The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-15
FOR FEMININE READERS
MOTHERS OFTEN FAIL IN DEALING
WITH THEIR DAUGHTERS.
Need Felt by Women for Variety in
Their LiVes-WOmen's Change
of Name i'm Marriage.

Few women are actually stupid, but many
Of them are mentally near-sighted. says
writer in the New York Independent. And
L IS IL this matter OF vision that the aver
age mother so often falls short Of her vo-
cation She cannot see the distant sky line
d. the coming generation. Having folded
per own wings with matronly dignity and
become home body she is inclined to go
on playing dolls" with her daughter TO
take the place of the little bisque image
lOndled in childhood. She would train and
dispose OF her in the social drama of life
according 10 the godmother theories Of her
pWn youth. But frequently the modern
young woman resents the restriction i'm
posed by these maternal dOll-rag notions.
She makes a WY face at godmother pro-
prieties and demands Of Providence a new
hemisphere of ideals. And she gets what
she seeks IL spite of her mothers prayers
TO the contrary.
Even when the mother is not frivolous she
eften goes To the other extreme and be-
Zones that most depressing Of all COM
panions. woman who shows a dull insist
ence for the common prose OF this earth
Ind a creed made Up of her own disiIlusions.
If she is not exactly out of sympathy with
creations renewal of hope in the heart Of
her child she is determined upon the most
exaspeTating qualifications. She would cul-
tvate her lily by burying the head of it
In the dust of her own poor garden. But
the lily has other plans and gardens pre-
destined for her. And she recognizes the
spring and summer OF life in spite of all the
winter counsels quoted 10 her by older peO-
pie.
The unnatural burdens of fIiaI obligations
and scruples imposed by some mothers is
the prime factor of the secret antagOnism
existing between them. If the mother could
be made to comprehend that the young
woman intrusted by birth to her care is
not created merely that she may become
daughter, or even wife, but that
Through these successive phases of devel-
Opment she is made a being responsible
primarily to God for her actions there
would be fewer reproaches on the one side
and less indifference on the other.
The forcing upon a young girl the obliga-
ton OF ''confessing" and revealing her in
most soul at the maternal knee Is often
piOus outrage, which breaks in upon that
nne reserve which nature makes the safe
guard OF women. As d matter OF fact
there Is less need of condolences between
the two than is generally supposed-and
much more need of confidence. Whether
Young or old 1t is against the nature Of
women TO confess - They all go down
into their graves hiding secrets from the
very angels OF God. And the mothers call
Ing does not consist so much in invading
the sacred portals Of her daughters inner
life as in guarding this shekinah of her
soul from the invasion of those less worthy
10 enter there; for it is true that the young
girl who is taught neither TO give nor re-
ceive condolences is safer from the vandals
OF this world than one who confesses too
readily to mother or friend.
With the sacred reserve OF maidenhOod
made secure through the delicate courtesy
and teaching of the mother the daughter
Is safe TO try her wings around the horizon
OF modern life. She carries within charm
OWL Ind her in o. anfT n 4
VSgaries Will be of small import, depending
as they do upon her nerves and tempera-
nlent, so long as she holds in reserve the
beautiful formula of her own inner life.