MAKING HOME ATTRACTIVH. 75 



personal attention and gallantry, the accompanying of them to parties and 

 to theatres, and the instinct which makes them their sisters' most chival- 

 rous defenders, all go far toward making them gentlemen. It is the sis: 

 fault if she is not a refining and a corrective influence in her brother's lite. 

 In this day of mannish young girls it is to be feared that she is not alto- 

 her as universally so as she should be; but a sister should strive for 

 that position. She should strive for her brother's affection and confidence 

 ami should endeavour to enlighten them upon the character of girls whom 

 they may marry. She knows them, and men can not know the chara* 

 of women as another woman can. 



The refining influence of young girls upon young boys has led many 

 thoughtful persons to advise the establishment of mixed schools, where 

 the sexes may meet, as in the home circle, for mutual improvement. It 

 certainly improves the boys. They are more anxious to be clean, to 

 brush their hair, to have better manners at table. Whether it is so good 

 for the girls remain to be proved. It is doubtful if the young people 

 should be exposed to the early temptation of falling in love while the 

 severe business of study is being required of them. 



To make home happy when there is even one nagging, hateful, unjust 

 person in it, one who is full of small unam labilities, one who will take 

 the blower down from the fire when another has put it up, who will 

 rily shut a window when another has thrown it open, who will study 

 to put out lights which have just been carefully lighted to enable a person 

 to read, and so on the list is a long one is a difficult matter. In just ice 

 and petty tyranny go a long way toward ruiningthe character of children, 

 thox ; who L, r row up in a house where the father has always been un- 

 just to their mother, those who see him doin^ these little things dairj 

 make her uncomfortable, have little chance of becoming cheerful and good 



ihers of society. 



" That remembered bitterness has coloured my whole view of human 



1 a man of fifty years of age, as he spoke of the treatment 

 which his mother had received at (he hands of his father, from the <]r 



the education of the children. Hut women 

 should do it. for (In- children' The idea of home is worth it all 



nrho da lints and m 



with an unworthy mother. Th- and the children should 



:liiio to cover up this iical and thorough disintegration of home. 



It 18 touching to Bee SOme young girl rUin-/ like a delicate tlower. \\hich 



\e ^helter ;md food and rest to those 

 who cli; . .man in I -d hom 



