Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-02-17
PRICE BAKING POWDER CT
CHICAGO

know. Question any statement made
| by her and no matter how gently you
advance your own judgment you are
summarily snubbed. There is no adj
mission that you may have 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:
Go 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 a
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 |
fancy the meaning is tolerably clear.
The girls who have an undue sense Of
| their own Importance, who are lacking
in Difference 10 their elders, in unselfish
thoughtfulness for those about them
and in a modest esteem of their own
Importance, are in the majority.
[ don't like to own it, but [ 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 near
ly all, to athletics. They will declare
that the outdoor sports for which girls
have become SO keen during the past
few years are responsible for loss of
what the old writer's who have called
feminine delicacy. Those of us who
think that healthy body and healthy
mind and soul should go together 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 cred
ence to any such sweeping cOndemna-
lions of athletic pursuits. And yet,
what is the matter?
It 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 measure respOn-
sibIe for some Of the faults Of the girls?
Have they not made a mistake some
where in the early training of their
daughters? 1t cannot be altogether 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 a
rather different product.
Perhaps it may sound hopelessly old
fogeyish to press the value OF domestic
duties in making the girl more wom-
anly. But it is not the case? If girl
is taught from the first that certain
home cares fall to her lot as matter Of
course, will she not adapt herself to the
home-making work? The girl who in
tends to go out and seek a career Will
doubtless laugh this idea to scorn, but
if she does, it is because she was started
wrong. From her childish years she
should have been called upon to do her
share in taking care of the home and
making it attractive. While she is still
very young she can be instructed in the
mysteries of busting and in such small
duties and as she grows older she can
look after her own room and keep the
living rooms attractive.
Then there comes the time that near
ly every girl finds interesting, when she
is allowed to little cooking. Now that
the sensible plan has been introduced of
giving cooking lessons in public schools
there is chance for children to leaIn
something OF cookery outside OF their
own homes. The effect is often very
noticeable The child goes home eager
to attempt some Of the new dishes she
has made under the teachers supervi-
sion. The mother is guilty of a grave
blunder who does not encourage this
sort Of thing in the home. What if it
does for while make more plague than
profitb Bother is not what the mother
should be to introduce her daughter to
care for the purely woman pursuits OF
making the home all that therein IS Of
comfort aid pleasure.
1t is an excellent plan to give the girl
a sense of responsibility when there is
entertaining to be done. This does not
mean that she is to receive her guests
alone while her mother and father re-
tire to the background. Quite the con-