Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-03-21
Points
for
Mothers
Problem For Mothers.

Problem For Mothers.
The girl who has just left school is
generally Il person much envied by her
fellow schoolgirls, but sympathetic wo-
men with good memories often pity
her. From the day when she was first
taken to the kindergarten till now ev-
cry days work has been arranged for
her. Some Of the best brains in the
country have combined to lay out her
scheme Of work and play. Her DISPOSE
ton has been studied. her habits OBJ
served. her amusements organized. She
has been allowed enough liberty to de-
velop. but not enough to stagnate
| Then suddenly Dame Fashion DEGREES
that she is old enough to put her hair
up and let her dresses grow long. and
anxious parents declare that dear lsa-
bel's education is really finished now;
it is time the child came home for
good"
or course If college career opens
before the schoolgirl the nature Of her
life alters very immaterialy. 1t is the
same routine with wider liberty. The
sudden emancipation is probably never
felt. for uncOnsciOusly the restrictions
of childhood widen into the liberties of
the adult. The girl. again. who is i'm
mediately to take her place in society
has plenty to occupy her. She will be
coming ont directly. and all the excite
ments of the dance to be given in her
home await her or the busy festivities
of the season.
Very differently circumstanced are
those who look forward to the end of
their schooldays with eagernesS be-
cause then they can get to work and
help to relieve the financial straits OF
the family.
But between the two extremes Is a
vast host of girls who leave school be-
cause they are too old to stay. then
loiter vaguely through the next few
years wondering how to pass the time.
The brothers of this class are more
fortunate. No father would dream of
leaving them unOccupied for year or
ishes If the boy shows no marked
ability. expresses no especial desire as
to what he shall be. that never for a
moment excuses him from work
The heads of the family consult to-
gether and settle things for him. and
no one blames the boy because at sew
enteen or eighteen he knows less Of
what he can make OF his life than his
father does at fifty. How can the hid
know unless nature has endowed him
with some specially marked charac
teristicS. which as often as not does
not happen? Why. it is but few
years since he asked to be an engine
driver or street car conductor. and
probably In his secret heart he still
thinks it would he finer to he a pro-
fesSional automobile racer or an avia
tor than anything else And no one
blames the boy. All the same they set
tie his future career on very differen,
lines
But with girl it all is different. ~
am determined to treat my boys and
girls alike" says the anxious mother.
$50 If Isabel wants a training she shall
have it, But the dear girl does not
seem to know what she wants. and |
say | can do with her very we'll mt
home mt present She can fiji the vases
and go calling with me Then there is
the sewing club once n week" And the
good woman feels mildly indignant
with dear Isabel" because n diScOn-
tented pout is Enthusiastically showing
itself on her pretty face.
And Isabel wondens vaguely how to
fiji the long. long hours and wishes
that all her life were arranged for her
as school days were. Perhaps she has
no particular gifts. does not possess
one Of those robust natures which
revel in difficulties. will not willingly
face trouble. vet withal she is nice.
bright girl. with the possibilities Of
6ne woman in her.
She wants to do something In the
world. but she does not know what.
and she wishes that some one would
find out for her She thinks what
noble profession nursing is and re-
members vaguely that she has heard
that some honsemaid's work would
be hers at first Would she regret. as
she busted the ward that she Of her
own free will undertook It?
Teaching or Office work appeals to
her: then she asks herself would not
the girls at school laugh II they knew
that she had without compulsion. re.
turned to French verbs or mathemat-
les after she had rejoiced so at leaving
them forever. One by one she runs
through the occupations open to her
not all Of them. by long way. for in
her inexperience she has not even
heard Of many.
She has not enough to do to make her
happy and not experience enough to
know what she wants to do, Her case
Is the same as her brothers. but no
parents leave the boy In ignorance Of
| his way in life-they find it out for
him.
Why should they not do the same for
the girl?