p. 382 | COARSE GIRLS by Mrs. Robbins

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 25, 1881

COARSE GIRLS.

By Mrs. Robbins

THEY are everywhere. They confront us on the street, at the stations. They whisper in our ears in the concert hall. They indulge freely in pea-nuts, and laugh loudly at their own poor jokes in the cars. Even the lecture-room and the church are not wholly free from them. They stare at us in the stores and jostle on the walks. Apparently their chief amusement consists in ridiculing the mistakes or misfortunes of others. Alas, too, for the slang, used even by well edu-cated girls. In listening to a company at the

present day, how puzzled poor Dr. Webster would be to recognize his own English. There are girls who would reprove their brothers for profanity, but who utter expressions nearly as forcible, and suggesting the same spirit. Are not these indications of bad breeding becoming more numerous? Does not the advent of Derby hats and ulsters tend a little to render girls louder in tone and less modest in demeanor?

Lately I chanced to see a party of girls on their daily ride to a school near Boston. Apparently they belonged to families of competence. They were bright girls, but so lacking in refinement. They forced their conversation upon all the occupants of the car. One, in the questionable hat and ulster, with hands in the pockets, walked through the train, not omitting the smoking car, seeking “Frank.” We queried whether “Frank” would appreciate so pronounced an attention. It would have been gratifying to hear some allusion to study, some discussion of facts in natural history, new theories in philosophy, or the thousand delightful bits of knowledge one could not fail to acquire in any New England school; but their remarks were wholly foreign to such grand subjects.

If bad manners and shocking grammar were confined to girls whose daily struggle is to obtain the necessaries of life I should have more charity. There is nothing debasing in measuring off ribbons and laces in the store, in plying the needle in tailors' shops or dressmaking establishments. There need be no lessening of fine perceptions in the life of the factory operative. It is never honest work that degrades. Still, in the lives of such busy ones there is less time for culture, for books, for all that ought to elevate. With these tired, tried specimens of womanhood I would only have great sympathy. For their more favored sisters, who would quickly resent any insinuation as to their not being ladies, but who are not lady-like, I have censure.

There is something beautiful, fascinating, even to their own sex, in a bright but modest girl, in one who does quietly the duty nearest her, never shrinking from the inevitable, never seeking publicity. Even a bad man respects such a character, and in the presence of pure girlhood restrains his vulgarity and profanity.

If girls only could realize the secret of their power! Seldom to the platform can they look for their greatest influence, or to any public life, but always to the home, where all good manners, all kind thoughts for others, is sure to carry sunshine.

It has been said, that “manners are not morals, but manners and morals are never far apart.” A girl who guards well her thoughts, her expressions, will never fall into immorality. There may be merriment without boisterousness, wit without vulgarity. To every girl I would make this appeal. Don't be coarse. Don't allow yourself to listen calmly to anything lowering to your innate, God-given standard of propriety. Don't get callous. Imitate, rather, the sensitive plant, which shrinks even from the approach of evil.—Mrs. Rob-bins, in Watchman.