Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-12-04
FsoM THE BALANCE.
ON EDUCATION.
No. Xxx.
IConfLxdsa. ]

ly gazing on a clear fountain OF water,
which, like mirror, reflected her own
form. This natural delre of beauty,
becoming inordinate, leads TO affection
and folly therefore the female pupil
ihould be taught, that beauty is not only
fading, but is circumaance in which
there is no kind of real merit and that
the mott beautiful women often become
difguaings by their affection, pride and
Incidence while fome, who are dsGitute
of perfonal attractions, by due cult
walton Of their minds, by tuasity Of
difpoGtion and by proper dilcharse of
The duties of their fasions, render them
felyes exceedingly amiable. Women Of
every grade, whether they marry or live
Jingle, have fome peculiar trials, which
often are nelther few, nor fmall and
while Religion IS their only fold fupport,
It's benign influence readers them doubly
amiable, in icenes of trouble and adveIiity.
For their own, as well as for the focial
interef, they Mould learn, in childhood
ard youth, TO govern their pailions and to
eradicate from their minds all moroienefs
and bitterness of temper and dlpohsion.
A tnrbulent pa:lionate woman. while fhe
renders herlelt difgui{ing 10 all around her,
is sfually the wretched within OF her own
impotenr fretfulneis andragc but a ie-
date and quiet mind poaehes peace and
conciliates favor. Ns ornament is 70
beautiful 10 woman, as that Of truly
/" meek and quiet fpirit. :" The muac Of
no female tongue is 70 weet, Especially in
the marriage fafe, as of that, which is
prompted and governed by . the law of
kindnefs.
The ancient Romans entertained fach
an high opinion of a difidens, taciturn be-
haviour in youth, especially Of the female
iex, thar they deifed Jflenet, & adoFed it
as goddefs, which they Represented by
the image of a woman, 5laeing a fuger
u5ay Der moatb: and, however iuperiti-
tous and ofenGve this old heathen cufom
of I" bridling the tongue" and barring
the mouth, may feem TO our chril}ian wo-
men, there is one particular, In which
Glsnes mutt be conadered by them as an
inyiolsble duty. 1t lhouid be among the
fri leaons OF their youth thai they never
tunlsis urged by duty, IN particular cafes
ihould betlay the confidence OF ttiendfhip,
by revealing confidential fecrets. This
fuecies of in6dehty, with which the whole
fex has been very unjufly reproaehed, and
of which too many have been guilty, has
been owing, partly 20 thoughtlefs viva
city of mind bas more TO faulty edu-
cation
The DIVIDE hand, that pencilled the fe-
male fern and fpread over il hyperion de-
gree of gracsfulnets, planted in the fex an
inainetive fondnels for the Embellishments
ofdrefs and il is the buiinels Of education
10 regulate, rather than eradicate this IL
nate propenhty. While, on one hand,
women would become much Iefs a.niable
than they are, if they were to be totally
regardless Of the manneriof tLeir being led
into hurtfui and fatal errors, by an inor-
dinate fondnefs for fashionable and expen-
FIVE attire. Prudence, in this particular,
ihculd be reafonably iaculcated, as mat
tex Of fefious importance. Girls, nuFled in
tie fchool of vanity, who are led to think
thar life is continual oy-day, and that
their ssea, buiuels il the world is to drefs
aud 10 whirl in the rousineof safhion, fel-
DON become either happy or ufeful women;
and their lhoughtleis extravaganza nor
unfrsquea,ly proves ruinons 70 the cir
cumfances Of their fsthers and hollands.
The-iiicreet goseraefs will teach her pu-
pills, that smufements are 70 be indnlged
only oeeej;ma!!y, IS mort relaxation from
the ferrous dates and uiesul buiinels OF life:
thar it is the extreme of folly to value
themfelycs or Others on the adventurous