Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-14

begun, that live or die, survive or perish, am
for the declaration. 1t is my living sentiment,
and by the blessing of God it shall DE my dying
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS noac; and INDEpEN-
DENeE FOREVER.
FROM TIE LADIES GARLAND
The following is one Of the Essays forwarded
to the Editor for the premium awarded by him:
So much has been written on female educa-
ton, from the period when school education u
sually commences, by Mrs. Chapone, Bennett,
Garnett, and others, that to have any thing new
to say on the subject, | am constrained, in my
remarks, to 90 back to the period of infancy;
which do the more willingly, from a convc
ton that in that period the most indelible inn
pressions are made on the mind-impressi
which, growing with the growth, and stengih-
ening with the strength become in time part
of the very nature.
Many fond mother has lamented to see the
vanity, friyoiity, and INCONSISTENCY of her daugh-
ter, without considering that perhaps she her
self implanted the first seeds of those propen-
sites in her infant mind, by the inconsiderate
praise which, in moments Of fondness, she has
lavished on the personal beauty Of her darling
child; and, on other occasions, without any cause
being known to the child, BY her pettishness,
ill-humor, and general inconsistency ofconduct
Another highly iniudicious custom most mo-
theirs not only tolerate in nurses, but practice
themselves, is that Of telling infants stories of
witches, ghosts, &c. A certain author has said ,
thar women are the most cowar6ly part Of
the creation Any thing, therefore, that has
tendency 20 increase their natural umidity is
certainly Censurable; and that such practice
has that effect to astonishing degree, there is
not the least doubt. Several Young ladies Of
my acquaintance have confessed to me, that
such was the force Of those early lessons over
their minds, that after night, if they happened
to pass by suspicious places, or were left alone
in rooms where the marvellous adventures they
had listened 20 in infancy were said to have
taken place, that their fears were intolera5le-
though they protested they did not believe in
apparitions, or any thing Of the kind: such is
the strange inconsistency of human nature
AS there Is not a greater ornament to cha
racter, either male or female. than strict adj
herence to truth, mothers should infuse this
principle into the minds of their infants MOI on
| ly by precept, but example. They should ne
yer be led by the cries or opportunities of their
children to make promise they cannot per-
form; and when promise is made, they should
! be equally Careful not to break it. Much more
might be said on this interesting subject, which
my limits forbid However, if mothers car be
| brought, by the foregoing remarks, TO properly
consider the importance Of the first bias given
| to the infant mind, their tender soctude for
the future character of their daughters will sue-
| gest whatever may have omitted.
| 1t is supposed, by some, that the female mind
is not capable OF making any proficiency in the
| higher branches of learning; but from this o.
pinion must beg leave TO dissent; and think
any one possessed OF candor will be Of nv o.
pinion, upon rejecting on the vast difference
of opportunity the different sexes usually have
of progressing in literature. But as the gene
raj custom Of the world, if not the law of nature
has placed the most important business in the
hands of the men, il is doubly necessary that
their minds should be improved as much as
possible yet The education females should not
be neglected, and many instances might be men
toned where the Learning bestowed on the fair
sex has not been misapplied: for one instance.
queen Elizabeth, though she had many of the
tralltes of women, was certainly (if not the
greatest) as great as any sovereign that ever
filled the throne Of England. And our own
country has produced several female scholars
Inc name of Mrs. Ferguson must be familiar
to the most of your readers; and Mrs. S*******.*
now living in R*s*****, assisted by her native
genius, has proftted more by liberal eouca-
tion than most of the young men of the present
day; she has translated several valuable books
on law from the Latin; and every person of taste
is charmed by her poetry.
But as few fortunes in our country will Justify
parents In giving every child a classical educa-