New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-07-17
Iyoman-Her sphere and Education.

TnE shining names of famous wemen have cast
light upon the path Of the sex. and many obstruc-
lions have been removed When Il Montague
could learn better than her brother, and use her
lore to such purpose afterward as an observer, it
seemed aIniss to hinder women from preparing
themselves to see, or FROM seeing all they could
when prepared. Since s3omcrviIlc has achieved
so much will any young girl be prevented iiiom
attaining knowledge Of the pbyaica, sciences,
If she wishes it 2 Dc Stacl's pame was not 50
clear Of offence she could rot forget the woman
III the thought; while she was nstructng you
as a mind, she wished to be admired woman;
sentimental tears often dlmned the eagle glance.
Her intellect 100, with all It's spendor, trained IN
II drawing room, fed on hattery, was tainted and
fawed; yet It's beams make the obscurcst school
house IN New England warmer and lighter to the
little rugged girls who are gathered together on
It's wooden bench. They may never through life
near her name but she is not the less tl.cir bcnc-
iactress.
This influence has been such that the aim GER
tainly is, how. arranging school instruction for
glrls, TO give them as far field as boys These
arrangements are made as yet with little Judge
Inent or intelligence, Just as the tutors Of Jane
trey, and the other famous women of her time,
taught them Latin and Greek because they knew
nothing else themselves, so now the improvement
in the education OF girls is made by giving them
gentlemen as teachers, who only teach what has
been taught themselves a, college, while methods
and topics need revision for those new cases
which could better be made bv those who had
experienced the same wants Women are often
at the head of these institutions, bet they have
as yet seldom been thinking women, capable to
organize new whole FOR the wants of the time,
and choose persons to oiicate IN the depart
mentS. And when son,c portion of education Is
got of good sort from the school, the tone of
society, the much larger proportion received from
the world, coDtradicts It's purport. ct books
have not bee.l furnished, and little elementary
instruction has been given in vain. Women are
better aware how large and rich the universe is,
not Sc easily blinded by the narrowncss and par
alal views of a home circle.
Whether much or little has or will be done
whether women will add to the talent of mar
ration, the power OF systcmatizing whether they
will carve marble as well as draw, is not impor
tant. But that 1t should oe acknowledged that
they have intellect which needs developing, that
they should not be considered complete, if beings
of affection and habit alone, is important
Yet even tins acknowledgement, rather OBJ
tanned by woman than proficred by man, has
is sal of women being better educated that they
may be DETER companions and mothers o. men.
They should be fit for such compromising, and
we nave mentioned with satisfaction instances
where it has been established. Earth knows no
falrer, holier relation than that of mother But
being of infinite scope must not be treated with
an exclusive view to any one relation. GIVE the
soul free course, let the organization be freely dc
veloped, and the being will be fit for any and every
relation TO which it may be called. The intellect
no more than the sense of hearing, is to be cult
waited, that she may be more valuable compan.
ion to man, but because the Power who gave a
power by its mere existence signifies that II mus,
De brought out toward perfection.
In tins regard, of selfdependencc and greater
simplicity and ulnesS of beng, we must hail as
preliminary the increase OF the class con
te,nptuousy designated as old maids
We cannot wonder at the aversion with which
old bachelors and old maids have been regarded
Marriage is the natural means OF forming
sphere, of taking root on the Garth: 1t require:
more strength to do this without such an open
ing, very many have failed of this and their I'M
oerEectlons have been IN every ones way. They
nave been more partial, more harsh, more otiiciou
and impairment than others. Those who have
complete experience of the human instincts hay,
UlSu uSl DIS 10 NutlnGI tlltN ttll pc Thoroughly
human and humane, such as is limited at in The
saying Old maids and bachelors children are
we'll cared for which deridcS al once their igno
rance and their presumption.
Yet the business of society has become SO com
pick, that 1t could now scarcely be carried or
without the presence of these dcspiScd auxiliaries
and detachments from the army of aun,s anC
unceS arc wanted TO stop gaps in every hedge
They rove about, mental and moral lShmaehtcs
pitching their tents amid the fixed and orna
mented habitatouS of men.
They thus gam wider, If not so deep, CNpe
renee. They are not SO intimate with others
but thrown more upon themselves, and If they do
not there find peace and lnccsSant life, there is
none to hatter them that they are not very poor
and very mean.
A position, which SO constantly aGnoniShcS
NAV be OF inestmable benefit. The person NAV
gain, undstrac,ed BY other relationships, q closer
communion with the One. Such use is made
of it BY SAINTS and SbylS. Or she may be one OF
the Law sisters of charity, or more humbly only the
useful drudge OF all men, or the intellectual inter
prefer of the varied lie she sees.
Or she NAV combine all these. Not = needing
TO care that she may please husband, fran
and limited being, all her thoughts may turn Il
the centre, and by steadfaSt contemplation enter
into the secret of truth and love, use 1t Tor the use
of all men, instead of chosen few, and interpre
through it all the forms of life.
Saints and geniuses have often chosen lonely
position, In the faith that, if undisturbed by the
pressure of near ties they could give themselves
up to the inspiring spirit, it would enable them to
understand and reproduce lie better than actual
experience could
How many old maids take this high stand we
cannot say 1t is an unhappy fact that too many
of those who come before the eye are gosslps
rather, and not always good-natured gossips.
But if these abuse, and none make the best OF
their vocation, yet, it has not failed to produce
some good fruit. 1t has been seen by others, il