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Show ' , OUR FAIR YOUNG GRADUATES. ! There are few objects more attractive to the fcye than a ship going out to sea. Science and art lave united to give symmetry and strength to her lofty masts, her tapering spars and the curving lines of her hull. Even in the apparent confusion of her rigging there is admirable grace. She has Leen built and equipped for voyages to all ports ' . cf the earth, and her owner, and her master, know , that every precaution has been taken to fit her - properly for the 6torms and calms she is sure to encounter. She was built and outfitted to battle yith all kinds of seas and weather the fierce tornadoes tor-nadoes of the tropics, the freezing tempests of , Cape Horn, the calms of the Sargossas. Strong, 1 , buoyant and beautiful as she looks, when she sails ' eway "With all her bravery on and tackle trim, Sails filled and streamers waving," he may never again be heard of. She was prepared pre-pared to meet every peril and every danger of a long voyage, but some treacherous iceberg, a bolt of lightning or a rushing hurricane struck her, Itnd she is numbered with the "Ships that sailed for sunny isles, But never came to shore." ( "When a perfect ship goes to sea she goes pro vided with spare sails, extra spars, extra cordage . end spare stores or provisions the additional materials ma-terials with which to refit or sustain herself and her crew, should she be crippled in a gale or dismasted dis-masted in a storm. But immeasurably more beautiful than the f ull- i rigged ship cleaving the water, more supremely valuable, attractive and pleasant to look upon, is the fair young girl who has finished her convent training, bids "good-bye" to her teachers and companions, com-panions, and enters upon the sea of life. She has been carefully, even tenderly, prepared for her voyage through life, every detail of her . education anticipated and wrought out, and now, with the eagerness of the blind man on his way to 1 , the pool of Siloe, she enters upon her freedom. But Lefore her stretches as perilous an ocean as that ; on which the ship is sailing, and, if she be wise, ' .' the will have a care over herself and continue to , , surround herself with the best precautions against the possibility of every disaster. It is more than an exceptional anomaly, it is an awful social mystery, mys-tery, that, from childhood, a young woman has been building up a character a character of decency, de-cency, of respectability, of clean living helped in. , ' , ' ' the meritorious work by her parents and instruc tors, and by the deep' damnation of one false step ! may destroy it completely. It is pitiable to reflect I that the good name which represents years of self- ':', respect, careful attention and a Christian life, may ! : ' fcy one act of folly be blotted out in a moment, r It takes years to acquire a reputation, it takes but " ; & minute to destroy it. From the Catholic young girl trained in a con- . ' vent much is expected. It is the exception when euch a girl does not carry herself with the mien end grace of culture and refinement. Vulgarity, li--,' cense, slang and loudness are so foreign to the con vent bred girl that society will not believe that, where these social blemishes abound, there could ever have been a convent training, no matter how loudly she asserts her prerogative. The eye of suspicion is ever fixed on the young girl who tolerates familiarity, who is seen where moral cleanliness ought not to be seen, whose I . looks invite admiration and attention, and whose i' conduct has about it a suggestion of impropriety. Even the girl who publicly chews gum comes under ! the arch of criticism and provokes innuendos and remarks damaging to her respectability. Loudness in speech, manner or dress is a thing which a i young girl cannot afford. Delicacy is something 1 ' ; : J . ! ; :. . which, if once lost, can never be found. No art can restore to the peach its bloom. Familiarity without love, without confidence, without regard, is destructive to all that ennobles and exalts a young girl. It is the first duty of a woman to be a lady. Good breeding is g"vod sense. Bad manners in a woman is a criminal offense. We look for politeess from a man, Ave expect refinement re-finement from a woman. It is a shame for a woman wom-an to be lectured on her manners. It is a bitter shame that she should need it. The natural sentiment senti-ment of a man towards woman is reverence. A man's ideal is not wounded when a woman fails in worldly wisdom; but if in grace, in refinement, in delicacy, in tenderness, she should be found wanting, want-ing, lie receives an inward hurt. Awkwardness may be ineradicable. Bashfulness is often constitutional. consti-tutional. Ignorance of etiquette is the result of circumstances. All can be condoned and do not banish woman from the amenities of her kind. But aggressive coarseness of demeanor and a viper's vi-per's tongue will outlaw a woman from desirable society. Tbe girl who exposes herself to temptation and to danger will surely fall. The "man on the street," who knows it all, will tell you that even the breath of suspicion soils a girl's good name. "From hence, you maidens undeceived, Know one false step is ne'er retrieved, And be with caution bold. Xot all that tempts your wandering eyes, j Or heedless steps, is lawful prize, Xor all that glitters gold." |
