The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-25
ron THE MApisoNrAN.
FEMALE EDUCATION.

itself with absorbing interest to the abors of the
Statesman, the mind of the Patriot and the philan-
thropy Of the Christian.
II should at all times find ready and Jealous adyo-
cate in every intelligent freeman who cultiyates the
soil OF liberty and properly estimates the vast and sa
lutary influence which the character of that sex is
destined 10 WELD The genius and institutions of
this favored Republic The page of our early history
is embeshed with the heroism, firmness, and con-
stancy of American mothers. IL in an age of the Sc
yerest pryations and trials ofpatence and genteness
were seen such fruits Of their peiy, was because
ihey were enlightened by education, that patriotism
prompted them to aid in the establishment of those
rights which are so highly priced, and SO sacredy
guarded by their descendants They powerfully felt
| the Truth ofthat just maxim, "that nation cannot
be vrtuous unless be enlightened for it will be sub
ject to its passions, and ignorance always generates
selfshness" II at the present day we recur TO the
records ofour National Council we shall discover that
education has received not only its full share of egs
lave wisdom, but the most liberal endowment Of le-
glslave munlfcence. Every State has its "Alma
Mater" every city its fourshng Academy, and every
| village its titled Seminary But for whom are such
| advantages provided The statesman and the sol
the merchant it is true the circle of such chosen
privileges obtain that knowledge which is required to
qualify them for their several Professions and these
reap the rewards and honors which are awarded to
the favored sons of Baccalaureale distinction Such
however, has not been the good fortune of the fair
daughters Of our Republic. They have been Danish
ed, by the tribunal Of letters from the halls of phio-
sophers, and the academies of the great In vain do
they look for the CoInthian capitals Of some national
structure in which their virtues and requirements Ike
the "Acanthus of the Gods, may beaufy and adorn
the columns Of the State In sal reality may it Just
~ be said in view of such prsaon-
"But knowledge to their eyes, her ample page
Rich with the spoils of time did ne'er enroll"
In every age of the world the idea has prevailed,
and the sentiment has found advocates that the female
sex incapable Of that eev alton of intellect which
is the pride Of the scholar and the glory Of the sage.
II no other traces Of that pride and sef-suficency
could be found which excited the highest order ofcre
ated intelligence to rebel against heaven, they would
seem to show themselves in the absurd and illiheral
sentiment, that woman, in her capacity for intellect
and scientific research inferior the learned repre-
sentatiyes of ancient Adam History, that faithful
register of facts has forever enced such unfounded
assertions, in the splendid achievements which has
preserved in the literary requirements Of iustrlous
and distinguished females
In gancing at that period Of English history which
recounts the extraordinary endowments Of remarkable
women, it is delightful TO review the character and
the vast atainments Of the royal and gifted Elizabeth.
With mind Of the first oder Of intellect, enriched
by the treasury OF ancient learning she disputed with
he NH md ine caI ~
verned by power, but it the power Of knowledge.
She swayed the sceptIe but with the authority
of mind
1t was during the reign Of this ilustrious Queen.
that the daughters ofthe celebrated Sir Thomas Moore
hourished in the maturity Of their well meriled fame
One OF them was particularly distinguished for her
TALENTS and genius She said have written Latin
in pure and elegant style, and in the natural sci
ences preserved very high rank among the learned
of her day For the superiority of female intellect we
need only to be reminded of the gifted, but unfortu-
nate Lady Jane Grey. The study Of Plato was her
lavoriie amusement She critically skilled in the
knowledge Of various languages, thoroughly versed
in the science Of Natural Phi losophy and perfect mis-
tress of all the Fine Arts. Ii is to the pen of the &C
complished and learned Mrs. Carter that the student
Of the present day indebted for correct and highly
finished translation of Epctetus, and who that con
templates the gigantic mind, and the towering aspra
tons of the first Of her SEX in tn night of mind,
Madame De Stael will presume 10 assert that woman
is unequal to the task Of scientific research or that
nature has doomed her 10 the restraints serve ODE
dlence and domestic drudgery. The ustrious names
of the Baroness De Stael, Madame De Genlis, Ma
dame Dacier and Madame De Sevigne will forever
add lustre and dignity to the literature of France
while those Of Hannah Moore Mrs BabauId Mrs
Sherwood, and Felicia Hemans, will form the boast
and pride of every mother and daughter of the British
Isle And is our own favored America without her
fair esculcheon Outright and gifted daughters Every
where do they greet with re rich offerings and en-
nobing productions Of their enlightened and virluous
minds. Their lessons Of piey-ther moral essays
their correct and practical views Of educaon-lhc
graceful and easy style of their higher productions
and the enhancing melody of their measured musings
daily improve, instruct, amuse and delight And how
should II be otherwise, in republic Of letters as well
as of freedom, here opporl are every day in
creasing, and means multiplying, and fresh resources
hourly developing them. elves for The expansion and
improvement of female intellect? 1t is gratifying to
view the exer,ions which are every where making BY
Conie'en sklu anu enterPrsing teachers to afford
to young ladies' the best MEANS and the approved
plans for complete and finish ed education. 1t is not
only necessary that female minds should be enriched
with The graces and refnemcns of polished educa.
tion but that they should be thoroughly instructed in
those active duties and more sacred relations OF life
which alone constitute the true happiness, the glory
and the dignity Of their The brilliant glare and
the dazzling ornaments Of external accomplishments,
DO not form finished picture Of female oveliness.-
There must be suPeradded the soft and subdued shades
of contemplation, study and mental requirement
" The dim religious light" with which the muse of
Milton has clothed the closteT far more favorable
TO the exhibition of knowledge than the fcathered I
gold with which Raphael has FURNISHED the wings of