Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Are_grits_groceries

(17,111 posts)
Thu Jul 19, 2012, 08:03 AM Jul 2012

Mark Twain - 'Advice To Little Girls' (LOL-subversive)

Good little girls ought not to make mouths at their teachers for
every trifling offense. This retaliation should only be resorted
to under peculiarly aggravated circumstances.

If you have nothing but a rag-doll stuffed with sawdust, while one
of your more fortunate little playmates has a costly China one,
you should treat her with a show of kindness nevertheless.
And you ought not to attempt to make a forcible swap with her unless
your conscience would justify you in it, and you know you are able
to do it.

You ought never to take your little brother's "chewing-gum" away
from him by main force; it is better to rope him in with the promise
of the first two dollars and a half you find floating down the
river on a grindstone. In the artless simplicity natural to this
time of life, he will regard it as a perfectly fair transaction.
In all ages of the world this eminently plausible fiction has lured
the obtuse infant to financial ruin and disaster.

If at any time you find it necessary to correct your brother,
do not correct him with mud--never, on any account, throw mud at him,
because it will spoil his clothes. It is better to scald him a little,
for then you obtain desirable results. You secure his immediate
attention to the lessons you are inculcating, and at the same time
your hot water will have a tendency to move impurities from his person,
and possibly the skin, in spots.

If your mother tells you to do a thing, it is wrong to reply
that you won't. It is better and more becoming to intimate
that you will do as she bids you, and then afterward act quietly
in the matter according to the dictates of your best judgment.

You should ever bear in mind that it is to your kind parents that you
are indebted for your food, and for the privilege of staying home
from school when you let on that you are sick. Therefore you ought
to respect their little prejudices, and humor their little whims,
and put up with their little foibles until they get to crowding you
too much.

Good little girls always show marked deference for the aged.
You ought never to "sass" old people unless they "sass" you first.
http://www.mtwain.com/Advice_To_Little_Girls/0.html

Subversive 'Advice To Little Girls'
Heh!

3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Mark Twain - 'Advice To Little Girls' (LOL-subversive) (Original Post) Are_grits_groceries Jul 2012 OP
I love Mark Twain! csziggy Jul 2012 #1
This is from MT's 'Book for Bad Boys & Girls............ kooljerk666 Jul 2012 #2
I read the phrase "Bad Boys & Girls" as... ljm2002 Jul 2012 #3

csziggy

(34,136 posts)
1. I love Mark Twain!
Thu Jul 19, 2012, 08:25 AM
Jul 2012

"it is better to rope him in with the promise
of the first two dollars and a half you find floating down the
river on a grindstone. "

 

kooljerk666

(776 posts)
2. This is from MT's 'Book for Bad Boys & Girls............
Thu Jul 19, 2012, 08:49 AM
Jul 2012

as if the girls are never bad.

I don't know if this was a 'book' or just a collection of writings but stories are short & fun!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/108192.Book_for_Bad_Boys_and_Girls

I have this print, it is about 165 pages & very very good.

Other excellent article here, free http://suite101.com/article/mark-twain-and-the-antiimperialist-league-a185524

And 100 years after his death he had more writings released....

http://last-lost-empire.com/blog/?p=503

And if ya wanta sing.......

Marks version of 'Battle Hymm of the Republic':

"Mine eyes have seen the orgy of he Launching of the Sword
He is searching out the hoardings where the stranger's wealth is stored;
He hath loosed his fateful lightnings and with woe and death has scored;
His lust is marching on........................"

for whole version look here: http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/7567.html

ljm2002

(10,751 posts)
3. I read the phrase "Bad Boys & Girls" as...
Thu Jul 19, 2012, 09:03 AM
Jul 2012

..."Bad (Boys & Girls)", rather than &quot Bad Boys) & Girls".

But that's just me.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Mark Twain - 'Advice To L...