Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30

many departments of public work, the in
dependence of position secured to them by
the cultivation of their natural abilities
these are facts SO familiar as not to need
special mention in the present connection.
The rehabilitation of the drama in this
middle period opened for our youth new
source OF enjoyment and instruction. The
elder Booth, Forrest and Macready had
already gained among us the favor of a
limited public, but by the time that Ed
win Booth came upon the stage the an
Gent prejudice had gradually given away.
| cannot but esteem this change evil
dence of our advance in polite culture.
1t pains me even now to recall the old
time uncharity shown to plays and play
ers- These last were regarded by the
sober people of my young days as out
laws. view which even their authority
could not induce me to share. I am proud
today to have enjoyed the friendship
of Charlotte Cushman, of Edwin Booth
and of Tommaso Salvin Our indebted
ness to these artists and to others of their
grade is such as no amount of money can
repay.
What shall we say of girlhood at the
present day? We may say that it moves
in a wider sphere and with freer gait
than at either of the earlier periods here
spoken of. 1t has, OR should have, an
athletic body and an active mind. The
old notion of accomplishments has been
has taken it's place, and in that work a
large freedom of choice and opportunity
is allowed. A certain proportion only of
our girls enter college These, after their
graduation. occupy themselves mostly
with pursuits into which the idea of pub
lie service largely enters. This proper
ton modifies the position of all. The
coming-out party is no longer antici-
pated as ''the crisis of my fate Society
now accepts both the college girl and
her less studious sister, and exacts only
that each shall live useful and reason
able life, employing talents for worthy
ends, and having regard to the principles
which are found to have a steadfast value
in human life.
Pursuits and Tastes.
The varieties of taste and pursuit which
we see among the young women of to-
day are so many proofs of what nature
can accomplish under the condition of free
dom. In the typical society girl the
new development is least apparent. Yet,
in the class to which she of right be-
longs are seen many refreshing outcrop-
pings of originality. Although born of
wealthy and fashionable parents she may
elect to go to college, she may choose
Tor herself profession; she may devote
herself to the practice of art. to the
study of philosophy Her prediction
may be in favor of athletic sports, and
we may see her name on the list of win
rection her choice may lead her she will
not, by following it, necessarily become
unacceptable to the circle in which she
was born and bred. She will, on the con-
trary, become recognized in that circle
as beneficent influence. her very pres
ence tending to redeem it from frivoity
and intellectual stagnaton.
The familiarity with European life which
is now common among our people consid-
erably affects our young girls. Americans
who travel In Europe often meet parties
of their youthful fellow countrywomen. I'M
der the escort of some elderly guardian
who conducts them from place to place in
search of various points of interest. Such
expeditions if we'll managed, may be fruit
full in instruction as well as in pleasure
Yet it is much to be desired that young
persons who go abroad should first learn
enough about their own country to have
some notion of the value of it's instit utions.
Notification.
The marriage of American heiresses to
titled Europeans, often poor in reputation
and almost always poor in estate, is
fact notifying to our national self-respect
We surely may hope that the better train
ing which is now almost imperative for our
girls will tend to make them lovers of their
native land, preferring to dwell at home
rather than to commit themselves to life
long exile from all that should be most
dear to them.
We hear with pain of the wild antics of
SOiHc very young ana OF certain
vices which tend to invade the domain of
the privileged classes, so called. aliude
especially to gambling and the use of mar
cotics and stimulants. These regrettable
traits rarely show themselves among COL
lege-bred women, but wherever they may
appear l feel assured that the better sense
of the greater number and the experience
of later life will more and more correct the
excuses of youthful frivolity, and that We
Shall see among all classes, with a few I'M
usual exceptions, the normal conditions of
orderly and decent behavior.
In these days, as in others, sweeping
statements of praise or of blame are to be
avoided. In all the time of which / have
had experience individual exceptions have
been seen in contrast to the prevailing
human average. Studious women in many
ages have followed philosophy. science
belles-lettres. Society is never so foolish
as not to show, here and there, men and
women whose elevation of character goes
lty. 1t is never SO wise but that you shall
find at intervals those fools and groups
of fools whom the satirst delights to ridi-
cule.
In what 1 have here written / have only
the several periods under consideration as
l have been able to observe them Let me
say in conclusion that l turn from this
rapid survey of our past with high hopes
for our future. l earnestly believe that
American society will fulfill the promise
which it's early days gave to the world and
that it's moral progress will not fall behind
its undisputed advance in the appliances of
civilization