The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1904-03-11

ide wheels and lake part in track and
ield meets and are yet gentlewomen
o yield credence to any such sweeping
ondemnations of athletic pursuits.
And yet, what is the matter?
) 1t is a hard thing for one woman to
other women and still harder
md in even poorer taste for one moth |
II to pick flaws in other mothers. |
But are not the mothers in a measure
fer some of the faults of
;he girls? Have they not made mis-
AXE somewhere in the early training
If their daughters? 1t cannot be al
together the sins of the latter, either
OF acquired. II the moth
.rs had held the right relationship
With the girls from the time the little
creatures left the nursery, along
school Ii e and out into society,
would not the young woman of the
present day be a rather different pro
duct?
Perhaps it may sound hopelessly old
fogeyish to press the value of domestic
duties in making the girl more woman
ly. But is it not the case? II q 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
the home-making work? The girl who
intends to go out and seek career will
laugh this idea to scorn, but If she,
does, it is because she was started
wrong. From her childish years she
should have been calledupon to do her
share in taking care of the home and
making 1T attractive. While she is
still very young she can be instructed
in the mysteries of dusting 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
nearly every girl finds interesting.
when she is allowed to do little cook
ing. Now that the sensible plan has
been introduced of giving cooking les
sons in public schools, there is q chance
for children to learn something Of cook
cry 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
tho teachers supervision. The moth
er is guilty of grave blunder who
does not encourage this sort Of thing
in the home. What If it does for q
while make more plague than profitP
Bother is not what the mother should
be trying to escape. Her effort should
be to induce her daughter to care for
the purely womanly pursuits of making
the home and all that therein, is OF
comfort and pleasure.
It is an excellent plan to give the
girl 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 retire to the background. Quite
the contrary. When older guests are
present the girl must consider it in
cumbent upon her to help make things
pleasant for them. She need not thrust
herself forwards, but she should let
them see that she appreciates the du-
ties of her position as joint hostess.
When her own friends are invited to
the house it should not mean that the
parents are banished. In the habit of
Young America of putting 1.-THE old
people" to one side when girls and boys
are met socially, may be found the
cause of many of the defects we lament
in the girl of the period.
For after all, the young girl, no mat
ter how charming she may be, is an
untried creature. She is full of life
and vigor and shows these in an over
flow of animal spirits that manifests
itself in strange fashions. The youth
full spirits are all well enough in their
way and we would not have her with
out them. But they must be directed
and checked when they threaten TO
carry her too far.
The average young girl is too self
absorbed to grasp the idea that there
are other points of view besides her
own. She knows what her impulses
incline her to do and she does not stop
to consider how her actions impress
those about her. II she dwelt too
much upon this consideration it might
have tendency to make her self con-
scious, but little thought of herself
in relation to others is an admirable
thing. When she has been taught
from early childhood to be unseltish
and to seek the comfort Of others rath-
er than her own enjoyment, pure and
simple, she is pretty sure to be woman
ly and gentle.
Yet this does not mean that she may
not be breezy, outdoors little some
body. In fact, we would not like her
If she were not rather 'up and COM
ing" The American girl is not prone
to be lacking in go" and sparkle.
Her recent development along athletic
lines has improved her physically and
as well. II to her splendid
bodily health and her eager mind she
adds the gentleness and thoughtful
ness for others which make her low
able, there will be no one to cast even
the shadow of q criticism on the girl