The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-02-25

VlkIUES.
By CHRISTINE TERHUNE HERRICK,
Author of Cradle and Nursery" "First All,
to the Young Housekeepers,""Ho usekeep
ing Made Easy" what to Eat" "In Cit
Tents" Etc.
Copyright, 1904, by Christine Terhune Herrick.
There are few creatures in the world
more charming than a really nice girl
one such girl comes to my mind as
write. She has led what may be called
sheltered life. Her family posses.
means and she has had all the advan
tages any girl could desire She studied
III one of the best of New England;
nigh schools and there acquired free
dom from snObbishnesS-a character
TRAIT that is impaired to the right type
OF girl by the association with all sorts
and conditions of students. When she
left the high school she was taken
abroad and after having travelled ex.
tenslVely, was given year in an Eng
llsh and French school near Paris.
From this she came home to the small
town IN which she was reared and went
happily to work to live her life. She
has taken one or two small classes in
languages, because, as she sensibly
says, that is the work by which she
would live If she had to support her
sell and she does not wish to let her &C
compartments become rusty. But she
is also the daughter of the house, in
the old fashioned meaning of the
phrase, taking her share in the house
keeping and home making. helping her
mother when it is necessary, being
a companion to her father and friend
TO her younger brothers and sisters.
Inc gentieness OF manner which makes
her charming to strangers may be due
partly to nature and training, but a
portion of it is surely the result of
effort on her own part She has found
| herself"
know another girl of the same type
although of a different environment.
The second is a Middle States girl and
comes OF parentage in very moderate
circumstances. Always the girl knew
that when she left school she would
have to earn her own living. By the
time she was eighteen she had master
ed stenography and type-writing and
had obtained position. All day she
is In her office, working hard. But
| when she leaves the office, she throws
1T aside entirely. One vino met her
would never suspect that she, too, did
not lead the sheltered life. Gentle,
conslderate, deferential to her seniors.
not vehement i'll pressing her own opn-
ions upon others. She is thoughtful
about doing ''the little kindnesses that
most leave undone or despise.''
Here are two specimens of what |
call really nice girl. There are a
good many Of them in the world-for
winch we may thank Heaven and i'll
dicious mothers. But, alas! there are
others OF another type.
know several Of the latter sort, but
one Will serve as an example. She is
college graduate and splendid looking
young woman. She has her good points
and they are many. Those who know
these and love her because of them
deprecate the flaws which are so much
more conspicuous than the virtues that
the latter sink almost out of sight.
This girl is self assertive. She has no
doubt that she knows all there is to
Know. Question any statement made
by her and no matter how gently you
advance your own Judgment YOU are
summarily snubbed. There is no ad.
mission that you may have a grain of
right on your side. Has not the girl
been to college? Is she not young?
Does she not keep up with the times?
10 to, We back numbers! The girl of
the period has spoken and the point is
settled!
AS matter of course, the two girls
OF whom | spoke first have as good
right as the third to claim to be girls
of the period. That is, they would
have if there were as many of them as
there are of her. This sounds involved
but L fancy the meaning is tolerably
clear. The girls who have an undue
sense OF their own Importance, who are
lacking in Difference to their elders, in
unselfish thoughtfulness for those
about them and in modest esteem
of their own Importance, are in the
majority. l don't like to own it. but
L am afraid it is the truth. If it is.
what is the matter?
There will be found large number
OF conservatives who will lay it all, or
nearly all, to athletics. They will de-
clare that the outdoor sports for which
girls have become SO keen during the
past few years are responsible for a
loss of what the old writer's would have
called feminine deiicacy. Those of us
who think that a healthy body and a
healthy mind and soul should 20 to-
gether are not inclined to hold this
view. We know too many girls who
play basket ball and row boats and ride
wheels and take part in track and field
meets and are yet gentlewomen to
yield credence to any such sweeping
condemnations of athletic pursuits.
And yet, what is the matter?
1t is hard thing for one woman to
criticise other women and still harder
and in even poorer taste for one mother
to pick flaws in other mothers. But
are not the mothers in a measure re-
sponsible for some of the faults of the
girls? Have they not made a mistake
somewhere in the early training of
their daughters? 1t cannot be alto
gether the sins of the latter, either
hereditary or acquired. If the mothers
had held the right relationship with the
girls from the time the little creatures
left the nursery, along through school
life and out into society, would not the
young woman of the present day be
rather different product?
Perhaps it may sound hopelessly
old-fogeyish to press the value of do
nestle duties in making the girl more
womanly. But is it not the case? If
girl is taught from the first that certain
home cares fall to her lot as a matter
OF course, will she not adapt herself to