Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-05
What Is the Matter
With the Girl?

A girl wrote the following letter TO the
distinguished editors OF widely clrcu-
lated paper:
Il am a young woman OF ~ out l oail
truthfuIIy say that l have never hao any
Measure in my Ife- l cook three anu
sor,etir,,es four meals a day for family
OF n. besides washing dishes, scruoeins
and vvashius clothes. II l ask TO go any
where there is a fuss. I would like to go
and find work in another city, out
know mother will never let me.
The esftress took IL for granted that the
yirl vas overworlScd and gave the mother
n lecture in a kind way, which was all
good enough. but there IS still something
needed in a kind lecture TO the girl
The best and dearest woman ever
knew was my own dear mother VINO
lived TO be nearly S. years old She vas
the eldest daughter in family OF ID
father. mother and II children
she has often told me of her efforts 10
relieve grandmother Of the care or her
younger children. and although they mad
slaves and a big plantation. mother Was
rrandua's chief counsellor and helper
She always kept the next youngest
child with her until the little one could
be trusted in the family trundle bed with
the next Oldest AS the family mao many
visitors. my mother had much TO no. ana
except for her willing efforts. grand
mother would have been absolutely con-
fined 10 home and constant care OF 'ne
house and children
In my young life il was my JOY ana
rIaduess TO try to help my own mothsr
in the various and constant ways tnat
she had given help TO grandmother, anu
I never felt so proud OF my Importance
anywhere as I did when my mother LETT
things in my sole care. and she could
enjoy her company and go away Tor
little visit from home
one OF the sweetest remembranees OF
all my long life Las been pIy efforts to
helm nv mcth,r in M g.rlhOod home. and
one OF my lasting regrets that l was not
wise and thoughtful enough to help her
far NOR than 1 did
As I read this .sirIc letter and her
complaints I can sec what allied her she
wants 10 go TO another city for more rea-
sons than one and can see that her
mother Is wise in keeping her under the
family roof tree The city and Work
abroad has been the everlasting ruin 81
scores OF girls who were dissatisfied with
the confinement and discipline OF home.
While there are some who do better for
themselves and have cause TO rebei
against domestic tyranny and overwork,
there are hundreds and thousands who
90 to wreck because they took the Bit
between their teeth. like runaway
horse and went their own way
That girl would be obliged 10 work hard
To make an honest living. no matter
where she went or what she proposed 10
do. I can well understand that she thinks
she VIII ind IL easier when she can do
as she plsases but the history OF the
world and its every day doings will con-
vince all such girls that uncertainty and
trials beset all girls who go away from
home TO get rid OF domestic work and To
avoid their mothers discipline. II must
be a hard mother who tyrannically de-
prives her 2O-year-old daughter Of all
pleasure and I would have TO see the
mother, the home and the work before
could agree entirely with the complain
ing girl / have been girl myself, and
when she says she never had any pleas
ure in her life I must take the story
with a grain Of allowance until know
better