Girls: Faults and Ideals | Page 2

These words show us the importance of the prayer: "Cleanse thou me
from secret faults." We all have our faults, which mar the beauty of our
lives in the eyes of others. Every noble soul desires to grow out of all
faults, to have them corrected. The smallest fault mars the beauty of the
character; and one who seeks to possess only "whatsoever things are
lovely" will be eager to be rid of whatever is faulty. Ofttimes, however,
we do not know our own faults: we are unconscious of them. We

cannot see ourselves as others see us. The friend does us a true
kindness who tells us of the things in our character, habits, manners,
which appear as blemishes, although many people have too much
vanity to be told of their faults. They resent it as a personal insult when
one points out any blemish in them. But this is most foolish
short-sightedness. To learn of a fault is an opportunity to add a new line
of beauty to the life. Our prayer each day should be that God would
show us our secret faults, whatever messenger he may send to point
them out, and then give us grace to correct them.
The young men who have replied to my question concerning the faults
of young women have done so in most kindly spirit, for to a noble soul
it is always an unwelcome task to find fault; it is much easier to name
the beautiful things in those we love than the blemishes.
Several writers have referred to the matter of dress. One says "Too
much time is given by many young ladies to dressing. They scarcely
think of anything else." Another names, "The love of dress, the
inordinate desire to excel their companions in this particular," as among
the common faults in young women, adding that it has led many of
them to ruin. Another says they like to make themselves attractive by
conspicuous colors, and suggests that if they would spend less time in
shopping and more in some elevating occupation, for example in
making home brighter for brothers and parents, it would be better.
"Following fashion to an extreme that is unbecoming and often
extravagant; too great attention to outward adornment at the expense of
inner adornment," another marks as a too prominent fault. We
remember that St. Peter has a word about dressing: "Whose adorning,
let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing
of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the
heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and
quite spirit." Every young woman should dress well, that is, neatly,
tastefully, modestly, whether she be rich or poor. Conspicuous dressing
is vulgar. True refinement avoids anything showy and flashy: it never
dresses better than it can afford, and yet it is always well dressed, even
in simple muslin or plain calico.
Another fault mentioned is the lack of moral earnestness. "Frivolity,
arising from want of purpose in life," one names, "even the most sacred
duties and relations being marred by this frivolousness. The best years

of life are wasted in small talk and still smaller reading, tears and sighs
being wasted over a novelist's creations, while God's creatures die for
want of a word of sympathy." Another names, "Frivolity, want of
definiteness of purpose." Still another says: "The giving of so little time
to serious reflection and for preparation for the responsible duties of
life. In other words, frivolity of manner, shallowness of thought, and, as
a consequence, insipidity of speech are strongly marked faults in some
young ladies." This writer pleads for deeper, intenser earnestness.
"Young women will reach a high excellence of moral character only as
they prepare themselves for life by self-discipline and culture." Another
puts it down as "A want of firm decision in character and action," and
says that too often, in times "when they ought to stand like a rock, they
yield and fall;" and adds: "The young ladies of our land have power to
mould the lives of the young men for good or for evil."
There is a caution in these words which every young woman should
heed. Life is not play, for it has its solemn responsibilities, its sacred
duties; and eternity lies beyond this little span. I call you to earnestness,
moral earnestness. Determine to make the most and the best of your life.
Get an education to fit you for life's duties, even though it must be
gotten in the little fragments of time that you can redeem from busy
days. Life is too short to crowd everything into it. Something must
always be left out. Better leave out many of your amusements and