New-York tribune., 1901-11-28

THEIR DIFFERENT characteristics DIS
CUSSED BY TWO MOTHERS

GUSSED BY TWO MOTHERS.
Journeying toward the city late this autumn from
her country home was the happy mother OF 1our
boys. with oldtime friend also just coming back
TO town. Two of the boys had gone earlier TO
school, the others. sun Drowned bright faced little
fellows sat across the aisle, watching the pictures
flashing past the window. The conversation
between the two women. whose chairs were side
by side, fell upon article in contemporary
magazine, purportinG to be written by a phioso-
pher who averred that contrary to general belief
boys from ten to sixteen years old do not spend
their out Of school time in playing marbles. ball
hockey, in skating. fishing sailing boats. as the
seasons permit, but instead. NOPE in corners, lone
~ miserable. trying to adjust life's problems.
What a mistaken idea" said the mother of the
four boys, that the average boy. healthy,
free young creature that he is finds existence
dreary round! But l think that may sometimes
ne true of the average girl. because girls take
everything harder than boys from mumps and
whoopng cough life itself
More than that answered the other woman,
who knew whereof she spoke respectfully when
girl is an only child, instead of having a boys
active duties of bringing up frewood. running er-
rands and the like she is learning the things
which shall fit her for womanhood's duties-which
she cannot understand-or if she goes out doors,
oftener than not 1t is with an eleventh command
ment impressed upon her, Thou shalt soil thy
dress"
Even il childhood is not the happest time of
life. as some OF us think continued the mother,
pToudDIy IeW children consciously lonely until
they are at least eight or ten years old. Then,
when q girl is waking up to the knowledge that
her precious doll is stuffed with sawdust boy is
eagerly investigating world
round him lies-nature, machinery everything All
along the boys life. type of the mans that is
to be, is lived less in touch with the world
OF activities But now. if girl begins be lonely
she is more lonely than the Ioneiest boy
With the keen sensitiveness and the tendency
self-analysis and ntrospection which fortunately
or unfortunately characterizes womanklnd, she
suffers In every fibre of her awakening soul Her
whole nature indeed. expanding trembles on the
borders of the unknown. A boy the contrary,
at this seldom tries TO solve all the problems
OF the universe he is too busy having a good time.
and he is seldom morbid. save in such rare
ments as for instance the Bad Boy in
Aldrichs story, who. after a too bountifll dinner.
mourned over his companions gravestone. with its
forlorn Hi2 iacet' boy Will fight and forget, If
an injustice done him. Not so a girl who will
brood or sulk. as her disposition may be. over
real or fanced wrong, AS rule. from the age of
ten to sixteen years a boy If sometimes lone
y. is invariably objective. while a girl. especially
a lonely girl. is intensely subjective boy at
woman -''' d '''''' ''''' d Si'i Is Inc d
Il know family with four Children" said the
fortunately. disagree In way that doesn't exactly
make for peace in fact there is scarcely any com
mon ground of sympathy between the father and
mother Two of the girls apparently hardened
to her heart'S core-noor jitf rhinc9jnqs herself
on the floor Of her own room and sobs for hours
in agonies of loneliness. The boy, sensitive this
sister. when the home atmosphere IS most unbear-
able, takes his pony and gun fishing rod and
stays away for the day. He feels wretched
the girl Yet he works off his feelings in the vigor
Gus outdoor life
Perhaps the lonely girl takes certain morbid
satisfaction in her loneliness: which is foreign to
the boys nature answered the mother, "espe
cta!ly when she comes 10 the novel reading age.
and begins to weave romanCes picture ad-
ventures in which she herself is the suffering and
finally triumphant heroine. Many girls diary
and most girls keep diaries. beieve-would tell
tales. often pitiful little stories OF the faith with
which the unreal is taken for the real and of the
consequent woful awakening Into her diary,
earlier into the Of her doll the girl unbosoms
all her loneliness and longing for sympathy. The
boy. who keeps diary, is spared the access OF
loneliness which this kind of sefexpresson brings.
Then. too outside diversions. theatres, clubs and
seeing the world. are not so accessible to the av-
erage girl to the boy. She is hedged in by
ventionalt;es: she seldom gives her confidenc" TO
others than girls immature herself. and she is
the prey Of hopes and fears and longincs which
fill her life with dissatisfaction and unrest. Mean
while the boy has gone of the home life into
college the business world and though he may
be lonely times. he Is always rescued by
the activities and interests of the life around
him
Surely" she added. the train plunged into
lonely girl is loneier than the lonely boy