The Portland daily press., 1895-04-27
THE HOME.
Unframed Daughters.

Very difficult it is for fathers and
mothers to realize that their children,
now only pets and playthings, will one
day be grown. This is particularly the
case with little girls. 1t is more easy to
imagine the boys future, to look forward
to the time when they must assume the
duties and bear the response bilties of
manhood, choose a profession or select an
occupation. 1t is natural to feel that the
httls girls will forever remain in the
sale shelter of home, with some one to
stand between them and the outside
world and toprovide the daily bread
(which they, in common with the rest of
humanity, will always find indispensable
Parents who are especially anxious to
do their duty by their daughters will
sometimes say, "The girls must have a
good education SO that # anything
should happen to us they can earn their
own living" Nothing could be wiser
than this determination. Unfortunately
it is seldom carried into effect in the
right way. A girl may pass through all
the grades of the public school, graduate
from the high school and even spend
three or four years at college. without
having acquired the knowledge that will
enable her to earn her own living. She
may possess fair share of many accom-
plishme nts-music, painting, languages,
for nstance-yet if she lacks the ability
to impart them, or is not versed in them
with sufficient thoroughness to make
them of real use they are not marketable
commodities. Every one who has had
experience in dealing with women in
search of employment, whatever their
social standing or degree of education
may be, knows that one sad deficiency
is conspicuous in most of them: they do
not know how to do any one thing well.
One cardinal principle should be kept
steadily in view, the application varying
with each individual case: Have the
daughter taught to do superlatively well
some one thing which it is probably the
public will always req uire to have done.
This teaching need not exclude the
most liberal education, the highest Gull
ture, in other branches of knowledge.
She cannot, know too much; none of
her requirements will be disadvantage
to her if they are solid possessions, not
mere surface smatterings. 1t is better
to limit the field and to have thorough
ness, rather than desultory acquaint-
ance with many subjects. The special
line she is to follow must depend upon
her own tastes and inclinations When
she has none her parents must choose for
her.
Many girls have natural talent for
music, others for languages, others for
art. Some have an aptitude for cooking,
others for nursing, others again for
millinery and dressSaking, few for
teaching. This, one of the noblest of
professions, will one day assume it's
rightful place. L hen only long training
and cultivation of a natural ability to
impart instruction will be held sufficient
to justify any one in undertaking it.
Suppose it is decided that girl has
sufficient musical talent to warrant its
cultivation. A conscientious teacher
should be sought, and it should be un-
derstood from the outset that the pupil
is not taking lessons to acquire medi-
OGRE proficiency but is to be fitted to
teach herself. The science of music
should be studied and no pains be spared
to have her thoroughly grounded in her
chosen profession .-Ladies Home Jour-
nal.
Ferns.
If sou are going to attempt to grow
ferns in the garden select shady place
for them. If you cannot give them such
n laca do nnt try to prour than In tho