Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-12-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Southern Literary Messenger.
DUTY OF MOTHERS.
BY MRS. sIGoURNEY. :


give it strength and beauty. Their un-
wearied labors should coiacide with the
aspirations ofthe Psalmist, that their sons
may be as plaAls grown up in their youth !;
their daughters, as corner-stones, polished
after the similitude of a palace They
would not wish to leave to society, where
they had themselves found protection and
solace, a bequest that would dishonor their
memory.
We, who are mothers, ought to feel pc.
culiar solicitude with regard to the manner
in which our daughters are reared. Being
more constantly with us, and more entire
ly under our control than sons, they will
be naturally considered as our representa-
tlyes, the truest tests Of our system, the
strongest witnesses to future generation,
of our fdeli y or neglect.
Unless women" said the venerable
Fellenberg, "are brought up with indus.
trious and religious habits, it is in vain that
we educate the men for they are the ones
who keep the character of men in its pro.
per elevation" Our duty to the commu.
nifty, which must be discharged by the ed
ucation of whole race, comprises many
unobtrusive, almost invisible points, which
in detail may 81 EN- trivial, or at least de-
sultory. but which are still as important,
as the rain.drop to the cistern, or the ril
to the broad stream.
A long period allotted to study; tho
rough implantation of domestic tastes, and
vigilant guardianship over simplicity of
character, are essential to the daughters of
Republic. That it is wise to give the
greatest possible extent to the season of
tutelage, for those who have much to learn,
is self evident proposition. If they are
to teach others, il is doubly important.
And there is no country on earth, where
so many females are employed in teaching,
as in our own. Indeed, from the position
that educated women here maintain, it
might not be difficult to establish the point,
that they are all teachers, all forming other
beings upon the model oftheir own exam
pie, however unconscious of the fact. To
abridge the education of the educator, is
to stint the culture of plant, whose
leaves are for the healing of the ma
! TONS"
) / was delighted to hear a young lady
1 say, at the age of nineteen, 20 cannot
bear to think get of leaving school, | have
scarcely begun to learn.'' With proprie.
ty might she express this sentiment, though
she was eminent both III studies and &C.
complishments,-if the great Michael An.
gelO, could adopt for his motto, in his
ninetieth year" ancO7G imparo"-anC
''yet | am learning"
1t has unfortunately been too much the
custom In our country, not onl y to shorten
s the period allotted to the education of our
o sex, but to fritter away even that brief pc
riod, in contradictory pursuits and plea
sures, Parents have blindly lent their IN
fluence to this usage. To reform it, they
must oppose the tide of fashion and o
opinion. Let them instruct their daugh
tiers TO resist the principle of conformin!
in any respect to the example of those a
round them, unless it is rational in itself
and correctly applicable to them as indi
:. .viduals. A proper expenditure for one
~ - would be ruinous extravaganza in another
So, if some indiscreet mothers, ptrmi
their young daughters to waste in elabo
rate dress and fashionable parties, the al
tention which should be devoted to study
need their example be quoted as prect
dent To do as others ITO, which is tn
RI rule Of the unthinking, is often to cop
st, bad taste and erring judgment. We us
IT. more discrimination in points of trifin
OF import. We pause and compare patterns
es' ere we purchase a garment, which, pc
chance, lasts but for single season. VIII
" should we adopt, with little inquiry
tt on the strength of doubtful precedent,-
habit, which may stamp the character
our children forever?
When circumstances require, the youny
est girl should be taught not to fear to di
:9p fer from her companions, either in CO
lbs tune, manners, or opinion. Singular
IT, for its own sake, and every approach
: eccentricity, should be deprecated and dl
9. couraged. Even necessary variation
10 from those around, must be managed wi
=. delicacy, so as not to wound feeling,
re- exasperate prejudice. But she who dar
not to be independent, when reason or q
on ty dictate, will be in danger of forfeitir
me decision of character, perhaps, integrl
Of principle.
Simple attire, and simple manners, a
the natural ornaments Of those who a
= obtaining their school education. TIL
have the beauty Of fitness, and the poll
of leaving the mind free, for its precio
pursuits. Love of display, every slept
wards afectation, are destructive Of t
= The rule which we usually observe, IS
leave our readers to form their own JudgInel
: upon the labors of our contributors, wItnC
ca comment or commentator from ourselE
1as We shall be justified, however, IN depaTu
:. from this rule, in reference tins article: n
en- the pen of Mrs. Sigourney, if, by SO dong
Ton shall arrest the attention Of our readers g
% orally. To say nothing Of its characters
oraces Of style, the subjected winch II IRE
S Of momentous importance to the hapPm
and well-being Of the community and
were possible, It should be placed IN the hal
Of every mother capable Of approaching
beauty and originality Of its thoughts and r
cepts We own ourselves to have been al
II delighted with Il, as we usually are with
cry thing from the pen Of TINS mgnly CT
lady. ] he genius, taste, and morality q
~ country are already much indebted to her,
= her faneas an authoress u the public pr0T
4 " Of The nation. We do.not know Whet
& the works Of Mrs: Sigourney have been as
- generally introduced into our Southern Ten
ach. schools not they certainly should
nne whether they are srebardhd al chaSte mo-