Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-01-21
CHE SOU7'IlER.V' LH,STHTUTIO.s'
OF EDUCATION.


Its plan has been, in part, laid before the public.
But a,ethots, once the only ones known among cur
people, have now so completely sunk under the in
sasons OF system OF clap-rap, that il is necessary
both TO explain and to vindcate them. In such as
these however, the modest but stately matrons, that
adorned the South in better days, were nuised be-
fore yet Short Methods had come in, the erudite
persons who now bring their wares of Education,
had forsaken the kindred, but innocent trade OF
Tin pans and Wooden -nutnegs.
Instead OF Methods foreign manners. our
feelings and opinions, aim to revive a SYSTEM
domestic and home bred, that shall shun alike fall
1acious instruction and alien instructors. We
teach then, first, Indispensable, the solid parts of
an English EducatiOn-things winch all the Sci
ences in the encyclopedia cannot make il less than
foolish not to know completely. We labour to train
and store the Mind, before attempting to decorate it,
The first and principal points are TO read correctly
aud expressively TO write currently; To acquire
the practical ant OF Numbers To that most
noble and useful branch Of knowledge History and
To obtain some familiarity with what Is called Polite
Letters in general. These are. in the prevailing sys
sighted in order to hurryiorward the scholar to
the slewy Nothings Of pretended Sciences.
Propnety OF Speech we impart. not by tirammats
and Dictionaries, but by daily habit, carefully
forced. Composition is taught, BY set rules and
forms, but by the varied and progressive practice OF
several Studies, in which the daily examinations are
conducted inwrng. Arithmetic, as necessary in
every condition of life, receives strict attention.
Nectle-wOfk, Cookery. anis the other Household
Arts are pracsed, according the Pupils age pur-
miis. The Manners, the Temper, and the Con
duct watched and formed with the utmost soil
citude, as things which Happiness, Responsibility,
and even the power OF Plcasng depend far more than
on Wit, Learning, or the Accomplishments. Gen
1leness of demcanour attachment 10 Order, care
of the Scemly, taste for knowledge needing no
con,pusion, and the Scuse and the Love of whatever
Elegant Studies, inspires refined and elevated Sen
tments, with us, the main thought of Education
Iii not necessary that all women be learned
complished It's necessary that all women be anna
Bile.
History, the great key to knowledge Of hui
man affairs the School Of whatever is wise
goods taught with particular care: not by
barren Compends. COMPRISING the facts Till every
thing truly instructive is squeezed out of them but
by Narrative. lively and detailed far possible that
OF the Original Writers OF each nation. 1t is accom-
panied with its necessary calculations; Geography.
the History of Literature and Art aud that Of In
sttutons, Manners, and Opinions.
foreign Tongue (thc French) is begun. soon
the pupil read English we'll 1t is made the
common language of the House; and is used, part
" for its own sake, but principally the means of
arriving at knowledge of Grammar, unattanable
without the study of some dialect besides our
French is also employed as the vehicle Of
part Of The Historical Studies and those Of Taste.
The Course, it will be perceived, is far more a
Literary than Scientific Its spirit is not that
of idly heaped-up things, nnielt, Misunderstood,
an,assed only for display. Regarding Modesty as
the first law Of Female Excellence, and love of
knowledge as the only sound principle on which to
found II, plan avoids every thing connected with
Exhibition. and even the slimulauts OF Emulation, as
usually brought 10 act.
The Discipline is careful, but gentlc-copying as
far as possible, that OF welI-ordered Domestic Edu
cation. To this, indeed, the whole Plan endeavours
10 conform itself, the purest, the efficient,
and capable If the best results. whether to the
Morals, the Manners, or the Mind.
10 compare it with the adverse systematic one,
grasping every thing, must, for that reason, fail in
every thing the other, selecting those better parts
Of knowledge which fit the Sex and aitainable in
its ordinary time of study, teaches these both well
and modcstly. That system desires little, but the
ostentation OF knowledge-ours, nothing but its
Atty. That seeks TO adorn the outside OF the Mind,
this, to inform and inyIeorate within. The former;
enamoured of tinsel and gewgaws, cares little what
poverty may Turk beneath. so can shine in confused
and useless inery the latter is studious only of an
ess1n planness, OF the becoming and the good. The
y enpian rejoices in the shreds, the patches the
S,.ocigs, the muatiens, the trash, of amy pursuit
with long name and passes Common Sense and
Taste dsdainfuy by. The banished one, which
We would revive, regards Science Of small ac
count for womcn-frst because little applicable TO
their occupations secondly, because always taught
them imperectly; thirdly because (like all oherialse
Anowledge) vitiates, instead Of improving both the
understanding and the Taste fourtaly, because,
even as to its only purpose, Display, it renders
woman in grown Society, ridiculous instead of
pleasing: SO that, being useless in ITSELF being
susuuy taught, anu being laughed at whenever as
played, it is totally efiaced from the mind eav
ns 1t as blank and barren as if these unhappy pains
Vad never been taken.
fnally-to state precisely the comparative results
oi the two systems-the is admirable for
kns marvellous School girls, who will never be any
'nng better in either mind or manners; the prod-
g,es OF scene, fit only for breeding Actresses -
uoilc Examination creatures that have learnt so
"uch as to be ignorant of every thing. The other
system IS content to produce Children far less anna
Ang' IN order that it may form something that shall
Pon 'hto the well Informed, but modest woman f.
.he household, fiji for Society," fit for the serious
"uS'es Q. me- anu capable Of adjoining its leisure.
80 much OF the Principals life has been passed
abroad, that he may be pardoned if ont NJ . minnie,
nike testimonies, he publish the ColIow;ng.
From the Governor Of 4. I,roIs,.
c e. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, }
COLUMBIA, S. CAROLINA, Dec. Goth. ls36
My dear Sir
have just learned with great regret ,h,, Won ~.
about to quit our town and State, BY which a ner
sona deprivation TO friends will ensue, and Nh,
state lament the loss of those high literary attain
'"ehs that you have exerted among us, Tor some
years past. Iou may do better trust sincerely
yoa WILL Your distinguished literary TASTE wher
ca''ea INTO requisition, cannot but secure YOU
hOsa'on both agreeable and profitable. Accept m,
"'snes Tor your prosperity aud happiness Viii
s''u anu esteem, p. M.BUTLER.
""""s oorcr, late Pres. ofthc $. Z u
Ar ~, siinR College.
'i'' Eu"aTd Johnston. Librarian of the S. Caro-