The Washington times., 1906-11-05
\ MOTHERS IMPERATIVE
DUTY TO HER DAUGHTER
Fitting Her for Her Future IS an AIl-Important
and Responsible Mission

: It's a pretty important matter, this
fitting Eiri for the niche she has 10
Ill in this world. Vet it's one that the
average parent is apt 10 glide over.
From the time "a man child first lies
in his cradle. on through the various
stages Of block building and kite fly
ing, one question is kept ever uppermOst
IN his parents mind concerning him.
What is he going TO do What viii
he be- And the daughter-"Oh. girls
are different said one mother vague
ly when the above question was put
10 her. But why
4 girl has her place in life as sure
y as a man. Not as a bread winner.
possibly-p even, not as the
head OF a family-but still a place. and
she should be fitted for II, says the
New York Times.
\ young girl who had grown up in
a household where every one was
busy and where interests common and
Individual were plentiful was invited
10 spend several weeks in a noun
tain hotel as the guest Of a wealthy
woman a little past middle age.
On the morning after her arrival the
lady suggested that they should go
INFO one of the parlors and play cards
with some other women who were
there. The girl assented pleasantly
enough, but when the suggestion was
repeated that afternoon, and again in
the evening, and still again the next
day, and the one following. she wax
ed rebeIlious
There were beautiful walks and drives
around the hotel: there were wide piaZ-
1as, where often interesting people
ralfI
stocked with books. The elder woman
had tray eled. She was we'll educated,
intelligent apparently, yet she ignored
those opportunities and spent her time
at the card table, which she admitted
bored her.
Then why do you play?" queried the
girl. with youths bluntness.
Why, my dear exclaimed the other.
plaintVeiy, i have TO do something TO
kin time"
The woman was not excusabie. OF
course. but back of her inability 10 ind
what was worth while in her daily life
lay lamentable want OF early training.
A girl need not be given trade or
profession, though she is none the worse
Tor having ones even IL she never uses
II Tor making money; but she does need
an occupation and an absorbing interest
or interests.
She may get married. goodly Nun
Der OF girls dO-and il is just as well TO
be prepared for ii. She need not stitch
al her hypothetical husbands shirt
bands, nor I'LL a chest with household
linen, like the hopeful German maiden
(who, nevertheless, lived and died a
spinster); but she won't be any the
worse OF for knpwing how TO make
bread and cut out a baby's petticoat
She may have to start out unexpect-
edly TO earn her own living. Plenty of
women do. OF course, If she has some
great talent-the voice OF an Eames. the
pen of a De Stael, the genius Of a Fern
hardt-then the way is clear But, on
1Al - .s
average woman, with a warm heart an5
head that's a bit faulty, and it'll 90
her no harm If she can cast accounts
accurately, run a sewing machine write
a good tote and say what she wants TO
say in way 10 make people under
stand.
II your daughter has a particular bent,
cultivate IL as far as lies within you.
but not TO the extent of excluding other
things. Nature doesn't often do things
unthinkingly, and you may depend upon