The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-05-05
WHEN THE GIRL LEAVES SCHOOL

hos not, SO FAR, felt that the change
in her life has made any great diff
ference IN her. Holidays happen ev-
cry year, and she has spent them
much as usual. But now that the
younger children are returning to
lessons, and the whole family is set
thing down to its winter work, she
will very likely wonder what on earth
she is to do with her important sew
enteen or eighteen-year-old self.
Girls who are going into business,
studying for definite professions, or
taking an important part in the So
cial life of their mothers, will have
no difficulty ON this point. Their
work is cut out for them, and all
that they have to do is to devote
themselves to it. But the case of the
girl whose people can afford to let
her live at home, but cannot provide
enough gayeties to fill her day, is
very different. She has been used to
the busy life of the school. and now
that she is expected to take her place
at home and just exist quietly from
day to day, she is apt to feel rather
stranded and lost.
A day is long time to a young
creature. She can do a great deal in
the IL or IA working hours.
She must work off her overflow ng
energy in some way, and if occupa-
tons are not provided for her she
is only too likely to make dangerous
or unwise ones for herself.
To-, t. t,aa1 "a xryh sa1x rs,slr
drift in slack" habits. 1t doesn't
matter whether little bit of sewing
is done in the morning or the after
noon, there is plenty of time for it,
so the chances are it gets neglected
1t doesn't matter If she
is late for breakfast, nothing is going
to happen afterwards, so she might
as we'll he late as not. 1t doesn't
matter If she lies awake half the
night to read novel in bed, she can
rest tomorrow, for there is nothing
else to do. So she drifts into david
ling habits, loses her complexion and
health, and becomes nervous wreck,
or she takes so violently to games
and what is best described as 'gad-
ding" that she becomes quite unfit
for any position of responsibility.
Now is the time for mother to
make ig sacrifice. She can give
up part of her beloved housekeeping
In order that the girl may take it
on, and may learn how to cook and
sew and mind house so that she
will make good wife some day. The
responsibility and the feeling that
she is really of importance will be
beneficial in strengthen
ing and developing the girls char
acter.
Mother must widen her own inter-
ests as well. She has probably set
lied down to a quiet life; the daily
routine of the house, with few calls
on friends, is quite enough for her.
But this is not nearly enough for an
eager young thing who wants to be
up and doing. 1t may be hard for
mother to take an interest in all the
newest studies and fads, but she will
Ind that, II she tries to do it, the
interest will very soon come and that
these breaks in her daily life will
help to freshen her up and restore
The vitality of mind which she en-
Ioyed when she was her daughters
age.
feel very strongly that every girl
should receive some training which
will enable her to earn he own living
should need arise. The necessity
may never come, but, on the other
hand, 1t may and one sees such sad
cases of poor gentlewomen who have
10 exist on few dollars a week be-
cause they have met with misfortune
and are not trained for any work,
hat the Importance of insuring our
girls from fate of this kind seems
very great. 1t the work is not a nee
sssity at present, the training may
go on by means of a class every
week or few hours study daily.
Even If it is never used, the fact
hat she knows she can do one thing
we'll will add to the girls self-respect
and make her little more methodi-
,al, Independent member of society.
1t is not wise to take new life
Ind try to shape it to the standards
ind habits of older ones. 1t must
rave an individual outlet for it's en-
srgies. or they will run to waste
ind waste of any kind is an un-
reality, dangerous thing, which
breeds disease of mind and body
Alice Mason in Chicago Tribune.