The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-16
THESE ARE FEARFUL DAYS.
any ETELIDs NOW AMoN0 THE
PINE ,oIRDTNG-SCHOOL GIRLS.

Ao~.rdinp-school girls are hero once more.
40 fret week Of October, upper Fifth
n." and the side streets. which harbor pri-
e'eu ,,bo,Is. blossomed with pink-cheeked
N,e Ionr files OF them trot dcmurely along.
tn. convoy of teachers. Dat pupils loiter In
unuva or walk in state with maids following
'VSnasnactfuI distance. On every corner there
'.a,husi,stic meetings and excited babble
.1,.arues. From stage and car and carriage
0'.,i,gs are waved to schoolmates on the
sidewalk.
.n,nrs begin to take notes and follow care
IN, nl,nped routes and even the older men
nsd ,bs morning walk more entertaining than
-, IN September. and remark to friends
~, this bracing air makes a man feel him
III ,ounc again. Floorwalkers and statesmen
.niIs At the nocks OF girls that go flying
,Nrnurh the stores. The actors last Saturday
-,ra not 40 absorbed in their parts that they
,,nsa 10 notice the school delegations in the
,h,,tres at the matinees. Yes; the boarding
,,hool girls have come back. and New York
m,.culinity should regard those same board
mo schools as public benefactors. in that they
IA an materially to the number OF pretty girls
10 be seen on New York streets.
Just now the average OF beauty in school pro-
o..sIons is lowered by a suspicious prevalence
mink and swollen eyelids. but that disadvan-
,,gs IA purely temporary and confined to first
,ear girls, When a girl has never been away
from home before. and doesn't know the
harding school possibilities in the way of
tp. and hasn't had time to get well ac-
ou,ipted with her roommates. OF course
she cries. Why shouldn't she2 h tears
ana m inevitable feature of the first school
weeks. and visitors would do well to wear 60
lo,hes and mackintoshes. Teachers, even the
most sympathetic and tender hearted OF them.
lam to meet the deluge with philosophical
serenity and wait patiently for clear weather.
Sunday is the great day for home6ickness.
Then the chaperons can't take the girls to any
thing more exciting than church. and there are
no lessons to keep them busy. and some n
plays hymns in the parlor. Then the new girls
rTse their VOICES and wall. and teachers eXer-
cise their powers OF entertainment in vain.
But BY the time the second Sunday comes
around the rainbow OF promise has turned up
and the waters have subsidized.
The tears are not monopolized by the girls.
Many Of the parents who offer up daughters in
The name OF New York educational advantages
cpAWAy with misty eyes and shiny noses, and
lave behind them far more pocket money
@ S1n l Hls week inSsuS an u na SW1 p petElifi PIH saw the The
door OF a dignihed brownstone house open for
round rosy. grSy-hSired man, whose face
I IN E0s straIGh@ tened his shoulder boulder ms and d"I wSs
bali way down the steps whom the door opened
once more, and out shot a human catapult
"a the shape Of a pretty fearful. disheysllsd
Ga gentleman around the neck. cried all over
bis shirt front, Rugged him and kissed him a
dozen times. ana. sobbing. rushed back into
moment, looking back at the door and biting
BIZ lip viciously. Finally he turned away.
Two big tears were trickling down his cheeks.
passed him on the steps and said ~impulsively,
She'll be al, right. Wen take good care Of
throat; 80 he shook hands again and went
away. blowing his nose theoretically and walk
with exaggerated iaunttness.
fathers than with the ,mothers-not that they
are prouder OF the girls. but tears demoralize
them, more completely, and the mothers, re-
know that the period OF weeping will be short.
On dear old mar from 4 little town in the far
West brought his daughter to a Fifth avenue
t,t.d with them for a while. called in the
5ts roommates and introduced them. and
htsn hurried away. to manifold duties. The
old gentleman sat in the parlor looking at his
daughter, who was chatting with the other
and he was free to go, but he didn't move, The
IMPORTANT to say to his daughter. 50 they went
upstairs. telling the newcomer to follow when
she pleased. htter they were gone the father
and daughter made a few remarks about them,
and then settled into silence. The girl looked
ont Of the window: the old gentleman looked
Was there anything more you wanted to
say, "a ~ she finally asked.
Inc Old gentleman moved uneasily on his
We'll. l don't know as there was" he said.
Then, after q few moments. he added in an
embarrassed way. Thought I'd wait n see
" your trunks come all right"
You don't need to see about that"
oh, I'd Just as lief"
The couple sat in the dim back parlor
quietly, and at last a teacher who was working
asked II they were waiting for some one, and
IL she could do anything for them.
Thought I'd wait and make sure Armies
Trunks come. said the father apologetically.
Bpt they may not come up before evening.
Sldthe porter will attend to them. You needn't
ga all anxious about them."
E.nuenan; and the teacher. catching the look
K se9t toward his daughter, understood that
ps oiqnt have courage to go, and Tel back to
sst desk. After a while the daughter grew
Think I'd better, go up and see my room
IA % getting acquainted with the girls" h
Al, right, Annie" But he followed her with
LLSNGL hungry eyes. Then he sat alone and
ITShea a. the pattern on the rug at his feet.
"iStst ne was Stillin the same house with her.
Nan - tNfN US $500 WY faNllCl a. o h0bA
w occasional Elsnces into the parlor. For
tnnMe reason, or other she had a lump in her
%lVat, and her work didn't go well. At last
ny Haiked back and spoke to the old gentle
Wouldn't you rather come In and sit by the
eSVd " SniaS"w, where you could watch the
hS ross n an indifferent. listless way.
IA, h ~ i would, he said; and he followed
AZ 70 the other end Of the classroom and sat
S, " IN the chair she placed for him He
M OUT on ruth avenue for q few minutes.
s y seemlng to feel that something was ex-
S u, u MN. turned to the teacher,
fysps1,, shes the only one he added ir-
"TEhhanty; Her mas dead"
tonnN sSSIcher thought he was going on, but he
SstHIpeu INTO silence again. When dusk began
"sSIIinE COVE outside Of the window he got up.
tunnLaa PHt know as I'd better wait for the
y Isn't necessary. but we are glad to have
'TISs.ay, II You care TO do it."
AsITss'o9d and twirled his hat uncertainty.
'gqEot was waiting"
h,inmss teacher sent a maid upstairs. A moment
IA annie came down. She was laughing,
u,te arm was around her new roommate's
~IgoIng. pa? ?"
"HWEuess maybe I'd better"
VorrT oaGe good care of yourself, and don't
~ dGout me. I'll have a good time"
Nnp,l Atssed him., and he looked at her as
Hbtsd more were a, good many things he
Ian W say, hut he didn't maxi the attempt.
"6buyIsoSe youHl write often. Annie"
rTGocd'by." "
up sge loor closed behind him, and Annie went
ttd M, pul ne teacher stood nt the window