Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-10-21

EARLY EDUCATION OF YOUNG LADIES.
Though well-bred young lady may
lawfully learn most of the fashionable
arts, yet it does not seem TO be the true
end of education 10 make women of ia
shion dancers, singers, players, painters,
actresses, sculptors, giIders, varrishers,
engravers and embroiderers. Most men
are commonly destined to some profess
sion, and their minds are consequently
turned, each 10 its respective Object
Would it not be strange ifthey we're call
ed out to exercise their profession, or to
set up their trade, with only little gen.
eral knowledge of the trades Of all other
men, and without any previous definite
application to their own peculiar calling
The profession Of ladies, to which the
bent of their instruction should be turn
ed, is that of daughters, wives, mothers,
and mistresses of families. They should
be therefore trained with a view to these
several conditions, and be furnished with
stock Of ideas, and principles, and
qualifications, and habits, ready to be ap-
piled and appropriated, as occasion may
demand, to each of these respective situsI
tions; for though the arts, which merely
embellish life, must claim admiration, vet
when man of sense comes to marry, it
is companion whom he wants, and not
an artist. 1t is not merely a creature
who can paint, and play, and dress, and
dance; it is being who can comfort and
counsel him; one who can reason, and
reflect, and feel, and judge, and act, and
discourse, and discriminate one who
can assist him in his affairs, tighten his
cares, soothe his sorrows, purify his
joys, strengthen his principles, and edu-
cate his children.
Almost any ornamental talent is a good
thing, when il is not the best thing wo-
man has; and talents are admirable when
not made to stand proxy for virtues
The writer of this article is intimately
acquainted with several ladies, who, ex-
ceiling most of their sex in music, but
excelling them also in prudence and pie
ty, find little leisure or temptation, a.
midst the delights and duties of large
and lovely family, for the exercise of this
talent, and regret that SO much of their
own youth was wasted ia acquiring an
art which can be turned 10 so little ac-
count in married life and are now con-
'cientlously restricting their daughters in
me portion Of time allotted to its acqui-
;ition.
Far be it from me to discourage the
of any existing talent; but
nay 1t not be suggested to The fond be-
wing mother, that talents, like the spirit
If Owen Glendower, though conjured by
PARENTAL partiality with ever SO loud a
oice,
Yet will not come when you do call for them.
That inJudicious practice, therefore,
annot be too much discouraged, of en-
eavorlng to create talents which do not
xist in nature. That their daughters
hall learn every thing, is so general a
'aternal maxim, that even unborn daugh-
'rs, Of whose expected abilities and
oUectured faculties, it is presumed no
cry accurate judgment can previously
formed, are yet predestined to this
niversaIity of accomplishments. This
comprehensive maxim, thus almost uni
ersally brought into practice, at once
eakens the general powers Of the mind,
drawing off its strength in too great
variety of directions; and cuts up time
ito too many portions, by splitting it
TO such an endless multiplicity of en-
oyments, know that / am treading
tender ground; but | connot help think
g that the restless pains we take to
am up every little vacuity of life, by
owding one new thing upon another,
ther creates thirst for novelty than
'owledge; and is but we'll dis guised
ntrivance to keep us in after life more
ectually from conversing with our
Ives.