The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25

matiCal or sClentlnC proDleIs' aho ~
, as can make out mental attainments are
not rated high above the social graces.
In fact, the purpose OF the school is not
40 much to teach .ologies' or isms' as 70
educate young women in the things "hlch
count for good deal in the drawing room.
so we'll do her pupils progress u a1,,or
the teaching Of this French gentlewoman
that every one comes back to America
brimful OF conceit and prepared to give
points in etiquette to her gIandmotnef
I am told that the mistress OF this hnishine
school is much given to pralsing the H miis
in her charge She enthuses over tneir
aptitude; she strikes an attitude ana tens
one and another she is rdrissdnte, an anger
and so on.
over here. on the contrary, girls IN
boarding schools are not encouraged 70
think Of their personal charms, the ann OF
most teachers being to suppress egotlsln
az much as possible; 80 it is not surprising
that an American girl at the Paris finish
ing school is absolutely transported with
the praise she gets, much Of which IL pc 'si-
bly, really deserved, for clever New YORK
girl il one of the most adaptable and IN
teresting creatures on earth, schooling OF
no schooling.
4The English girl may know her history
and her grammar better than an American
she generally does know them better
and she does not need a finishing school to
teach her manners or SOCIAL etiquet'e-
she knows these from her birth ai'n97tL
nevertheless. put an English schoolgirl
graduate with all her polish side by side
with an American schoolgirl rampant
with 0ducheris and the former seems almost
a ninny.
Textbooks can't be used as subje ct
for general conversation, and az E.ngiisn
girls seldom or never read the newspapers
M, ,sa- after thew lal~e school there u
no use in trying to talk to them about cur
rent events.
There are educators. though, who re-
gret the finishing process the daughters
OF wealth. Americans are now subjected TO-
They call It forcing process; ,I ins.ena'
it Is forced to full maturity, prodded re-
lentlesslv into full bloom in night
Il consider few months OF travel In
some other country than America abso-
lutely necessary to teach girl self-reliance
and give her more or less composure and
dignity Of manner" remarked a certain
Mrs. Cresus of upper Fifth avenue, apropos
OF the fact that she meant to sail in few
days in company with her eighteen year
old daughter who had just been graduated.
and not with flying coloIs either from
Ii protesting vigorously against this trip,
which will keep US abroad till next january,
preferring to spend the summer at near.
by resort with host of her young girl and
bow friends where abe will accumulate
nOtnlnR more ueHlTuDle tIdI SooA SioP
OF freckles; but that is all the more reason
why mean to take her away.
in the different cities we shall stop in
while in Europe she will get no chance at
all to settle down to play with young people
and I mean to insist that abe shall do her
part In receiving and entertaining friends
whom We may meet and the new acquaint-
ances one always makes In travelling;
that she shall do her share in planning
our itinerary, buying clothes, and inter.
viewing the tradespeople who descend
upon Americans like flock OF dies in every
foreign city.
Although not yet formally introduced to
society, / shall place no restraint on her
receiving men callers in company with
myself. In fact J. consider that the chance
to meet important men Of different nation
alities liz one OF the most important features
OF a school girls first trip in the role OF
young lady, for no other experience 30
thoroughly teaches the necessity OF repoee
OF manner. OF an ability to use ones own
tongue with at least ordinary fuency, to
say nothing OF using other languages,
and OF having a mixed assortment OF topics
OF conversation always handy.
Il am perfectly satisfied that when /
bring my daughter home next January
she will be prepared to do me much moro
credit In the role Of debutante and have a
much more successful first season because
OF her finishing trip than would have been
possible had allowed her to play golf and
tennis all summer long and make her first
formal bow In November. a. she was crazy
To do .-..-..--.--a