The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1842-11-17
TIE fEDUCATTONOF GIRLS.

n = : - - - 49, sszANsN&0dOUs IA yOuuS5
lady, having gone through the ordina-
" elements Of learning, and acquired
a certain snattering ofwhat she ought
thoroughly to know, is considered
ready TO receive the finishing touches,
Accordingly, she is placed forthwith
at fashionable boardingsehool TO be
polished, or rather veneered-for her
FIRST requirements are no better than
common wood, although the last may
be considered mahogany. This is
probably the very worst course that
could be pursued. and none could
more entirely unfit her for the duties
OF life; upon which she is about to en-
ter. The education which every fe-
male wants, after having arrived at the
age of sixteen, is that which will Ia
spire her awith desire for knowledge
and love of reading. For this, soli-
tude and seclusion are necessary not
the companiohship of gay and giddy
girls. An exact course of study should
be prescribed-a course as requisite
for the health of the mind, as diet and
exercise for the health Of the body.
The great exuberance Of animal
spirits which young ladies enjoy. keeps
them in continual state Of bubble and
efervescence they are never quiet
they are mortal illustration Of perpet-
ual motion. The sentiment Of love
exercises a subduing influence. and
manifests itself always by a certain re-
pose of behaviour, very striking when
contrasted with the former restlessness
Of the person subjected to its influence.
Although this sentiment is condemned
by parents and guardians as like to be
injurious to mental discipline, we be-
lieve on the contrary, that, provided
the object be proper one, Sit is ofsov
ereign value. Itpresents to the mind
OF an amiable female the strongest in
centive 10 exertion. She feels that
most delightful Of sensations-her i'm
portance to The happiness Of another !:
and she tolls with an untIring assiduity
to make herself worthy of the love
which she has excited. Moreover,
her thoughts become fixed and regu-
lar ;they are not disturbed by society,
or dissipated by amusements. The
most admirable woman we ever knew
was one who, having formed atan ear
ly age an attachment for man of
intellect older than herself, and
capable of directing her studies and
pursuit, was married after long en-
gagement, and entered upon her do
nestle duties with perfect confidence
that her husband. having formed her
| for HIMSELF could not be disappointed,
since 1t remained within ms PU"0l to
complete the instruction which he had
commenced.
The unbroken felicity which this Ia
dy seemed to derive from her hus-
bands influence, was contrasted by
us with the many matches, in the cir
Gle of very large acquaintance, form
ed between young people-the gen
tlemen being, for the most part, youths
fresh from college or clerkdom, and
veneered, that, like fine and useless
pieces of furniture, it seemed impossi-
BILE that they should serve for any bot
ter purposes than drawing-room orna-
| ments.
The capital mistake that teachers
make, consists in the perpetual effort
made to detach the thoughts of young
women from love and matrimony-as
if there were any power in precept TO
countervail the dictate of nature. Sc
rena, at sixteen years, knows herself
to be as complete woman as her
friend Lucretia, who is but eighteen
and has Just been married; she knows,
from thinking back little, that two
years or even four years are not very
long period, and that they will glide
away with sufficient rapidity. If she
happens to be in love, those years
will appear like weeks, no matter if
Iiury composed of matorns and profes-
sors assure her that they are small
eternities. We beg permission to ask
1.-TWO questions-why, if girls are to be
wives and mothers, are they not taught
| in a manner to fit them for those I'M
| portant relations Why are they con.
| tiuually told that they nsust not think o
such matters We apprentice chill
dren to trades from their tender years.
, trades which sometime theyecquire II
few months, and yet we teach ouI
daughters little or nothing, which viii
be available in the constant business
of their lives Parents should learn,
! that the hearts as well as 'ut..l- & ..i.s
Young should be property trained and
Il until they do, we shall continue TO Sc
accomplished misses and very ordiua
lrysmatrons. We do not mean 20 hav'
ri this remark considered as generah
true :but we do meanto say, that %
tendency Of our present system OF e
E male education is evil, and should p
ii ee-@n ded. a
S. Sn,a' harm would ensue il iasi
n. ionaole uaiug SCHOOLS -teachir
= little but Frens aud aammery -wel