The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-18

coils. the GanScl was prepared. at elgh-
I teen, to present herself as a finished spe-
cirnen before TIE gaze OF good society.
From that time until the period of her
marriage her amusenents ana her dress
were a law 10 the household. Her ener-
eios were supposed to he devoted to the
adornment Of home and the delight of
social gatherings abroad. She spent hours
| in pracdcing music which she afterwards
gave up: she read poetry and kept a
diary; she did a good deal of fancy work.
| and at a pinch could trim a bonnet or a
sleeve But On the whole, her family
were lovingly united in making Of her a
hot house plant, sheltered and Tapped in
softest airs. When adversely came or
sorrow bowed her head and when mar
rage and maternity brought her face to
face with the necessity OF -effacement
1t was always more to the credit OF her
true womanhcod than to training If she
knew how to meet the test.
There was no such thing as teaching
the girl of good social position in that
day any of the useful arts whereby she
could, If need be gain a livelihood She
was not encouraged to be athletic. She
was considered rather to step out Of her
place IL she offered to nurse the sick, to
give first aid to the injured, or to be
prominent in charities. And, above all,
there was kept from her knowledge Of
business matters ana the stress Of family
were paid for her, and the disagreeable
problems OF where money comes from,and
how much it takes to support family,
were hidden, through mistaken kindness,
from her sight
To-day, among rational people who ap-
preciate the fact that the best gift they
can confer upon a woman is the knowl-
edge of her own powers. the whole
scheme of things is altered. The girl of
the cultured classes, even when wealth
is to be her portion is early taught to
take her part in domestic councils The
business of welcoming and looking after
guests. a task peculiarly fitted for the
exercise Of her gracious powers, is large
ly allotted to her She helps her mother
to reduce the burden of notes. letters,
applications for help and money, that
every days mail brings pouring in 70
ones breakfast table. She writes and an
swers invitations, gives hints as to the
disposition Of the daily menu for meas,
remembers what dishes papa" likes and
"the boys" have called for. and receives
claimants upon her mothers time and IA
tience Her youth, her buoyancy, throw
off. when she is acting in her mother
stead. a hundred trifiing annoyances of
the household that through years of tier
alton have begun to weigh heavily upon
the housekeeper. If there are younger
children she establishes with them the
loveliest of ties-that Of vice-queen car
rying out the mandates of the maternal
sovereign, and at the same time making
herself a comrade of nursery and school
room fun.
To her father and grown brothers girl
rightly trained for the position may be
veritable blessing. To her they viii carry
worries and condolences they do not deem
IL expedient to convey 70 the generally
overburdened mistress of the house. Her
sympathy and camaraderie may well
create a green spot in their lives of work
aday.
In a wise household the daughter has
her own allowance of pocket money and
dress money. and If possible, is taught
the use of a bank account and check
book. A blessed advance will the twen-
tieth century bring if it removes from
women the odium of cheap wit at the ex-
pense of their knowledge Of business af-
fairs!
/ saw less about the duty of young
girl in familiarzing herself with actual
cookery in her fathers home. The kaleid
oscopic conditions of most American
kitchens in The matter of domestic ser
wee made this no easy task. With the
theory of cooking, the composition of diff
ferent dishes. the reasons why the COOK
has failed or succeeded, she should be glad
indeed to be acquainted. And as to the
of flowers, the oversight of
house plants the disposition of furniture
books pictures ana bric-a-brac, they
would appear to be her natural field of &C,
tivity.
All of these duties, and more, a healthy
girl can find time 10 incorporate into her
daily life, and yet enjoy reading, walking,
athletics, according 10 her taste, and an
ordinary amount of participation in So
ciety To the daughter of a great house
high place in society, a wild
er scope is offered for her energies. AL
though her parents may employ trained
service in sparing her most of the duties
suggested, they cannot rid her of the ever
present responsibility Of her position to-
ward those less favored by fortune. But
rich or poor. there are very few youns
girls who cannot find enough work at
home-be it of one kind or another-to
fill their days with healthy activity. II
pity is when the parents do not see in
time that they make their children hap
pier by training them to be unselhsh.
Intelligent people are beginning to un-
derstand the Importance of protecting the
nervous system in infancy and the danger
of a shock 10 childish nerves. AS rule,
the more quiet baby is kept during the
first year OF its life the better chance II
has for a life Of health and happiness.
The fact that so ,aIge a proportion of the
human family die in infancy Is due largely
to the folly of nurses and the Ignorance of
mothers. Overnight babies do not COM
mend themselves TO physicians, who know
that the first year of the child's life should
be spent largely in sleep. All efforts to
arouse the dormant mind OF a child at this
period are attended with danger.
The foolish practice OF tossing a help
less baby in the air, while it screams with
alright and delight, is a most dangerous
one. A physician with large practice
tells the story of a precocious,y bright
child which showed evident delight when
tossed In this way by a doung grand
father, who was accustomed 10 play with
it every evening. The child trembled with
delight when the nights frolic was over
but one evning from the trembling it pass
ed into a spasm. the first indication Of
one of those fatal brain diseases against
which medical science is helpless.
Among the pretty mi,liners who came
10 town last week saws the 81 ouis