Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-08-31
From the Ladies Garland.
ON FEMALE EDUCATION.
",Tis education forms the common mind,
Just as the twig is bent the trees inclin'd."

There is a kind of magic witchery about Wo-
man, and every thing that relates to her, which
exerts great and undehnabe influence over
| the mind of Man. There is sweetness about
her that binds in golden chains, the best affec-
tons of the generous heart; and dignity that
awes and dissipates the first risings OF the tho't
or passion that purity cannot contemplate with
a smile. There is heaven in her eye, and in
all her gestures dignity and love-" that allure,
repel, and again allure, earth's proud lord, .
at pleasure; speaking him, at will, into the
happiest of beings, or frowning him, in a mo-
ment. into the most miserable Of created OBJ
Iects There is something connected with
her very being, that inspires feeling Of graft
tude, OF veneration, and Of love, as indescribable
as it is inexplicable, and as eminently cacuat-
ed to promote the happiness OF Man as 1t is to
restrain the alterations to which, by nature, he
tends. There is commanding influence even
in her half uttered wishes, her involuntary ex-
actions, and her hesitating aspirations, that the
susceptible bosom or generous breast in vain
attempts to resist. She is emphatically the mi
nistering angel in Mans happiness, and the
soothing genius of his wo-tbe sun OF the social
circle, whose cheering beams enlighten and in
vigorate, control and direct, system, that else
were dreary wilderness, cherries blank in
creations map.
If, then, Woman's influence be thus univer-
sal and irresistible, how manifestIy important
that it be rightly directed! And what SO like
Iy thus to direct it as iudicious education!-
FEMALE EDUCATION, therefore, is subject TO
which too much attention cannot be directed,
and upon which too much care cannot be be-
slowed. And, in connection with this subject,
shall here submit few remarks:--Upon the
youthful mind--upon the duty of parents III re-
lation to its cultivation and formation--upon
the selection of schools and instructresses-- and
the course of study and routine of duty, proper
TO be observed.
male mind, is plant of delicate texture and
tender construction, susceptible of the most va
rious and opposite impressions, and capable of
being rendered the fairest flower in natures gar
den, or the most noxious weed in the wilderness
of waste. 1t is in the hands of the parent what
clay is in the hands of the potter, and may be
moulded into almost any shape. Ingenuity and
skill, ard correct feeling and TASTE may give to
it an elegance and polish, correctness of i'm
pulse and of aim, lasting as life and valuable
beyond compare;---or ignorance and unskilful-
ness, incorrect feeling and bad taste, may mar
.
young germs, and misdirect its energies, 10 the
lasting injury of the fair fabric.
Properly to cultivate this plant and mould
this tender gift, should be the first care of every
parent And in doing this, industry and iudg-
idea how TO shoot in cultivating the best feel
ings and affections Of the expanding heart in
instructing the opening faculties in the ways Of
Hufu nd ut vpf,a tJoa Ill,
iugs OF the angry and unsocia passions; and in
guarding against every thing that can have the
remotest tendency TO retard or to vitate the
growth of mind, or TO familarize it with the
opposlteS Of virtue or the concomitants Of vice
---al,oays Strengthening precept by example, and
pressing interest into the ,0dke ofduty.
The mind, thus led on, ard the disposition
thus formed, a new duty, and one of different
character, forces itself upon parental attention.
1t is that OF transplanting the tender shoot from
the parental to foreign sofia duty not less
important than painful; exchanging, as it must,
at least in degree, the endearmenJs and indul-
gences of hcme, for the studies and discipline of
the school; and committing, for completion,
the work commenced by parental affection con-
nected with parental duty, into the sterner and
more unyielding hands of the ministers of edu-
CdlioH, necessarily ollen more SWayeQ by the
demands of interest than the impulse Of feeling.
In the performance Of this duty, other argu-
ments than those furnished by parental feeling
and parental partialty, surely must be useless,
in demonstrating the great Importance Of Sc
Letting as governess and instructress, those only
who are marked for prudence and intelligence;
for amiability of temper, accomplishment of
manner, and practical utility of object and ei-
fort And with these there should be perfect
reciprocity of understanding, that salutary
stictness on the one part may not be counter
acted by an injudicious indulgence on the other.
These points gained, the next inquiry is
What should be the course of study and the
routine Of duty? Without descending to par
ticulars, it may be well 20 observe, that a pru.
dent attention, controlled by the peculiar cir
cumstances Of the case, should always be had
to the utility as we'll as 10 the accomplishment
OF the branches taught; and where both cannot
be comprised, the useful should never be made
secondary, as unfortunately is oofrequentlythe
case. In this country, good English educa-
ton, an expert control of the needle, and mo-
derate knowledge OF household economy, are
Indispensable If more can be accomplished, an
acquaintance with music, dancing, French, Sc
may be desirable But this arrangement should
never be reyersed--the last named branches
should never be permitted to come into compe-
luton with the fret \ ladv m ay thumb y niano