A PLEA FOR THE UGLY DUCKLING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XXI, 21 November 1896, Page 91

A PLEA FOR THE UGLY DUCKLING.

I wish to make a strong plea for the ugly ducklings of a family (says a woman writer). How many times we see such discrimination made in a family of children that it makes the just person want to get right up and give a lecture on favouritism to the parents guilty of such conduct. It is not the pretty girl or the clever boy to whom should be given all the praise and compliments in the home, as is too often the case, but the plain daughter, and the dull, plodding, yet willing boy-student, who wins his way with mighty effort. These are they who need all the sunshine of encouragement we can give them to make them ready for the battle of life. The first will get a full measure from the fickle world, so ready to bow down to beauty and brilliancy. Better starve the body than the heart and soul of those who are mort in need of encouragement. The whole life of such may be changed, brightened, glorified, by the thought that someone understands and appreciates them and the struggle they are making to overcome stumbling blocks which are no obstacles to their brighter brother. Home influence will make or mar the future of a child in nine cases ont of ten. The force of impressions which have deeply sunk on youthful minds is great, shaping and moulding the plastic thoughts to good or evil ways, as the case may be. It is a great temptation to give the pretty ribbon

to the pretty daughter, if there is but one ribbon, and she is usually selfish enough to think she has superior rights, because of her beauty, over her plainer sister, and this feeling is too often fostered by unwise parents, who ought to but rarely do see the folly of such unkind discrimination. The greatest of care and taste should be exercised in dressing the plain girl, but generally it is thought that anything will do for her as she is not pretty.