The Washington herald., 1907-03-03
BY THE ARBITER.

It seems a stupid thing that The Arbiter
should be asked to give some notes for
the direction Of schoolgirls which should
properly come from their teachers in the
school, but I viii aim TO say a few en-
phatic things that may be Of use, If
those who ask this advice are serious
in desiring It, To begin with, the same
ethics prevail in the school that obtain
in society, or in the family, in any place
where there Is law and government. If
a girl goes to school without the inten-
ton or desire TO obey It's rules. she is
contemplate and dishonest, and a baleful
influence, though she hurts herself more
than those by whom she is surrounded.
Such conduct argues that she has no self
respect, no respect for others, and no
beside TO maintain a high standard. and
that she has no love for her alma mater,
but is simply there to Ill in the time
until she can go out into the world to
work more disaster there.
The very first precept for a girl when
going to a boarding school is to honestly
obey every rule put down for her. II
the rule is bad, II will ultimately correct
itself. for the best and most eff1cacious
way to alter a bad law Is TO insist upon
its enforcement; it then becomes so OBJ
nOxious that il corrects itself. The finest
instinct Of a young person. after his or
her love and regard for their father and
mother, Is reverence and loyalty to their
alma mater This feeling has done more
to civilize the world, 10 advance edu-
cation. TO subdue and make mankind gen
tie, than any other 1t is no eXaggera-
ton, 1 think, TO say that it is a senti~
ment most beneficial 10 mankind. Look
back. you children who have written
10 me asking advice to President RoOse-
velt's visit TO Harvard not long ago, and
remember the enthusiasm with which he
was received there. an enthusiasm not
inspired by his exalted position. but by
his career az Harvard and his devotion
20 his college. There is no element in
his character more to be praised than
the love he has for the institution at
which he received his degree. and which
is responsible. in part, for his splendid
character
Esprit du corps cannot be too much
exalted. Wherever it obtains. whether
in the army. the navy. in civil life, in
colleges, there is sure to be a magnifi-
cent result. and all schoolboys and school
girls should bear I'm mind what they are.
what they mean to the world in which
they live. what they accomplish. reflects
glory upon the schools in which they
were educa(ed. To one looking backward
ii seems impossible that a young person
should jeOpardize the reputation OF the
institution which is educating her 10 be
wise and helpful person for a frolic.
II takes many years to learn the true
value Of things One is almost gray
headed before he can discount what life
offers. To the gray head reviewing things.
It would seem that no man or woman
could misuse the privileges that are given
them in great institution.
In my intercourse with the girls who
have come to Washington for finishing
course, I am often reminded of what
BERTHE the Lamb said in THE Henri
eta As my memory serves me, some
one asked BERTHE what they did at his
club.
oh" said BERTHE. whose part was taken
by Robson, with an expansive and idiotic
grin, we don't do anything at our club.
our club is "a swell club" SO il seems to
me about some Of the schools in Wash
ington. They often do not do anything.
because they are swell schools. But
BERTHE went on 10 say that he went 10
the theater with his pals, or chums, or
whatever you choose to cali his intimates.
and that after the theater he and his
companions waited about to see the sc-
.tresses 90 out, and that the walls Of
their rooms were covered with pictures
Of the leading actresses of the day.
And, said BERTHE, as I remember. I'VE
look at these pictures and We look at
each other, we smile and look conscious.
and we think we are devils of fellows,
but We amt"
So IL Is with the average schoolgirl in
Washington. She goes down town on
the sly and thinks she is doing something
desperate but she isn't She is only dis
loyal to a taCitly made contract when
she entered the school. to her teacher
who trusts her, to her family. and. above
all. to heTself-I would like to emphasize
that to herself; in a word, she is 4 HARM
fui element wherever she touches What
does a surreptitious visit to the theater
mean, II 1t puts a blot on ones soul. casts
reflections upon ones alma mater and
dLscredits her teacher? 1t is not to be
supposed that a girl thinks of all this
when she plans for days to deceive those
In authority over her, but 1t would be we'll
he she used some of her superfluous en-
ergy in thinking a little Of her obliga-
tons. There is a chance for her to do
anything she wants to do within reason
if she obtains permission, for teachers are
human and their rules elastic / would
advise any one who desires to leave a
happy memory behind her to take as her
shibboleth 'obey the rules"
AS TO manners-and one confding child
has asked me to speak on this subject
would say that they have changed much
for the worse during the last twenty-five
years. What they are and what they
should be are very far apart. AS strongly
as I feel about American girls living
alone In Europe, I am almost tempted TO
advise that all young women should have
"a year in some school in Germany or
France to gain the beautiful polish that
seems TO be unobtainable elsewhere. In
the United States we have not time for
the cultivation that dominates the educa-
ton Of young women on the continent of
Europe, but it would be we'll if we had
well for the next generation and all sue
.ceeding generations. Good manners make
life go smoothly. They disarm all those
who have bad manners. To be ultra DO
lite is a defense against rudeness, the
very greatest defense. Courtesy converts
a clown into a eourtier; and so every girl
whose character is being trained should
before and above all cultivate her man.
ners. Some are born with good manners.
some acquire good manners, and some