Certainly not: the natural and the graceful curve of the back is not the curve of a straight-backed chair. Straight-backed chairs are instruments of torture, and are more likely to make a girl crooked than to make her straight. Sir Astley Cooper ridiculed straight-backed chairs, and well he might. It is always well for a mother to try, for some considerable time, such ridiculous inventions upon herself before she experiments upon her unfortunate daughter. The position is most unnatural. I do not approve of a girl lounging and lolling on a sofa; but, if she be tired and wants to rest herself, let her, like any other reasonable being, sit upon a comfortable ordinary chair. If you want her to be straight, let her be made strong; and if she is to be strong, she must use plenty of exercise and exertion, such as drilling, dancing, skipping, archery, croquet, hand-swinging, horse-exercise, swimming, bowls, etc. This is the plan to make her back straight and her muscles strong. Why should we bring up a girl differently from a boy? Muscular exercises, gymnastic performances, and health-giving exertion, are unladylike, forsooth! HOUSEHOLD WORK FOR GIRLS. 353. _Do you recommend household work as a means of health for my daughter_? Decidedly: whatever you do, do not make a fine lady of her, or she will become puny and delicate, listless, and miserable. A girl, let her station be what it might, ought, as soon as she be old enough, to make her own bed. There is no better exercise to expand the figure and to beautify the shape than is bed-making. Let her make tidy her own room. Let her use her hands and her arms. Let her, to a great extent, be self-reliant, and let her wait upon herself. There is nothing vulgar in her being useful. Let me ask, of what use are many girls of the present day? They are utterly useless. Are they happy? No, for the want of employment, they are miserable--I mean bodily employment, household work. Many girls, now-a-days, unfortunately, are made to look upon a pretty face, dress, and accomplishments, as the only things needed! And, when they do become women and wives--if ever they do become women and wives--what miserable lackadaisical wives, and what senseless, useless mothers they will make! CHOICE OF PROFESSION OR TRADE. 354. _What profession or trade would you recommend a boy of a delicate or of a consumptive habit to follow_?