San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-09-05

| lem well worth your study, young W0-
menl 1t is a work that is command
ing the attention of the noblest of
your sex. IL to you as young women,
as girls, there is given by nature a
particular power OF moulding the
boys, the young men of your set, then
it is worth while to study the means
of best accomplishing it. 1t is not so
much what you say as how you say
it that tells. Not so much what you
advise as what you set the example in
that will have it's effect. You may
preach nicely in all the arts of dress
and adornment and embellishments,
but it will not avail if taught by an
untidy girl. The first duty of the
young woman to the young man is
10 dress neatly.
There is a power of civilization in
clothes that can hardly be overrated.
1t is not costliness in dress, but a
neatness that is advocated. Some
girls are better dressed, in the best
sense Of the term, in calicos and mus
Inns, than others are in silks and laces.
Habits OF neatness in yourself will
compel habits Of neatness in your gen.
tlemen friends. Here is where the cor
receive influence will be first felt, in
the outer things. 1t is idle to expect
to influence the inner life, the thought
OF a young man whom you cannot in
fluence to dress neatly and tastefully.
If you fail in this outer reformation
it is useless to go any farther with
that person. Give him up for a bad
job. If your good taste will not be-
get good taste in him, then he is not
to your taste. Let him alone.
When you see a tendency in the
boys of your intimate association TO
please you in matters of outward APP
pearance, and any bright girl will see
that in minute, go a step farther.
The time has come to cut the slang
out of his speech, the half cuss words
out of his conversation. But here is
where the knife has to come, perhaps,
10 the root of the home tree. Too
many of the danes and damsels of
this generation are past masters them
selves in the dialect of slang. If this
islyOur case, then there is no hope that
your young man will find his speech
purified through you. Here is where
home missionary work comes in. If
your effort to help your best boy
friend talk straight cures you of talk
ing slang, then you are doubly blest.
Slang is not the only imprudent -or
improper thing that is riddled through
the pouting lips of the girl of the per-
iod. There is not a mean, or jealous,
or envious expression that you can
afford to give utterance to in the pres
ence of the young man you would
work the rabbit foot of your woman
~ influence upon. If you would have
him on his best behavior while with
you, then must you be on your met
tie to show your best to him. There
is not a noble sentiment of your lipS..
backed always by a noble hahjS of
meeting and dealings With others.
that will be lost on youE-ySung man.
" nat is influencing BIN in particular
is also influencins-eyery other Young
man you see " greater or less degree.
IL Is QUIZ own fault if your young
gehtlenSn friends sit or stand in your
presence with their hands thrust in
mir trouser pockets, their legs cross
led IKE a tailor, their feet on another
chair as high as their heads, or in
dulging in other uncouth or not up-to-
date habits. 1t is your fault if he is
seen ON the street with a cigar in his
mouth.It is easy to teach him that the
place to smoke is in private and not in
publis These are among the outer signs
of that inner grace that your teach
ings. more by tact than by talk will
work in the habits and speech OF the
young men who come under your in
fluence.
BY love of knowledge, desire
for information, a pleasure in nature,
delight in all sweet and clean and
pure things, you will beget like de-
light and desire in him. Thus will the
seed be sOwn by your manner and
constant wOmanliness of speech and
act that under all kindly influence Will
bud and blossom and fruit until
all the fragrant spices of beautiful
character shall appear in the garden
of all life that touches your own. This
| is what in substance the deacon's
daughter suggested to the Light
preacher. and with her message upon
his lips the Light preacher comes this
morning to the young people of his
great congregation.