344 THE YOUNG 
We have often spoken in these columns 
concerning- the nauseous literature that 
falls into the hands of the average Ameri- 
can lad, but it must not be supposed, that 
because we have not warned parents 
against the unwholesome reading that 
so plentifully finds its way into the hands 
of our girls, that we were not alive to the 
fact, that thousands of the future mothers 
of coming generations, are daily allowed 
to dawdle away their time, health and re- 
finement, in poring over badly w^ritten 
soul-destroying novels. 
It is very unusual to find a motlier who 
is indifferent to her daughter's clotlies. 
Practical-minded women will, even in 
spite of girlish remonstrance, insist on 
low heels, loose clothes, and warm wraps, 
and with wise saws and hygienic maxims 
crush 1 he fashionable yearnings of bud- 
ding womanhood for French heels, a 
genteel waist and sleeveless jackets. 
But what can be said about the en- 
deavor to provide for our daughters' 
mental nourishment and intellectual 
adornments ? 
There is no more amazing phase of 
nineteenth-century feminine develop- 
ment than its passionate and enervating 
indulgence in nauseous mental pabulum, 
and the appalling extent to which an un- 
limited supply of such stuff is furnished 
to the young. The same woman who is 
conscientiously careful of tlje scbool- 
companionship of her daughter of twelve 
or fourteen years is apparently crim- 
inally indifferent to the character of her 
associates in the world of books. She 
will watch what boy carries her girl's 
books home from school, but forgets to 
look below the cover of the new novel 
that same da.ughter has brought back 
from the circulating library, stopping 
there for it on the wa^' home. 
Now this apathy or ignorance in re- 
gard to what young girls read is respon- 
sible for the destruction of the finer tone 
of character of many of our children de- 
veloping into womanhood, and explains 
a great deal of the frivolity, demoralizing 
coquetry and unfortunate ' affairs ' which 
from time to time startle the community 
and bring sorrow and disgrace on highly 
respectable families. 
SCIENTIST. 
No girl in her teens should be per- 
mitted to read a iiovel that has not first 
been read by some matured member of 
her family, or by some friend whose 
judgment is above reproach. If the book 
is such as may be trusted in the hands 
of a young girl, her friends will not hesi- 
tate to let her have it ; if not, she will not 
desire to read it. 
The resolutions lately passed by the 
New York Presbyterian Synod, in rela- 
tion to the Koman Catholic Church, are 
both interesting and significant. The 
Synod congratulates the Roman Catholic 
province of New York upon the clerical 
supervision of its children, and the pains 
taken to guard them from the influence 
of pernicious literature. 
This is right, and just, and only goes 
to prove the wisdom of the Roman 
Church, in preventing its children's 
minds from being poisoned at the most 
impressional age. Still it would have evi- 
denced more wisdom on the part of the 
church if it had suggested— by name— 
the kind of literature of a secula.r sort, 
that, in the opinions of its fathers, would 
be the best for its children to read, for 
they will read, and if so, why not the 
Young Scientist ? 
It will be seen that w^e have introduced 
a "guessing department " this month, 
and one which we intend to continue 
from time to time in future issues. We 
should like very much if our younger 
readers would take " hold " strongly in 
this department, and send us matters for 
"guessing on," with the necessary an- 
swers. The " puzzles " will be given one 
month, and the answers thereto are ex- 
pected to follow the succeeding month. 
While it is not wise to make too many 
promises, yet it is sometimes necessary 
for the conductors of a journal like the 
Young Scientist, to give their readers an 
idea of what they may expect during the 
coming year; and, taking this view of the 
matter, it may not be out of place to say 
that in addition to the departments now 
in the journal, it is intended to add two 
or three others, including Aquatic Sports^ 
School Games, the raising and manage- 
