Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-11
Copyright, 1906, by Joseph b. BowlesJ
RY MARGARET L. SANGSTER.

Copyright 1906 by Joseph B. Bowles)
BY MARGARET L. SANGSTER.
I doubt very much whether girls between
thirteen and sixteen ever appreciate the m
portance Of knowing how to sit stu. Ihls
is one of the lessons we learn at school
and it Is fully as valuable as any lesson III
science or literature, or any other depart
ment in which we are instructed. Girls are
often fidgety. jumping up and rushing ABOUT
when there is no need for restless activity,
and changing their posture until looking AT
them is fatiguing TO other people. Unless
We learn how to sit still when we are young
we seldom master the art successfully when
we are older.
can think of famous man whose name
IS honored wherever it Is heard. He has
one fault of manner that ne mas never over
come-he cannot sit still, In drawing room
he Wriggles and n0gets and actually, WEeH
excited bounces up and down Ike a pail
and wise hostesses invariably take lhe pre-
caution to seat him in their strongest chairs'
In church he Slips down in front OF the
pew. leans his head on the railing, comforts
himself in queer fashion and furnishes en-
tertainment for his neighboTs ana annoy
ance to the minister. All this could nave
been altered had anybody taken pans 10
teach the man how 10 SIT SUI III ms wy
hood.
one of the most charming things in girl
hood is serenity. 1t would pay 1aln i'sr
should he spend much money IN having Ills
pretty daughter taught outward repose'
x*
How can / be calm and placid?' asks
Josephine, when l am bubbling up and ef-
fervescent inside? How can L look tram
quill when l am angry and disturbed?
The questions are well put, although they
touch opposite aspects of the case. 1t Is
natural that girls should be bubbing up
with gayety and high spirits. a duh stupid
girl who has no fun In her and who does
not care about good times Is so exceptional
that We are sure she is Ill and II We are
sensible send for the doctor to look her
over and tell us what to do. But one may
be bright and cheerful, may laugh ana DC
merry and yet be so self-restralned that
she will not let her fun break IN upon tne
quiet of her friends, or so far forget hef-
self as to force 1t upon them If they are
in a different mood. y girl VINO mas ieaihed
to sit still controls her fun just as she Goes
every other act and state OF pody ana MINI
AS TO being angry and disturbed, L must
saw plainly that such tempers in girlhood
are very unwholesome. Anger IN most CIR
c1Imstances is foe to health and happi-
ness and is like a snake in the grass or an
enemy within the gates IN its effect upon
character. Very few people can afrord 10
indulge anger. II Is the most poisonous ana
upsetting of passions, and leads TO no end
of misery. Neither SnOuiu q Sifl let tici SUI
be disturbed when things go little wrong
They are bound to go wrong now and then:
and when they do we must be philosophical
and make the best of It. You remember
Charles Dickens and his Internationally
Tattycorum." The absurd name belonged
to a charity child who lived in the house OF
philosopher, and when she threw herselt
into a fit of frenzy, as she sometimes did,
the good man told her to count five and
twenty before she said single word. Some
of us would have to count five and twenty
several times before we had quite conquered
our yexation especially il we had never
learned how to wait and be patient. The
wise man said in the Proverbs, Better is
he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh
a city" and no truer word was ever spoken.
one advantage given to girls who learn to
dance and to boys who are taught military