Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-10-25

4 "Nancy was his only daughter, just
springing into womanhood, still at the board.
ing school of Mrs. G--n, and as beau.
tiful and lovely girl as imagination can
picture.
"Mrs. G-n, and the boarders. had
made up party for the Theatre that even
ing, and Nancy C. asked her fathers
permission to accompany them. He refu.
sed but unfortunately added his reason-,
The house will be crowded, and you will
occupy seat that would otherwise be paid
for On these words hung the fate of
youth, innocence, and beauty. Il will pay
for your ticket said the kind instrIctress,
I'VE will mot leave You behind The teach.
er and the pupil were buried in the ruins on
which the father gazed, and over which he
returned thanks for the safety of his child.
He went home and learned the truth"
have made the foregoing extract from
the history alluded to, not for the purpose
of discussing the question, whether a parent
can, with propriety, in any case, permit his
child to attend theatre, but for the sake Of
few observations on another topic, viz.
the responsibility of female teachers to
whom may be entrusted the care and edu.
cation ofyoung ladies.
Forthc time being, they sustain the impor-
tant relation ofparents. Nay, they are, more
responsibly & delicately situated, being bound
not 10 follow precisely their own judgment in
relation to the proper course of those entrust-
ed to their care, but, as nearly as may be,
the probable wishes OF their parents. say
mopabls fbrI cshs;der it beyond debate,
that when parent has marked out a line Of
couduct for his daughter, the governess who
takes charge other is solemnIy bound, es-
pecially itshc be beforehand apprized of
it, TO use her influence and authority to see
it followed, provided it does not infringe up
on the rights of conscience, or the we'll cs-
tablished laws Of civility but if this be
conceded, the position which have taken
must be correct, that so far as the parents
probable wishes are understood, so far the
duty Of the governess is plain and decisive.
In respect to the particular conduct of
Mrs. en-, to which Mr.. Dunlap al
ludes, | would speak with caution and deli
cacy. She is no more; and kindness would
demand that needless reflections should be
cast upon the unfortunate dead. Yet per-
ceive no injustice in taking occasion, from
what conceive to have been an error of
her Judgment, to convey scasonablc ad-
monition for the benefit Of the living. 1t is
apparent that kindness, and that alone,
prompted the governess to the determina-
tionn to leave her "lovey pupil'' behind.
But in this, did she not obviously trans
cend her just authority! The father, had
prohibited his daughter from the house that
night. He had assigned reason for this.
True, it seemed as if the crowded house,
&c. aside, and he would have been willing
to have had her gone. But was not this
enough? He had assigned reason. 1t
might, or it might not, have been thought a
good one by the governess. But the fact
that prohibition had been given, was quite
sufficient, and it was incompetent for any
earthly tribunal to- set in judgment upon the
Justice of the reason, by which that prohibi-
ton was fortified. What would have been the
reflection of Miss e., in regard to her
fathers prohibition, contrasted with the con-
sent Of her governess! Possibly, that her
father could find it in his heart to refuse
what her kind teacher could not, and as
young persons arc prone to look upon those
who administer to their present enjoyment,
as their best friends, the father might have
suffered dimnution in the affectlonate
confidence ofhis daughter.
lfthere is any one evil peculiar to board
ing schools. perhaps that of seldom, ifever,
enjoying the privilege of being left alone,
is the greatest. What hindrance to NOR.
al and mental culture must be the opinion,
that, in order to be happy, young persons
must always be in the company Of others.
Where this opinion is entertained and acted
upon, farewell to all well directed efforts to
acquire knowledge, the possession of which
would soon teach, that the highest resources
of enjoyment arc to be found within our
selves, or are to be derived from the perusal
of useful books. q.