GIRLS

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 68, 5 October 1872, Page 3

GIRLS

(From the Liberal Review.)

GiKT.s, from the time of their birth, display a love of p uver and a dis uwition to act despotically. It is not until thev dcvclopo into young ladies, and are " brought "out," that they become paragons of meekness and humility, with mouths that can do nothmg more dangerous than smile, and with cheeks that are puckered up into charming dimples upon the slightest provocation. They are remarkable for proeoeity and superiority—in their own estimation— over bovs. Certain it is that a girl considers one of the latter uncouth beings, who may be two or three vears older than herself, quite a child, with whom it would be derogatory on her part to be otherwise than patronizingly familiar. At an early age girls are skilled in many accomplishments. Almost as soon as thev can sit straight on a music-stool they are introduced to the piano-forte, for which, m the earlier stages of existence, they entertain feelings oi the most intense hatred. Some of them never get over their dislike, not having the capacity for music, but they are cancelled to continue practising so many hours per day until their education is completed. Ihey nrc during this period, perfect torments to those who arc'within hearing of the instrument upon which thev are operating. When they become their own mistresses, such ones generally renounce music, and, in'an incredibly short time, forget all they have learned about it. It is not, apparently, thought that durin* this melancholy process much valuable time i* irretrievably wasted, the general impression being that music is one of the accomplishments winch a Kirl must learn. She may have great aptitude for orther studies, but she is not on that account, allowed to prosecute them with greater vigour, and devote more attention to them than the rest of her tribe. There is a certain routine to be pursued m educating a <m-l, and it must be- preserved at all hazards. The consequence is, that girls are all very much alike. A.t an early period, too; they are sent to places called seminaries) where they learn the arts of dress and conversation, as well as receive a few introductory lessons in the science of flirtation. Like almost every member of the animal world, when young they are shy and awkward. They are also addicted to the silly

habit of blushing, and that when there is no occasion for doing bo; the more bashful of the race, indeed, sometimes go so far as to hide thoir faces in their hands. It ie a noticeable fact, however, as indicative of their character that, when doing no, they rarely fail to leave a loop-hole in their fingers, through which they can gratify their curiosity by seeing all that is transpiring. They are clever coaxers, and there are few paternimiliases who can atand their assaults successfully. They belong to that class of beings which resolutely declines to take No for an answer. Their amusements are chiefly of a staid character—that is to say thoir legitimate amusements. They decline, however, in many instances, to be bound by dull conventionality, and seek relief from ennui in romping with their brothers. They deem themselves privileged to make common property of the possessions, in tin? .shape of balls, bats, marbles, &c, of the hitter, and decline to hold themselves responsible for d linage or loss. In the course of their labours they frequently make themselves ridiculously untidy. By such means they earn the appellation "Tomboy." In conjunction with all this they are, at an early period, enlisted is t e sacred <a ! e )f charil;. Tiny attend Dorcas and similar meetings, at which they do little except talk, or listen to the conversation of older girls than themselves, who know something I of the outside world, and arc fond of airing their knowledge before others. Meanwhile, they flutter themselves that the small quantity of sewing which they get through is a means of doing good which cannot be estimated. Occasionally, also, they are permitted "to make some trifles to bo disposed of at bazaars. If they are exceptionally fortunate they are also allowed to assist at these bazaars, when they take small, but for all that, very important parts. They attack unlucky victims, and if the latter do not .succumb, the besieging party Is reinforced by a young liidy who is hovering about in the rear, when of course victory is assured, in all this, however, they feel perfectly well that they are only playing a secondary part when they ought to be playing a leading one. Ho they are constantly yearning for that time when they shall burst forth from their chrysalis state a bright buttcrily—-in other word.s they long for the period when they shall "come out." Feeling their importance they snub thoir brothers, and talk over grievances amongst themselves. Just before the happv day arrives they are carefully looked after by their" mammas, who read them many instructive lessons as to how they are to ,act, which, there is reason to believe, arc very much taken to heart. It is not considered the tiling that they should know everything about domestic matters, and »o, though t hey inay°bc aware that there is such a place as the kitchen, the internal mysteries thereof are impenetrable to them. It is debatable, too, whether many can sew a button on a shirt, or darn a hole in a stocking. Certainly there are comparatively few who can cut out and make a shirt in a creditable manner. They spend most of their spare time doing perhaps a little fancy work, yawning, and thinking how terribly slow the hours pass, or reading the last sensational novel. The monotony of their daily proceedings is also varied by a little shopping, which they do in company with their mothers. And so, somehow or other, they manage to rub on. They become very critical in matters of dress, few people whom they meet escaping either praise or condemnation. They also become matronly in their demeanor towards children of younger growth than themselves, and somewhat estentatiously proclaim the fact that they are nearly grown up. They look back with infinite disgust upon their childish amusement.-*, and won tier how they could have been so foolish. Summing up their qualifications, it may safely be said that they arc not, so sensible, useful, and artless as they might be. But this is more the fault of tiiose who educate thorn than their own.