Girlhood Days of Julia Ward Howe
(Copyright, UMl, by Jullii Ward llowo.i
I. SUO.
V Till-: girlhood of sevontv yonr-i
nun I inn able to hioii1 fiom ox
iorli'tici. As 1 was city-bred, mut
tlmt In New York, 1 cannot say
how lianly may have been tin-
discipline of country lassos of tlmt remote
p.-rloil, but of the governing Units anil Ideas
of Hit- time 1 Mill retain a vlvbl remem
brance. In tin- household training of girls the
prescripts wero rather motive than posl
live. A young laily even of six or seven
must not ilo this, anil HhouM nut do thai.
These commands, when obeyed, iifltially led
to the acquisition of eareful and somewhat
formal manners. The absence of spontnn
lety thus cultivated may lnive lind nuino
share In forming the romaiicu of the period,
which was one of weakness rather than
strength. H heroines were usually char
acterized by morbid sentiment, enhanced by
Ititlrm health. The delicate creatures who
fainted away on every occasion which called
for courage and endurance,, the. lovelorn
maidens who, fulling of the wlshed-for cor
respondence of affection, at once fell Into
n rapid decline these were prominent fea
tures In the llct Ion. poetry and prose of
sixty ago. The changes in this rcspee.
wlili h we now absolve appear to me wonder
ful Indeed. Tiuly, Wisdom Ins her mira
cles, seen In the progress of human thought.
The Ideals uf today for women nre Ideals of
health, of strength, of self-reliance.
The disturbances of French society In the
earlier decades of the last century had
caused a number of peisons of that na
tionality to seek employment In New York.
Among these was a wol tan who boro the
historic name of Fnbro. I must have had
my II rut Preach lessons from her before I
was well at home with the alphabet, as I
remember belli; called upon to speak
I'rench before I was able to read. A tutor
ct the saint! nationality nave, mo my llrst
lessons In Latin. I recollect ho Insisted
that the Almighty In prayrc should always
be addressed as "you," the pronoun "thou"
Implying an unwai rantable assumption of
familiarity.
.My early education was conducted by a
governess, whose stiong points were, a
taste for elocution and the cultivation of
memory by n process which was then called
mnemonics. At the ago of !' years I was
sent to a private school just started by a
woman who hail once been prominent In
New York society. The school drill of that
y consisted largely In the recitation of
lessons committed to memory from text
books. The llrst one given to me under
this dlspi usailon was PnWey's "Moral Ph 1
oHLphy," which I managed to recite In par
Kit fashion. I was glad when, having come
to the end of this treatise, wo passed on
to "Mis. II's Conversation on Chemistry,"
an inteitnlnlng work, full, however, of the
details of experiments which were never
shown us. Passing to another school 1
began the study of geometry ami also en
joyed a course of lectures on world history
given by a .Mr. Ilostwlck, whose excellent
chart antedated that of (ieneral Hem, so
much admired in later years.
The writing of compositions was one of
the tortures Inlllcted upon the pupils of
that time. To descant upon fame, courage,
poetry, history was dltllcult for children un
accustomed to the consideration of such
topics. I sometimes handed In a copy of
verses, which once caused our principal to
remark: "Julia Is quite a dabster at. rhym
ing." Spelling and English grammar wero dili
gently studied. Our lessons In parling were
sometimes taken from Cowper'a "Task,"
oftener from Milton's "l'aradlno Lost." Of
tile various textbooks then In uau I recall
with pleasure lllalr's Rhetoric, Hodge's
Logic and a work of Abercromblo's on
"The Intellectual Faculties." To thesu I
must add a "rolltical Class Hook." written
by William Sullivan of llostou, In which
was given a very clear account of tho prin
ciples and working of our government.
Tho formation of handwriting received
considerable attention. New York offered
many facilities for the study of foreign
languages. Of these Italian and Cerman
most attracted me. I left school at the age
of li! with a mental determination to mid
to my slender stock of knowledge by n
strenuous pursuit of studies at home. In
this I was fortunate to have the assistance
of a very competent tutor.
In the days of my youth young ladles
usually went Into society at the ago of IS,
Halls were given In private houses, tho
strictly fashionable circle of that time be
ing small enough to make this possible. Tor
these occasions the parlor carpets were
usually removed, the lloor smooth pinned
and sometimes adorned with designs In col
ored chalk. The rooms were lit with wax
cnndlca and tho number of these was much
considered In the estimation of the enter
tainment given, I remember a bachelor
o was wont to pervade the ballrooms or
my youth wearing a very nerious expres
sion of countenance. Ono might have sup
posed htm to bo occupied with reflection'
upon tho vanity of tho scene before him,
It was presently ascertained that ho busied
himself counting the number of tho lights,
is he would address himself to one or other
of tho guests, saying: "There aro Just MO
candles In these rooms. At Mrs. S.'s ball
I counted 200."
In those dnyB tho region of Hroadway In
Now York, now wholly given up to buslmss,
was a sort of debatable ground on which
belles and bachelors walked together, dis
cussed tho last drama or concert and took
careful nolo of tho costumes of those whom
they met. Into this region the chaperonc,
elsewhere ludifpcuslble, did not enter.
Tho milliner was an Important function
ary In my little old New York and thx
headgear proper to the several seasons oc
cupied us more, I fear, than the Inward
adornment commended by St. Paul. Easter
Sunday was much observed In regard to
bonnets, especially in the congregations of
Eplnnpal churches. Wo went to the Master
service freshly adorned and glanced eagerly
through aisles and galleries, taking mil"
of the array of our fellow worshipers.
Appearance at church was much 'V.ought
(f ami brides always made their debut In
bridal bonnets of white silk or satin. An
niversary week was for lis a sober eiriilval.
The most popular meetings were held In
Hroadway tabernacle. Many parents dis
nppioved of what they railed "the gay
world." Tho daughters of such fainllieii
did not attend the balls of fashionable so
ciety, hut moved in an intimate, friendly
circle, often Interesting themselves In
church work. Hut girls of both descrip
tion, grave as well as gay, attended tho
anniversaries In their best spring attlro
ami listened to wonderful statements from
icturucd missionaries or to fervent exhorta
tions from popular preachers.
In general society tho waltz was disal
lowed by fathers of tho stricter sort. As
tho (icrmaii element became inoro recog
nized among us the round dances mode their
way moro nnd more. No chairs wero pro
vided for tho Cerman, hut the dancers stood
in a circle and tho dauco Itself scarcely oc
pupied more than ono hour. I'ashlounblo
dinners began at fi o'clock or possibly half
an hour later.
lHr.o.
Tho educational routine already de
scribed ill lie is hut little from that pursued
In the school days of my daughters. In
these, It Is true, tho study of English gram
mar gave place to tlmt of the Latin tongue.
Spelling was no longer so strictly consid
ered, a theory having come Into vogue that
correct spelling Is a natural gift, bestowed
on some Individuals and withheld from oth
ers. I heard experts complain, siime thirty
or moro years ago, that tho young peoplu
of that time were scarcely trained at all In
clilrography.
In reviewing the girlhood of forty years
ago the effect of our civil war must not be
overlook) d. The Intense Interest of that
time centered In its military operations,
fashion forsook its round of dns, dance
and dinner and hung with keen utixleiy
upon the latest repot ts from the battlelleld.
Many young women rendered b'ave
service In the care of the sick and wounded,
Tho sharp lines of social demarkatlou were
for the moment forgotten. The women of
the not th were as u unit In the strength of
their patrotlc feeling. Those of the south
were no doubt equally fervent In their de
votion to the cause which they held to be
just.
Among us of the north the practical fac-
JULIA WARD HOWE.
ulty came into Incrciusod demand -the
knitting of socks for our soldiers. The
preparation of Hut ami bandages occupied
fingers familiar with (lie elegant trilles of
life. Hugo bazars in aid of the sanitary
commission were planned and successfully
carried out, with large pecuniary results.
Young women took orders for cukes ami
embroidery, to be sold for the benefit of
the soldiers.
Tho exigencies of the war had called Into
tho Held much of the young manhood of the
community. Tho places of the elder sons
wero taken hy a very youthful set of part
ners who desired to meet "tho girls," If at
all, upon a footing of easy fellowship. Cul
ture was now no longer at a premium, and
tho moro thoughtful girl graduates from
schools began to take refugo from tho pre
vailing nonsenso In classes and clubs.
Hut now comes upon the scene a new
agency. College education, long sought by
tho few, derided ami denied hy thu many, is
at last conceded to girls who ate wlso
enough to deslro It. Oberlln, In fair Ohio,
had granted It many years earlier, as did
Autloch when Horace Mann became Its
president. Hut when VaBBnr and Wellesloy
opened their doors tho now feature appeared
In i ur very mldr. Thu pros and cons of the
question at first divided so'dety pretty
sharply. Tho greater number opposed the
now departure and preferred adherence to
the old Initio curriculum. Hut tho measure
soon spoko for Itself and tho right of our
sex to a full participation In tho advantages
of the higher education became established
throughout the laud.
t'pon the results of this great enlarge
ment It Is scarcely necessary for me to
dwell. The entrance of women Into the
professions, their acceptable services In
many departments of public work, the In
dependence of position secured to them by
the cultivation of their natural abilities
these are facts so familiar as not to need
special mention In the present connection.
Tho rehabilitation of the drama In this
middle period opened for our youth u new
source of eiiJoMiieut ami instruction. The
elder llooth, Forrest and Jinercady had al
ready gaiuid aiming us the favor of a lim
ited public, but by Ihe time that Edwin
llooth came upon the stage the ancient
prtjiidicc had giadually given away. I cannot
but esteem this change an evidence of our
advance in polite culture, it pnlns mo even
now to recall Ihe old-time um haiity shown
to plays and players. These last were re
garded by the sober pie of my young
days as outlaws, a view which oven their
authority could not Induce mo to share. I
am proud today to have enjoyed tho friend
ship of Charlotte Cushman, of Edwin llooth
and of Tomnmso Salvlnl. Our Indebtedness
to these artists and to others of their grade
Is such as no amount of money can repay.
IIIIMI.
What shall we say of girlhood at tho
present day? We may say that It moves
In a wider sphere and with a freer gait
than at either of the earlier periods here
spoken of. 11 has, or would have, an ath
letic body ami an active mind. Tho old
notion of accomplishments has been dis
carded, but the good gospel of work has
taken Its place ami III that work a large
freedom of choice and opportunity Is al
lowed. A certain proportion only of our
girls enter college. These, after their grad
uation, occupy themselves mostly with pur
suits Into which the Idea of public service
largely enters. This proportion modllles
tho position of all. Tho coming-out party
Is no longer anticipated as "the crisis of
my fate." Society now accepts both the
tollcgo girl ami her less studious sister
add exacts only that each shall live a use
ful and reasonabh' life, employing talents
'or worthy ends and having icgiird for the
prim ll Us which are found to li.ive n ste.id
fast vuiiic In human life.
'Ihe varieties of taste and pursuit which
we see among the young women of today
ale so many proofs of what uatute can ac
complish miller the condition of freedom.
In the typical "society girl" the new de
velopment is least apparent. Yet In tho
class to which she of right belongs are
seen many refreshing outcropplngs of orig
inality. Although born of wealthy and fash
ionable parents she may elect to go to col
lege, she may choose for herself u profes
sion, she may devote herself to the prac
tice of art ami to the study of philosophy.
Her predilection may be in favor of athletic
sports and wo may see her mime on the
list of winners at golf or tennis. In which
ever direction her choice may lead her she
will not, by following it. necessarily be
come unacceptable to the circle In which
she was born and bred. She will, on the
contrary, become recognized In that circle
us a beuellcenl Inlliieiice, her very presence
tending to redeem It from frivolity ami In
tellectual stagnation.
Tho familiarity with Kuropcan life which
Is now common among our people consid
erably affects our young girls. Aineileans
who travel In Kurope often meet parties of
their MUltlifu! fellow countrywomen, under
the iscort of some elderly guardian, who
conducts them from place to place In search
of various points of Interest. Such expedi
tions, If well managed, may be fruitful in
Instruction us well as in pleasure. Vet It
Is mnch to be desired that young persons
who go nhroad should llrst learn enough
about their own country to have some no
tion of the value of Its Institutions.
The marriage of American heiresses to
titled Europeans, often poor In reputation
mid almost always poor In estate, Is a fact
mortifying to our national self-respect. We
surely may hope that Hie belter training
which Is now almost Imperative for our
girls will tend to make them lovers of their
native land, preferring to dwell at home
rather than to commit themselves to life
long exile from all that should be most dear
to them.
We hear with pain of the wild antics of
some very young maidens mid of certain
vices which tend to Invade the domain of
the privileged classes, so-called. I allude
especially to gambling and tho use of nar
cotics and stimulants. These regrettable
traits rarely show themselves among college-bred
women, but wherever they may
appear I feel assured that the better sense
of the greater number ami tho experience
of later life will more and more correct the
excesses of youthful frivolity, and that we
shall see among all classes, with a few un
usual exceptions, the normal conditions of
orderly and decent behavior.
In these days, as In others, sweeping
statements of praise or of blame are to he
avoided. In all the time of which I have
had experience Individual exceptions hu.'c
been seen In contrast to the prevailing hu
man average. Studious women In many
ages havo followed philosophy, science,
bolles-lettres. Society la never so foolish
as not to show, here nod there, men ami
women whose elevation of character goon
far to redeem Its general aspect of frivol
ity. It Is never so wlso but that you shall
lind at Intervals those fools and groups uf
fools whom the satirist delights to ridicule.
In what I have here written I have only
attempted to characterize the averages of
the seveial periods under consideration as
I have been aide to observe them. Let mo
say In ((inclusion that I turn from this
rapid survey of our past with high hopes
for our future. I earnestly believe that
American society will fulllll the promise
which Its early days gave lo the world and
that Its moral progress will not fall behind
Its undisputed advance In tho appliances
of civilization. JULIA WARD HOWE.
Pointed Paragraphs
Chicago News: The inaii who boasts of
being a cynic Is not very daugeious.
Fame Is something that makes a lot of
fools want to shake your hand.
Every man ought to have a good-natin ed
wife to grumble at occasionally,
A woman's wiakncss lies In her love for
a man who Is strong enough to work.
Tho price of liberty Is eternal vigilance
- ami It is always payable In advance.
A bachelor always wonders what is the
matter with a baby when It isn't crying.
I.iiIh of married people ill the world pose
lis danger signals lo those who aro single.
A Kansas editor allu..rH to a rival as a
reservoir of corruption and an aqueduct of
mendacity.
If a young man wants to make a girl
blush all he has to do Is to tidl her that he
Ih a mlmlieader.
A Kansas editor alludes to n rival as a
sale, says It Is advatitagt ously located lift)
miles from a lawyer's olllce.
Possibly married men think Just im menu
things about women as old bachelors do,
but they are afraid to say lliein.
The Inquisition
Philadelphia Press: Snappy Oh! he's
one of those Inquisitive bores.
Happy How do you mean?
Snippy-You know the breed. There me
some people that are never satisfied to
know that a thing Is so, hut they must ask
the why and wherefore of It,
Happy That's so. I wonder why It Is.
