The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-12
AMERICAN GIRL
GRADUATES.

p N I Il
The June con,tnencenlcnts are launching
an army Of young American girls into the
world. Some will go from their school
life here to school life yonder, for post
graduate studies and higher achieve
ment in scholastic work. Some will leave
their alma mater to take up the pro-
fessional career for which they have
been in training. Some will travel In
foerign lands and add to tho knowledge
they have been gaining, the Impress left
nv contact with tho rich stores Of art
and the historic associations Of older
civilizations Some will be glad to turn
from severer pursuits to the pleasures and
distra ctions Of social life at home and
abroad and test the truth Of the widely
expres sed belief that the American wo-
man in society occupies the most envia-
bic position In the world
CONFIDENT sELF-PoIsE.
But whatever may be her chosen
sphere, the thing which chiefly impresses
the beholder's mind, as the American
girl steps blithely forth to meet her fu-
turc, is the confident poise Of her mind
regarding 1t, the faith she has In her own
ability to cope With any adverse condt-
tons which may offer her opposition;
One can buttpause. while words Of warn
ing dis away on ones lips, to wonder It
Iitgis worth while to disturb such joyous
serenity. orto break In upon an attitude
OF mind that Is worth fortune In itself
to Its possessor. % HI
And. after all, It hardly seems fair to-
cloud the glowing brightness Of youth
with the painfully garnered wisdom OF
experience. The morning OF life is short
enough the shadows Of afternoon and
evening gather quickly at best. and
kindly indulgence and gentle tolerance
should incline one TO prolong rather than
shorten the period when the American
girl believes Implicitly In the goodness OF
humanity. and credits every one with the
same honesty OF purpose and kindllness
OF disposition that She herself possesses.
THE REASON OF HER SUCCESS.
Perhaps 1t Is because of the American
girl's attitude toward the world that the
world Is so ready to befrlend her and
contribute to her welfare. Perhaps 1t is
because she believes SO thoroughly In her
self that others believe In her. too. and
are inclined to trust her.
Perhaps 1t Is because she gives SO gen.
erously and 80 freely Of herself that
haps, because, with the sublime audacity
OF her age and sex, she knocks at the
doors OF Success, that Success opens ara
bids her enter. 5
Perhaps 1t Is because OF her swift and
unerring Intentions. her clear sense OF
right and wrong, her strength OF will
and purpose and her stiaightness OF aim
AMI Intention that she achieves honorable
rank and place in the professions, that
sho has been ahln to hold such without
loss Of womanly dignity or true wo-
manly feeling.
PERHAPS SHE WILL.
Perhaps II Is because she Is entering
the world in 1901 with its opportunities
and its possibilities open to her grasp,
that she VIII use such to enlarge and
magnify her sphere, Of work and duty to
| the tmost. Perhaps. she who elects to
be an instructor OF youth Will remem-
Der that within the limit OF her attain
r,ent is the betterment Of systems and
theories. ana the adaptation of such to
tile needs OF childhood, boyhood and girl
hood.
Perhaps the musician in her music syill
endcnvor to strike chord. whose har-
mony will linger.in the memories Of those
who hear It, and come to them as a SYM
pathetic link between them and the soul
OF the player. Perhaps the traveller IN
art galleries filled with the master work
OF the centuries. will gather up the flows
err of her thoughts and give out their
richness and fragrance to those less able