The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-05-04
BY KATE uPsoN CLARK.

for many reasons she was sorry
Grace had selected teaching for her
profession"
But teaching seems to me to be
the noblest work in the world" ex-
postulated the intimate friend with
whom the mother was talking.
Very true" she assented. but
teachers get to be SO dogmatic and
arbitrary! My son, who has studied
economics for years, and is considered
to be quite an authority in educational
circles where he is known, was seated
at dinner last evening beside q woman
teacher in certain high school. She
propounded the most startling theo-
ries and made the most sweeping
statements. Several men and women
present tried to protest feebly-but
she would not hear word on the
other side. She knew. There was no
use in mentioning any other views.
We have looked up some of her statis-
tics since then and have found them
to be utterly wrong-but there would
probably be no result from telling her
90. My son remarked that there was
no profession like teaching for max
ing people dogmatic, especially
women"
THAT may be So" conceded the
friend, thoughtfully. Still. l have
met good many people, not teach
ers, who made flatfooted statements
and were impatient of any OPPOSE
ton"
But since classes have to accept
their. instruction, no matter what,
there is special danger in teach
ing. And teachers get into a habit
of ordering others around and being
obeyed. So many teachers have an air
which might be described as majorly."
IA good many married women have
that" laughed the friend.
AFTER marriage, it may not be quite
SO damaging. But there is nothing
which initiates more against girls
social success. short of actual moral
obliquity Modesty in intellectual
intercourse is almost as beautiful and
necessary as the other modesty
detest the positiveness and curtness
which so many teachers seem to have
and even to cultivate, as they grow
older"
Grace will never have it," suggest
ed the friend. comfortingly. She is
too gentle and too sensible"
But you see she cannot be too
gentle in teaching-especially in the
public schools, where her career seems
to lie And in overcoming this gen
tleness she will Lave to acquire the
other manner, and that may take her
too far. You know the poet tells
about the one who lost all gentle
ness in might And then her voice!
How few teachers have pleasant
voices! They either become nasal in
the effort to obtain strength at the
least expense, or else they get a
harsllness which is even worse.
Grace's delicious voice is one of her
greatest charms. 1t seems as if
could not have it spoiled"
The friend tried to reassure the
worried mother But hundreds of
other mothers have had similar appre-
tensions when their young daughters
have entered the noble and honorable
profession of teaching. The pitfalls
which Grace's mother described are
very real ones. Every calling has its
own peculiar perils. The over-posi-
tive manner and the harsh voice are
no doubt two of the most likely to
beset the teachers.
There are others which did not oc-
cur to the mother who has been men
toned, because her own daughter
happened to be more than commonly
fastidious and correct in her dress
and manner. But many girls. espe-
cially the more intellectual. become
so much carried away with the things
of the spirit that they neglect the
perhaps less weighty, but still impor-
tant, matters of the body. They may
not endanger their health, but they
fall into a habit of wearing their
clothes to positive shabbiness, and
putting them on carelessly.
There is often excuse to be made
for them. They are not seldom over
worked or underpaid, or both. Some
times they have to dress in cold
rooms Sometimes they are half-sick,
and If they could just take time to
pet themselves a little, they could
more quickly recover, than they can
in the incessant struggle of school
life. ION the other hand. they may
have better health than II they had
more leisure. On the whole. the
leisure girl, we are told, has worse
health than her sister who works for
living)
Still, if these girls who grow neg
lectful of their personal appearance
could only realize the full duty which
they owe not only to themselves, but
to the reputation Of their profession.
they would give 10 it more time and
thought. They may not be beautiful,
but exquisite neatness Is a distinct
charm in itself. 1t takes time and
pains, but almost anything may be
passed over rather than that. Have
your clothes made ever so plainly;
see that they are loose and comfort
able; you can't have firm health for
daily work, and small waist, at the
same time But see that everything
you wear shall be as well-fitting, as