The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-10
FEMALE EDUCATION.

uoh upon an interesting and important sulicc,
We thank her for attempting the task she ba.
indicated--it is a noble cause, worthy Of tlo
best exertons and the highest ambition. Let
the task proceed; it has our cordial approval
and we cheerfuly promise TO engage also our
heart and hand in the good work. Female
education stands as wretchedly in need of re-.
form as the Government One half Of ~,
young ladies' are ruined by the present system.
and II the other half are not spoiled, it is to be
ascribed to the natural genius and energy of
their individual characters. Are one half or
our young women, who have been throuoh the
humbuggery and foolery of fashionable
boardlng-school, fit for the practical business
of life! Are they fitted to become the guar.
dans Of the nursery, the instructors Of child
hood, and the models of imitation! Are thew
worthy to become the partners of men Of sense
and intelligence--qualfied to stamp the first
impress upon the immortal spirit of child
We hare feared rot.
We are no advocate Of female politicians,
as partisans. but if,' as Miss Sedgwick
has well inquired sour young ladies were to
give portion Of the time and interest they
expend on dress, gossip, and light rea1ing, to
the comprehension Of the constitution of their
country, and its political institutions, would
they be less interesting companions, less
qualified mothers, or less amiable women -
But there arc dangers in woman's alden.
turing beyond her customary depth. There
are; and better the chance of shipwreck on
voyage of high purpose, than expend life in
padding hither and thlther on a shallow stream,
to no purpose at all"
We commend the effort Of our intelligent
and sensible correspondent, and trust she will
not permit the subject to rest
.s. FOR THE MApisoNIAN.
Things which lot as they should be-
The design Of these hasy remarks. is to endeavor
TO reform fashion, nor has'the writer set about surh
an almost hopeless undertaking, without much hest
tation and reflection.
Almost every English traveller, who has written
any description of American manners, has dealt with
good deal of severity upon the minds and man
ners Of American girls it requires therefore some
correct, some reflection to know whether feeble
pen will not increase rather than diminish the evil
Harriet Marineau with more regard to truth and
justice, than that charity which endureth all
things" has given us American girls our true char
acter, and ! recommend careful perusal of her
work 10 every girl who spends the early part of her
day in bed, the morning hours in dressing receiving
or paying visits, and her evenings in waltzng; nav,
TO every girl who reads novels instead of history
wastes her moments in idle gossip with idle young
men, and who has never read the Constitution Of
the United States" and knows as little of the Co
vernmcn, under which she lives, as though she had
never been born.
Such young ladies not ouly display their own
weakness and ignorance, but laugh at those who
arenot equally foolish and vain No long since
was introduced to Miss p the daughter of wealthy
intelligent parents, who are anxious that their chill
dren shoald be respectable, and have spared mock
pense in educating them.
Miss p. is handsome, accomplished that is, she
can play, sing, dance, waltz, TO the admiration of all
behoders; she is well educated that is, she has read
Uphams Philosophy, Newman's Rhetoric, and was
the best hngni1 in her school but she has left
school and gone into the world she has thrown
aside her book and pen, and scarcely finds time
to recprocate the attention she seeks and receives
Upon my inquiring, il she was acquainted with
Miss Nj. who was school-mae, and is neighbor,
she replied, Slightly" But do you not wish to cul-
uvate an acquaintance with one who SO well de.
serves the reputation she enjoys1 she is sensi-
BILE girl, but she talks much good sense, and
joys society SO we'll that of literary gentlemen
she is redanttc" This she said with sheer that
disguised me, nor could but think that she was
jealous of her friend, and her reputation towering
too high for her TO destroy, she attempted TO under
mine it, by employing such ca,ch-words as pedantic
blue stocking, and the like 1t is not enough that
sensible girls have 10 contend with tide of opposi-
on from the fops of the present day, who endeavor
to conceal their own ignorance under set of hack
neyed phrases, which they repeat, parrot-like to
every lady they meet, but they must have their own
sex arrayed against them Let all sensible girls dis
card from their society the young fops OF the present
day, whose toilet occupies much of their atten-
ton-whose short cloaks, long hair, rufHes, rings,
and jewery render them pretty toys for their little
sisters baby house, and they will have taken very
important step towards reform Those who have TO
love for learning, will endeavor 10 make those who
have appear ridiculous and those who do not spend
their existence in pursuing empty phanoms, pedan-
tic. Our situation in society is more calculated to
draw off our attention from those pursuits which
alone give strength the mind than that Of the
other sex. We have, therefore great need 10 be on
our guard. The charge of pedantry, when well
founded, is certainly heavy one but one should
lay themselves open 10 this charge.
We are never called TO express an opinion upon
any subject which either from want OF inclination or
opportunity we have not fully examined, nor need
We intrude an opinion uncalled for, nor ever allow