The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 375, March 5, 1887

In Short

This volume serves as a time capsule of the late Victorian era, curating a wide array of content designed to educate, entertain, and guide young women. It functions as both a literary magazine and a practical handbook, featuring installments of novels, scholarly articles on poetic forms, and columns offering advice on everything from financial investment to the cultivation of kitchen gardens. By balancing high-minded artistic pursuits with the realities of household management, the publication reinforces the period’s prevailing social expectations while providing its readers with a sense of intellectual community.

The Story

The volume weaves together several disparate narratives and instructional threads, each reflecting the values and anxieties of the era. The fiction segments provide a window into the romantic and moral dilemmas of young women like Merle Fenton and Fairy. Merle, a dedicated nurse, finds herself caught in a web of familial duty and personal sacrifice, suffering for the sake of the children she cares for while longing for the warmth of her own home. Her story is one of quiet endurance and the struggle to remain "faithful in little" while navigating the difficult expectations of those around her.

Parallel to this, the story of Fairy offers a more dramatic arc. Found as a child with a mysterious history, she navigates a complex transition into adulthood, marked by a poignant reunion with her first love, Jack. Their relationship is shadowed by the social norms of the time; Jack recognizes that his "boyish dream" of winning her is shattered, forcing him to accept a life of distance and resignation. The narrative captures the bittersweet ache of unrequited love and the necessity of moving forward when one's heart is anchored in a past that can never be reclaimed.

Interspersed with these tales is the journey of the narrator in "Uncle Jasper," a young woman grappling with her own rebellious spirit. Initially horrified by the prospect of living with a guardian she deems impossibly stodgy, she finds herself in a process of transformation. Her story, along with the instructional pieces, creates a portrait of a generation trying to reconcile the desire for personal agency—whether through gardening, financial independence, or intellectual growth—with the rigid frameworks of filial obedience and social propriety. The volume concludes not with a final resolution of all these lives, but with the ongoing pursuit of self-improvement and the careful management of life's practical details, framing the transition from youth to adulthood as a disciplined, lifelong project.

How It Unfolds

The aesthetic framework The volume opens with a scholarly exploration of strict poetic forms, such as the triolet, arguing that artistic genius is best expressed through adherence to classical laws. This sets an expectation of discipline and structure that permeates the subsequent sections of the magazine.

The domestic and financial guidance The narrative shifts from high art to the mundane, providing detailed instructions on gardening and managing investments. The reader is encouraged to treat the kitchen garden as a health-giving responsibility and the stock market as a place for prudent, calculated growth.

The character struggles The serialized fiction introduces the personal trials of the protagonists, contrasting Merle’s selfless service with Fairy’s romantic turmoil. These stories act as moral mirrors, illustrating the consequences of duty, sacrifice, and the emotional costs of social conformity.

The editor’s response The volume concludes its thematic arc through the "Answers to Correspondents" column, where the editor directly addresses the readers' real-world dilemmas. This section synthesizes the magazine's philosophy, reinforcing that personal happiness is inextricably linked to duty, obedience to parents, and the cultivation of an "approving conscience."

The People

Merle Fenton is the anchor of moral fortitude. She is defined by her self-abnegation, enduring physical pain and emotional separation from her mistress to ensure the safety of others. Her desire is simple—to return to the home where she feels needed—yet she is perpetually blocked by the necessity of recovery and the demands of those who rely on her service.

Fairy is the figure of romantic idealism and mystery. Marked by her past as a foundling, she possesses a natural grace and spirit that draws others to her. Her journey is one of maturation; she must learn to navigate the painful reality of a lost love, Jack, whose own nobility of character manifests in his decision to leave her behind to save himself from further heartache.

The narrator of "Uncle Jasper" represents the restless, intellectual youth of the era. She is characterized by her "wilfulness" and a physical restlessness that mirrors the "ceaseless motion of the pampas grass." Her struggle is internal; she must reconcile her innate desire for freedom with the societal mandate to respect older authority figures, even those whose names she finds preposterous.

Finally, the Editor serves as the overarching voice of wisdom. They are the arbiter of social and moral behavior, dispensing firm advice on everything from jilted engagements to the proper way to address a mother-in-law, always maintaining a standard of "God-fearing" propriety.

In Its Own Voice

"Genius can make these live, for subject as they are to laws, and having clear sequence of form, they have inherent vitality and strength, relying on more than mere fashion to keep their hold on the people."

In the introduction to classical poetic forms, the author argues that true art requires strict discipline rather than "the glorious gospel of haphazard."

"You cannot be a soldier unless you learn to obey, Rolf; you cannot rule your men until you have submitted to rule yourself."

Merle Fenton uses the language of military discipline to teach a young boy the value of self-control and duty.

"The mind is but a barren soil—a soil which is soon exhausted and will produce no crop, or only one, unless it be continually fertilised and enriched with foreign matter."

This observation, appearing in the "Varieties" section, underscores the period's obsession with the constant improvement and expansion of one's intellect.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the cultivation of the self as a rigorous, structured project. Whether in the form of a triolet, a garden bed, or a financial portfolio, the volume argues that all aspects of life—artistic, domestic, and personal—require the application of "law." It addresses the tension between the individual's desire for freedom and the weight of social expectation. Underlying the plot is the question of how a young woman might establish a meaningful, secure identity within a society that demands obedience and service. It is a manual for turning the "barren soil" of youth into a productive, respectable, and ultimately "happy" life.

Why Read It Today

Readers who find comfort in the meticulous detail of Victorian life will appreciate this volume. It offers a rare, unfiltered look at the concerns of the 1880s, from the fear of "low company" to the intricacies of "Consols" and dividend warrants. The tone is deeply earnest, reflecting a world where the moral weight of a decision was considered as significant as its practical outcome.

However, modern readers may find the didactic tone and the rigid gender roles challenging. The advice columns, in particular, reveal a stark, often paternalistic approach to the problems faced by young women, where parental authority is almost always placed above the individual’s own desires. There is also the matter of the prose itself; it is lengthy, flowery, and occasionally bogged down by archaic references and dense financial explanations. Despite this, there is something moving about the persistent, quiet struggle of the characters to find purpose within such a constrained world. It is a slow, contemplative read that rewards those interested in the architecture of the past, leaving one with a lingering sense of the immense pressure placed on young women of the period to be both perfectly managed and perfectly obedient.