Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-10-07
Fashionable Education.
By MRS a. DICKINSON.

pay ing iHe toit vi Inc nuS6andman,ibe me-
chanic, and the merchant; so abundantly
rewarding The cultivation and employment nj
OF intellect; SO richly endowed with free
institutions, so exempt from oppressive
taxation; whose merchants are princes in
all the earth = whose professional men
lawyers, divines, physicians, and states
men; are held in high estimation among
all people, we are. naturally led 10 inquire
The causes Of much solicitude and pecuni-
airy embarrassmcnts, among the m ddle and
more elevated classes.
farsbe it rom Us 10 disparago mental
cultivation. We would that the minds of
our daughters were disciplined. and their
reasoning powers developed. by a much
more patient AID systematic pursuit of sci
ence. But we would also have them pur-
sue tho ough course of mental dicipine
not because it is fashionable, nor that they
may be better fitted 10 discharge their own
appropriate duties; that they may be more
snltable companions for use with whom
they are 10 be most Intimately associated:
for those, perhaps, whose lives are 10 be
spent n Intellectual pursuits, in tn mixing
aud reasoning that they may secure great
er influence III society; that they may have
strength of character to train their sons.
while yet in the nursery 10 habits OF prompt
and cheerful obedience; and may infuse
into their minds, sentiments Of exalted viz
tue and true philanthropy; which NAV not
only be the means of prcserving among US
a sacred, an invIolable regid 10 law ard
constituted authority, bat also Of advancing
us in everything that contributes to render
a nation glorious and happy.
Neither would we have them Indifferent
TO those external accomplishments which
diversity ndenlven social intercourse and
afford agreeable relaxation from the labo-
rious, and often irria.n duties Of life. -
Yet We would moi have them cultivate even
these, for purposes Of selishnass and yani.
~, but fol the sake of contributing more
largely to the happiness of society. We
would not have them feel that they may
neglect, even for the sake of these grace
ful accomplishments, but would have them
redeem time for the proper discharge of
Of every duty, by habit Of early rising, in.
dustry and order.
Leaving out Of view for the present, the
hackueye ed and unwelcome topic Of insub-
ordination, so prevalent IN the community.
he germ OF SO much misery. is it not an
undcnJaple fact, that in too many instances
the da ghiers OF the wealthy attend school
I'LL they are segenteen,or eighteen ;become
10 some extent acquainted with Maihemat
icr French, Drawing, Music, &C., for no
OH tb.tt, lac l.
BE! And is it not true, that the oaugh-
!erS of many merchants, mechanics, and
farmers, Of small capital, who are telling
and strugglsh2 to sustain their standing in
business, are led to pursue the same course
merely because it is fashionable? The
difficulty does not consist chiefly in the
course pursued thougA in many instances,
that IS sufficiently Objectionable; bu, main
~ III the motive for CO ng it, the making
mere shjon the handspring Of action, to
being capable Of understanding the relation
Of things; capable Of thinking and reason
ing; capable Of approaching the noble slim
illus of being useful. They have delicate
sensibilities, which if properly cultivated,
would make them shrink from the idea of
being only amusement toys, enjoying a
life OF lnglorious ease, at the expense of
many hours of hard labor stolen from
a mothers needluI sleep, or the excessive
toll and perplexiiy of an indu!gent faith
o..
The care-worn mother whose best years
have been spent in toll and sen-denal, to
procure her daughters fashionable edu.
cation, not antrequently complains in the
bitterness Of her soul, that they feel no re-
sponsbilily in sharing her burdens, and
no gratitude for all her painful efforts on
their behalf. Poor mother she little thinks
she is reaping the leg innate harvest of the
seed she has with so mnch labor been SOW.
ing. Can she expect her daughters 10 seek
happiness where alone it IS 10 be found in
do ng good, in studying 10 be really useful,
when they have been educated 10 think
happiness consisted in the Qualification Of
self When they have been accustomed
from childhood 10 see the comfort of the
family constantly sacrificed 10 procure tor
them exemption from effort, or The means
of idle and ostentatious display! when they
have been accustomed TO waste the bright
and Joyous mornings OF youth. locked IL
dreamy forgetlulness, till the second OF
third call aroused 10 consciousness, and re-
minded them that the industrious portion
of the family were al the breakfast table
Well may many sad hearted mother, and
father too, blush and tremble for The conSe-
quences, when they reflect, how, morning
after morning, those for whom they en-
dure every privatioa, and who. in addition
to the duties Of the toilet, should have had
at least an hours heal'hful enjoyment to
gan good appetite, and promote The or
der of The family. come from their rooms
with nerves and muscles relaxed;wiih teel-
ings ruffled by the reproachesof conscience
and the hurry Of dressing, untitled either
for business. or for social iptercourse.-
Miserable beings phiable OF. ects finding
but little left, in the cold and deranged
dishes, to tempt a caprcious appetite. they
conclude to lounge perhaps on the sofa. OF
while away the time with the last novel, OF
at the dispirited music and wait for Dinner
when they make shameful; amends for then
mornings abs,incncel or rather for then
mornings Incidence! So ,he.rdGys ,week>
months, years pass away, and such lnvet'
rate habits are formed, as almost necessari
ly result in ignobe debility, nervous head
aches. loss of self command, impaired looks
and indeed, ruined constitutions, both Of