframed creature could not for
| get her sex for one moment. In every youth
she saw possible husband. according to the
gospel of the novels she had read. The young
fellows began ogling her, and she gave them
half sly glances under her eyelids: 1t was
plainly an invitation to them to speak to her,
an invitation they were not slow to take ad-
| vantage Of.
| tlQally maLt6rS WeuI u stop AuituoH. OAc
OF the young men began to side up to the
girl every morning and remain with her dur
ing the whole journey. The young fellow
was amusing himself. The girl had fallen
desperately in love with him. She watched
for his coming with longing eyes and was IN
| happy and almost fearful when he did not ap-
pear She evidently thought she had made a
conquest and had found her affinity, such as
the novels she had read had described. But
presently the young fellow had fun enough,
He began to skip her station and get on q
different car at the station above. He never
had any intention OF being taken seriously.
The girl watched with longing eyes morning
after morning and grew pale and sorrowful
| but the adored never came back. Now 9
broken-hearted young woman rides lonely
down town to her task. am sorry for hel
for being fool.