Make Your Daughters Independent.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 342, 13 February 1889, Page 6

Make Your Daughters Independent.

It is Hie refinement of cruelty to educate girls in the aimless fashion of to-day Bo} s arc trained to look forward to a career of usefulness while #irls grow up without any fixed purpose in life, unless indeed their hopes and ambitions centre upon marriage, as is most often the case. While it is natural and light for girls to look forward to marriage, it will be well tor them all when they fully appreciate the undeniable fact that marriage is a remoter uossibility now than it was in the days of their grandmothers, and that even those whose fondest dreams may one day be realised have much to do and to learn before they are ready for the life upon which they will enter with such high and happy hopes. No woman is qualified for marriage until she understands domestic economy in all its branches ; the management of servants and the care of the sick and children ; is proficient in needlework ; and be&ides all this possesses a thoiough knowledge of some business, profession, trade or calling which will insure her independence on occasion. How often one hears a married woman, the mother of a young family who would look to her for support if suddenly deprived of their natural protector, dep'ore their ignorance of any one accomplishment that w ould afford her a competence. It is not too much to say that such a one had no right to marry. It was assuming too great a risk ; for no more cruel fate can befall a woman than to be cast upon a cold and heartless world without the means of earning a livelihood for herself and those who may be dependent upon her. A time is liable to come in every life when the all-important question will arise, What can Ido to make money ? The possession of wealth i& one of the most uncertain things in life, especially in this- country. On the other side of the water, where estates remain in the same family from one generation to another, there is" 'more stability in riches. But here a man may be rich to-day, poor to-morrow, and in a few short months or years his childien may see want. Witnesb the series of financial crashes that have lately visited this country. There is many a one suffering today for the common necessaiies of life whose future seemed radiant with the light of assuied prosperity when the New, Year dawned. Upon none does the weight of such sore trials fall more heavily than upon the women who, having been reared in'the lap of luxury, are thus suddenly forced' by cruel necessity to turn their attention to something that will keep the wolf from the door. But why did they not anticipate misfortuue and make pro\ision for it in more pro-perous days ? Simply because they had not the courage to defy public opinion. There is a class of women who need more sympathy and get less than their share. They are those who in girlhood, through no fault of their own, led the listless, aimless life already described, but who in late years, by some untoward circuon&tances, are brought/face to face with the sad realities of life. Cultured, refined women, who have seen better days, find the struggle for life to be far more bitter than theii more fortunate sisters whose position in life has alwajs been such as to necessitate their earning their own living An accomplished lady, daughter of an army officer, who some score or more of years ago feerved his country nobly in her hour ot peril, is to-day learning the art of telegraphy in one of our western cities, in the hope that thereby she may be enabled to support her little children. In the happy home of her youth no expense was spared upon this lady's education. She was exceptionally talented, and won an enviable reputation as a skilful pianist. It 'vas nob surprising that this petted favourite of fortune contracted a brilliant marriage. Her pathway seemed strewn with roses, and for years not a cloud of care or sorrow shadowed her young life. But trouble came at last. Death robbed her, at one stroke, of her noble husband and much - loved child. Then financial troubles followed, and in a few short months this delicately-nurtured gentlewoman found herself bereft of fortune also. G lief -stricken as she was, she felt that there was something still left to live for ; and, for the sake of her two little ones, she took up the burden of life and faced the future bravely. Naturally she thought her knowledge of music a\ ould afford her the needed means of support. But, alas ! she soon found that accomplishments are of small avail in the struggle for a living, and that teaching music was too precarious a means of' earning money to be depended upon with any degree of certainty for the support of a family. Although so costly a thingto acquire, an education cannot always be made to yield proper returns for the time and money expended upon it. The bitter truth soon forced itself upon this unfortunate woman's mind that a servant in anybody's kitchen was better off, financially, than she. She must, therefore, learn something at once that will be of more marketable value than the accomplishments of which, until now, &ho has all her life been justly proud. Hence, we find her labouring to master a new and difficult art at an age when study is not an easy matter. Her children, meanwhile, are being cared for by kind friends. The cry will be l'aised that there is danger that such a plan as the pne indicated here will tend to give girls a distaste for the quiet retirement of home, but there is litfcle cause for fear. Not one girl in twenty will voluntarily choose a business life in preference to domestic happiness. Indeed, it is absolutely certain that happy marriages would be promoted by this very independence among women. Not being at leisure to muse every passing fancy, girls would elect to wait patiently until the light of true love came into their lives. — C. Andrews in ' Century Magazine.'

Pub gum camphor with your new silver; and it will never tarnish as long as the gum is there. Never wash silver in soapsuds, that gives it a white appearance.

now paid to Mr Murphy for maintaining a punt. Resolved on the motion of Cr Reany, seconded by Cr Mills, That a bridge be built according to plans and specifications, «t a cost not to exceed L5OO, Cr Branskill moved, That after the •bridge was built all cost of maintenance be defrayed by the Ridiuga of Te Aroha •and W niton. No ono seconding the proposition Cr Hunt said he would, but on being put the motion was lost, no one but the mover voting for it* - Road' Repairs j— On the motion ftf Cr Murphy, seconded by Cr Mills,, it wes resolved to have the road towards Sliaftes bury, south of Waioron-jomai, repaired at a cost not to exceed LI S. •Foiling Booth : A motion by Cr Murphy to have a polling booth at Waitoa ns well «s at Morrinsvilie on the occasion of the ensuing Waitoa licensing election was lost, only three members voting for it ; the Chairman remarked he would willingly •vote for it were any general interest ssliown in connection with these elections, but there was not, and therefore it would !be incurring unnecessary expense. < Lichfield-Te Aroha (Ll,soo loan) Road * Mr Sandes, Engineer, reported that the contractors on this road had completed their work very satisfactorily. The total Amount expended to date was LI 599 14s Id, the balance in hand L5O 10s lid ; whilst about LlO would complete some liltle necessary extras. Donkey Engine and Wire Rope : — No tenders wers received for the purchase of tlie wire rope left over from the County tramway at Waiorongomai, ; and only one tender for -the donkey engine lying at the fiame place 4 viz,, that of Mr «T, Eeathcote, Ll7. It was lesolved that Mr Heathcotes jtender be accepted. It was decided to leave the matter of ■disposing of the wire rope in. the hands of the Chairman and Mr Pavitt, Kagineer. j Accounts : Accounts amounting to. JL26I 18s 6d weie parsed for payment, and ihe Council rose at 1.15 p.m.