Protect the Girl's Health 263 



shown that a refined and attractive personality will 

 become a larger asset in her life than in his. Come- 

 liness and habitual cheerfulness and numerous other 

 like qualities must be thought of as necessary and 

 helpful characteristics of the well-reared country 

 girl. It will also be much to her advantage to have 

 some special training in at least one of the so-called 

 fine arts. Let her have her musical education or 

 some advanced work in literature or painting. A 

 sum of money invested in something of this sort while 

 the daughter is growing may be considered a far 

 better investment than if the same amount were laid 

 away to invest in a dowry. 



PROTECTING THE GIRL AT SCHOOL 



It is not merely obligatory that the farmer send 

 his young girl to the district school regularly, and 

 thus round out her nature symmetrically through 

 instruction in all the common branches. The deli- 

 cate nature of the normal girl requires far more pro- 

 tection than is often accorded it. Unlike the city 

 walks and pavements, the country road leading to 

 the schoolhouse is often menaced by muddy sloughs, 

 tall vegetation, and deep snow banks. Wading 

 through such places, especially in bad weather, gives 

 undue exposure, the feet frequently becoming wet 

 and the body thoroughly chilled. Many children sit 

 all day in the schoolroom in this condition. As a 

 result of the lowered vitality the incipient forms of 



