Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1919-10-22
A REMARKABLE LETTER
Written by Capt. SiscO to His Daugh-
fer on Her Fifteenth Birthday.

The following letter was written by
Can't. H. n. Sisco, son of .. r. Slsco,
formerly of Troy. DR.. Slsco was
born in Jay, but spent his younger
years in Troy, leaving that town
about 10 years ago. Inc letter was
written in 1918 and has been print
ed in some of the magazines ana mas
caused much comment. DR.. Slsco is
now at the head of a large hospital IN
Baltimore. Md The letter follows
and is well worth perusal:
Dear Kathleen:
You are now fifteen. You are pass
ing from childhood to youth. You
are now at life's threshold. 1t is well
at such a time, Therefore, to estimate
ones present and plan for ones fu-
You are strong physically; faith
fully obey the laws of life IN order
that YOU may reap a harvest OF
health in all your later years. Inc
feeble are a handicap to themselves
and to the community.
You are in school. Be studlous, Tor
now your days are golden; Apply
Yourself closely. Have system IN
your study. Teach your mlnd now
to persist. and to penetrate. Learn
all YOU can of everything. Educa=
ton consists as much in acquiring
keen and powerful intellect as in the
memory of facts.
Also learn all you can outside, OF
school. Listen to instructive lee
lures. Tolerate only good music;
read wholesome literature; know the
news of the day. The individual
without an education these days Is
( at a disadvantage in life's conflict.
The normal person has but two
hands-a right hand and left hand I;
few persons have third hand. lt
! is called a little behind hand. There
! fore be punctual.
Procrastination is the thief of time,
of opportunity, of life itself. Our
| lives are short enough at the longest.
The wise man does not wait until to-
morrow; never procrastinate.
Avoid slang in your conversation:
Slang is the chaff among the wheat OF
pure English.
/ Court neatness and order-about
/ the person, about the dress, at your
desk in your room. The conditions
found in corners, drawers and clos
cts often advertise the type OF char
acter.
Recreation is as necessary as hard
work; a vacation is not always rec
reation. 1t is often dissipation. Rec
reaton should relax the mind and
body and rest. 1t should make
more efficient, instead of less so, for
more hard work.
Always laugh without Stiffness, and
have fun without foolishness.
In all that you do work with as
much speed as may be consistent
with thoroughness and accuracy
Speed may be cultivated until it be-
comes a habit.
| Do not shun hard and humble work.
The dishpan and washtub are both
ancient and honorable. They are the
aristocrats of the kitchen. Desplse
them not. Be open. Be frank. BE
honest. Be true, always to yourself
and to others. He that covereth a
rude awakening.
You are optimistic, you are not
given to much wrong. This is val
liable asset in life's accounting. True
optimism, however, is never blind &c
facts. Keep good company. Choose
only helpful companions. DlscrIml-
nate in your friendship. Youth Is
profoundly influenced by its associ
ates.
Read good books. Some fiction i:
worth while. It's diction is pure anC
its moral tone is elevating. Som'
magazine novels, though, are cheap
and false ideals They excite, but d.
not instruct. They consume valuable
time. They create morbid appetite
for thrills They warp the emotiona
mature Avoid them.
1t has been remarked that you arr
now fifteen. This means that you ar
passing from girlhood into woman
: hood. This transition period is al
ways accompanied by certain physi
cal changes and emotional phenome
ma. Various feelings of unrest may
come over one, Tendencies to disat
{ isfaction, or questions, or doubts. YoI
are to guide these feelings. The.
: are not to lead you astray. There
may be an unconscious longing fol
companionship-the companionshil
of young men. This is FORMAL anC
legitimate. 1t is the sex nature de
veloping But much wisdom is need
ed Just here. Keep your equilibri
: UNI: maintain a dignihed. womanl!
reserve, through which no trifier may
penetrate. Mingle with the opposite
sex, but allow no undue advances. do
, not allow yourself to become in any
, way obligated to any. Undue ad
vantages may be taken of it later. d.
: not encourage any intimate 1flend
! ship without long and thorough &C
! quaintance. knowledge before love
not love before knowledge. Some
. girls have here made misstep. They
have been led along the questionable
, way. They have met disgrace
! Think long before acting. Be self
, controlled. Seek advise when neces
: sary. So shall your choice for life b.
wise.
You should now begin to set som,
definite goal of accomplishment be
! fore you. Let it be for day, {
! week. month, a year-for life
I Firmly resolve to reach it. Begin
, now TO work for it. You should nov
) begin to prepare for some trade Of
/ profession by which you may late
; earn a livelihood. No~young woman
should enter life without the knowl
edoe and ability to sllpport herself