The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-02-24
GIRLS WHO LEAVE HONE.
Written for The state by w. ID.
Woods.

the writer the compliment of reading
his articles. which have appeared from
time to time in its columns need
hardly be reminded of his position on
the subject of education. There is.
however, one thing in connection with
the question to which he begS TO enter
Il protest, although ii is done with a
considerable degree of reluctance.
1T is possible, of course, that this
evil, and the word is used advisedly,
may not owe it's origin to our system
of education, but to n change of pub
lie sentiment, which has found de-
velopment outside of higher education
Then, too, the fact must be recognize
ed that i'm all III affairs, 1t mat
ters not how good the general ten
dency is. there must be some evil; but
While giving fun acknowledgment to
this truth, every effort SHOULD be made
to keep he evil incident thereto to
the lowest possible point.
ThS wi to which allusion is made Is
the craze that has found lodgment in
the mind of almost every girl that
Just as soon as she leaves the college
or nigh school she must find some
kind OF employment, despite the fact
mat III the large majority Of cases it
involves leaving her home and being
thrown with strangers. Any system
OF education or of public sentiment
that instills II feeling of this kind into
the mind of a girl, that she must be in
dependent and make her own wa in
The world, is radically and im~eXcusably
wrong.
There are. of course, many cases
where this seeking for employment is
painfully necessary, and where this is
the case Il girl should be encouraged
and rendered every assistance; but
WI re this condition does not exist,
she is both unjust to herself and her
parents when she voluntarily leaves
them Just at the time when They Will
derive so much pleasure from her
presence i'm the house. She has been
sorely missed during the -four years she
mas spent at college, but this separation
was cheertuliy borne by her parents,
Tor they could look forward to the time
when she would finish her education
ana once more be with them to bright
en- their home. Independence and the
desire to make ones own way in the
world, is both natural and commend
able, but there is such q thing as car
rying even II good impulse too far. md
there is something radically wrong in
amy system of home or school train
ing that implants the idea in the mind
OF q girl that she should not be de-
pendent on her father. even when he
is a~bundantly able to provide for her
wants.
Even if it be granted that she can
town or city thar in the country home
of her parents, this furnishes no suti-
cient Excuse for her to leave her par
ehtS when her presence and help af-
IoiuS thtin SUCH hnalloSeu happiness.
IL OFTEN happens that the mothe get
ting on in years, is worn out with toll
ana care. She has given all her
strength II time to the raising and
training of her children, and to her
II is an ineXpresSlblc pleasure when
her daughter insists on assuming some
OF her duties and responsibilities. and
enables her to enjoy n ~well-earned
rest.
y number oe years ago 1t was the
I Wlltnl'G UnnI fnrtl,nn 10 la d, ,,,,-,
visitor at a home where the condition
above mentioned existed. The moth
erS health was not good and the oldest
daughter had simply relieved her of all
household cares, not ever allowing the
younger children to trouble her with
any of their troubles. This daughter
was accomplished, well educated, n
very fine musician and could easily
nave secured a position to teach. This
she would AVE liked to do, but she
tclt that her first duty was at home.
and the discharge of this sacred duty
Will ever be the sweetest and tcndcr-
est recollection of her life, for when
she was called on to see that mother
pass away she was sustained and
soothed by the consciousness that she
mad done all that lay in her power to
make her mothers last years pass in
peace and happiness.
one of the greatest and noblest men
Robert IL. Lec-who has ever lived on
TINS earth, made duty the ~watchword
of his whole life, and no sacrifice or
uahSer ever restrained him from do
ing what he conceived to be right. The
pain OF duty often calls us to walk
in ways that humanity speaking are
the very reverse OF the ones we would
choose, but then there should ever be
present the thought that after all the
stronScSt happiness comes from the
CONSCIOUSNESS of having done our ut
most To promote the happiness of those
VINO are dear to us. Fortunate, in
deed, Is the daughter who, when she
looks for the last time on the face of
her mother, with her tired hands fold
ed across her bosom, can feel that she
never brought tears to the now closed
eyes or II of sorrow to the UNI
selfish heart, which has forever ceas-
ed to beat.
If she can feel thus then she has n
peace ana JOY that will be her greatest
solace as long as life endures, for what
ever, for veal or woe, the future has
IN store for her. this is something that
no earthly power can take away.
~ girl when she first leaves col
iege and enters, as it were, upon the
threshold of her life, stands In great
need of her mothers counsel and pro-
lection, and it is a misfortune when
stress of circumstances deDriVes her
Oh this safeguard. If there be one
thing on earth that comes as n gift
from Heaven 1t is the love of a moth
er for her child. No pen can portray
:, ~ piuihHiet can SOUND It's depths,
Tor 1T is as deep and wide as q faith
omless sea. to which no measurement
can be given.
the writer trusts that he may be
pardoned for giving one more illus
tration OF the sacrifice of inclination
TO duty. the facts of which are just as
related.
"A good many years ago there ex-
listed an engagement between two
young people, but there was. i'm the
estimation of the young lady at least,
an inseparable barrier in the way of
It's immediate contamination. that OH
stacle being an invalid mother. for
whose care the daughter considered
herself responsible. After the lapse
OF a good many years the mother pass
ed away and a short time after her
death the daughter married the gen
tleman TO whom she had beer so long
attached. They We're both set
ting along in years then, but can any