The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-03-08
Points
for
Mothers
Problem For Mothers.

generally a 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 lisa
bells education is really finished now;
it is time the child came home for
good
OF course if a college career opens
before the schoolgirl the nature of her
life alters very immaterially. 1t is the
same routine with a 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 out 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 circumstance 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
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
! two after their nominal education fin
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-
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 lad
know unless nature has endowed him
with some specially marked charac-
teristics. which as often as not does
not happen? Why. 1t is but 81 few
years since he asked to be an engine
driver or a street car conductor. and
probably in his secret heart he still
thinks it would be finer to be 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 different
lines.
But with n girl it all is different 81
am determined to treat my boys and
girls alike" says the anxious mother.
$50 If Isabel wants training she shall
have it. But the dear girl does not
seem to know what she wants. and I
say | can do with her very we'll at
home at present. She can fill the vases
and go calling with me. Then there is
the sewing club once a week. And the
good woman feels mildly indignant
with dear abel" because a discon-
tented pOut is Enthusiastically showing
itself on her pretty face.
And Isabel wonders vaguely how to
ill 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. yet withal she is a nice
, bright girl, with the possibilities of q
, fine 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 g
noble profession nursing Is and re
members vaguely that she has heard
that some housemaids work would
be hers at first. Would she regret, al
she busted the ward. that she Of bel
own free will undertook It?
Teaching or office work appeals Il
her. tAsn she asks herself would no
the girls at school laugh II they knew
that she had without compulsion, re
turned to French verbs or hiathemat
les after she had rejoiced so at leayfni
them forever One BY one she. rum
through the occupations open TO her
not all of them. by long way, for Il
her inexperience she has not evel
heard OF many.
She has not cough 10 DO to make he
happy and dot experishce enough t
know wd9t she warts to do. Her cas-
Is the Same as her brothers. but n
parents leave the boy in ignorance c
his way In lfte-they find it out fc
him.
why Should they not do the same Il
tire girl?