als or a _soiree_;
where she appears in a simple dress, dances under her mother's care, and
returns home at eleven o'clock. In this way she manages her strength and
husbands her forces for study.

Another cause of her better health is the great physical care taken at
the critical periods of the month; although, as I have previously said,
she continues her studies during these days, if without suffering; I
must add, that on the other hand she abstains from all physical exercise
like gymnastics or dancing-lessons, protects herself most carefully
against cold and wet, sleeps perhaps a little longer in the morning, and
instead of taking a walk, lies down for an hour through the day. A party
or ball at such a time would be looked upon by the mother with horror,
and considered by the girl herself as a great impropriety. The care of
her health is at all times, of importance to German women. I have, for
instance, very rarely seen them walk in bitter-cold winter weather in a
so-called cloak, which left the abdomen entirely unprotected.

A third cause of the German girl's being better able to work with
impunity than her American sister during the years of development, which
in South Germany begin at the age of fourteen, may be found in the
simpler and much more sensible way in which she is brought up while
still in early childhood. A German mother does not bedeck her little
daughter of four or eight years with flounces and sashes half as heavy
as herself, and then show her off in a parlor full of admiring friends;
nor send her to a children's ball, where, with a young prodigy of the
other sex, she imitates her elders in flirtation. Instead of coaxing the
wilful darling into obedience by the promise of candy, utterly
disregardful of future dyspepsia, she brings her to reason by more
efficient, if less agreeable expedients. The child is encouraged to play
with her dolls, and to find pleasure in flowers and child-like
amusements, as long as possible. Thus she grows up with simple tastes,
although a little awkward and shy.

And, on the other hand, the mother herself finds her chief pleasure at
home, and does not dream of planning amusements for each night of the
week, but keeps comparatively early hours, even in the city; takes a
great deal of exercise in the open air, and thus remains generally
strong and healthy after her nursery is well filled.

Now I do not say that the German education comes up to the ideal. Far
from it, ind