Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-06-02
VOLUME III.
pooro~ lQQS
LETTER ~

i
state of female education in this country, to which
must now call your attention. Schools, find, are
established in almost all the cites and villages OF the
United States for the instruction OF girls, IN all the
usual branches of female education In these, which
are sometimes dignifed with the title Of academies,
they are taught in addition 10 the first clements the
ornamental branches of learning. But the young pu-
pills contnuebu too short time TO become proficient
~ what they are taught. The female, like the male
here endeavors to learn too many things at once and
therefore, finishes with bare smattering in wkat she
should be least well grounded and carefully nduct
ed before she quits school. 1t is not uncommon TO
see girl of twelve thirteen ears of age, of
the semnaries ] haye mentioned, struggling 10 learn
the elements of chemistry, mlneraogy and botany,
while she is obliged to attend to natural philosophy,
geography the of the gloaes, grammar, rhetoric,
history, the French and Italian languages, and the
accomplishments of painting drawing dancing, en-
broidery, tapestry, &C. All these are crowded upon
the mind at one and the same time, and the little VIC
tim either becomes disguised acquires very little
knowledge o. the confused melonge into which She
has been introduced In the attainment Of these, too,
hermemory only 10 be called into active eyer
else and she gets by what she afterwards abors
to forget few years devoted to this erroneous en-
Ployment Of the mind completes what is improperly
called system of female education, and the young
woman enters upon life almost ignorant OF the
world and iscompetcnt 10 make herself either use
full or agreeable in it, as if she had never been at
school, She acquires neither solid nor valuable IN
formation, unless her mind has been early excited or
directed to tn, acquisition of that knowledge which
variety and interest TO her conversation. The memo
nv being so exclusively employed the other faculties
Of her mind lie in degree, dormant, and when called
out are found to be deficient or uncultvaed II is
true that the time spent at school is not sufficient TO
give any thing like proficiency in moety OF the nu-
merous branches acknowledge they taught but If
the system were changed, and two or three OF them
only were pursued at a me much greater progress
would be made, and deeper knowledge of them ac-
qaired in the few yeas which they have TO devote TO
their attainment. There are, however, but few fe-
males in this country in any rank OF society, who
cannot read and write and there are some who have
reached high degree of literary excellence. But these
have been differently instructed, and early imbued
with love of knowc 1ge, and ambition for literary
distinction. In this country it may be emphatically
said that "the schoomaser abroad. The east
sends forth its school teachers who spread over The
different states, and, though not always compete I,
set up schools wherever they find opening and at
we'll az they know how. These men do not confne
themselves 10 tie instruction of their own but
times undertake educate the other SEX and having
some knowledge of Latin, endeavor 10 lmpart por-
ton of that knowledge to their female pupils. This
they acquire without much regard TO its grammatical
construction poetcal measure; and II IS not UNI
usual to hear beautiful young woman quoting line
from Virgil without the least appearance of pedan-
try Music, too is accomp ishment which every
parent, who has the MEANS endeav RS 10 bcsow upon
his daughters and the piano forte guitar, harp may
be heard in almost every manson you enter, played
upon with greater less skill and brllancy of execu
ton The piano is here as common as the guitar Is
in Spain 1t is heard at all hours of the day NO fe-
maleis deemed to be educated WHO cannot play upon
this in strument, however impertccty The skill with
which thew execute, will OF course vary. Music with
females in this country, ID like Greek and Latin with
the men-t Is dropped very soon after marriage and
scarcely resor ed to as relaxation or amusement
but rather TO obge viser or as task TO which but
little inclination is manifested 10 recur oftcner than
may be indispensable. One would suppose that this
accomplishment acquired merely to render its
possessor object Of greater attraction to our SEX
and thus more early and certainly secure an adyan-
tageous marriage, and, when that was effected, laid
aside as useless. Other causes however, may anddo
operate to produce this neglect Many are taught who
have ne ear or astefor the Harmony ofsweet sounds"
and either dissatisfied with their own musical attain
mens, compared with that Of Others or receiving no
pleasure from theaccomplshnenl, they are wiling 10
throw aside, and forget IT as thing no longer cal
cuated to benefit crafty them. Numbers, too, are
SO much occupied with their domestic duties that they
have but little leisure, if thsy had inclination TO pr,-
serve their knowledge of this beautiful art The
remarks will apply TO painting, drawing and dancing
in the last of which they almost all excel and which
is abandoned later and with morcreuctance than any
Of the other accomplishments
This il the age for accomplishments says writer
of our country but in the education OF our females
il may be doubted whether they be net too openly
and exclusively invested with those graces and At
fractions which may best qualify them for the mar
monia market. In music this seems moreespecially
perceptlbe. Trbsllus could not now exclaim, Al,
minimum .fdciiis durem prdbere pueftG. Brilliant
performed by not oglcs, and hearts are lite
rally carried by n coup de main" The best semina-
res for females as well males in this country are
generally speaking, those established by the Jcsults
whose terms are moderate whose zeal IS ardent,
whose learning is various and profound. Depending
for the most part upon their own resources and not
upon the casual patronage Of parents, their schools
continue till they become known and acquire some
reputation; while those established by others who
depend exclusively upon the compensation they re-
ceive, are often obliged 10 remove from place TO
place in consequence of the want of scholars, and the
number Of competitors that start up around them.
There Is, however strong prejudice against these
Catholic Scmnarles among those OF different sect
here, but their conductors dsclaim all wish TO lncul-
cate their own tenets upon the children committed to
.ta O.. charge.
Young men educated for the liberal professions,
sometimes act as teachers either in public schools or
private families and while thus employed, devote
portion of their time TO the study Of tie particular
profession, 1t IL their design afterwards TO follow.
Several gentlemen Of considerable and merlied dis
tnction in the u. Ssates, have am informed COM
menced the career in life by officiating in The capacity
of precep,ors o. this number were Mr.. Crawford
once candidate for the Presidency, Mr. Wort once
Attorney General, Mr. Southland, now senator, &c.
The preceptorial VOCATION though occasionally de-
Graded il held in respect and though not the most
Certain road to fame or wealth, is adopted BY many
IN this country Of acknowledged talent learning and
vortb Adcu r..