Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-06
TIE YOUNGER SISTER.
By Ruth Cameron.

1t isn't wholly the younger sisters fault.
| 1t never is entirely the persons own
fault when he or she is spoiled. In this
case It's, partly the older sister and partly
the mother or father that's to blame.
The older sister went to business col
lege straight from grammar school, or II
she was fortunate enough to go to high
school she had to wear old clothes and
scrfmp and go without right and left.
because father was the only wage-earner
in the family then. and the ordinary
mans wages are not supposed to really
support a family under presentday con-
ditions. If she managed to stay the
whole four years she was probably
graduated in a white waist and linen
skirt, and didn't go to the class dance
because she couldn't have pretty gown.
Younger sister, the contrary, goes
through high school as matter of course
and probably goes to college. too. Nor
does she have to scrimp and go without
things. BY reason of the contributions
to the family purse now made by Older
sister. or perhaps by two or three older
sisters or brothers, financial conditions in
the family are much improved, and
younger sister does everything her wealth
Ter 1riends do. She takes vacation
trips: she goes to all the functions; she
has pretty gowns and all the expensive
llllie accessories SuCn as SHOES anu StOCh-
ings to match. She says she must have
them and big sister, remembering her
own pangs over the lack of such things,
is the first to agree as to the stern
necessity for them.
And SO it goes. All that the older sis
tiers lacked the younger must have. And
because it is given her SO freely she soon
takes 1t as matter of course. Perhaps
she even looks down upon the older sis
ter Why not? She never went to col
wi oh ilvst through
high school Her grammar is often
shameful. Besides, younger sister is apt
to be much prettier than her older sister.
You see. the older girl was growing up
frugal fare and hard work were the order
of the day, and most of the good looks
she did have she has lost in the bad air
and confinement of the office. Whereas
were passed In much more rropftious cir
cumstances, and she had never imperiled
her good looks by overwork. Can you
blame her. then. for feeling the SUI
periority that any pretty girl is conscious
Of?
My friends, you may think am simply
generalizing and using my imagination
in this matter. l am not. | am thinking
of a younger brother right in this neigh
borhood who wore silk stockings and was
generally a dude at high school. while
his older sister worked her heart out, al
most entirely supporting the family !
am thinking of a younger sister whose
mother slaves to make her the prettiest
gowns that are displayed at the high
school dances. while the older sister. who
works ten ..ours a day, does her own
sewing or wears cheap, ready-made
things.
Of course, 1t is right that the younger
children should have all the opportunities
that better financial conditions make
possible. But they should not be taught
to think they can have every luxury
their weather. companions afford. And,
most emphatically of all, they should be
taught to realize and be grateful for all
that their older brothers and sisters nave
done for them, and done without them
selves.