Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-10-29
Ladies' Department.
70 the Guardians of Female Education


OF what unspeakabIe Importance, then, is he,
education, who gives lessons before any other
instrucor-who preoccupies the unwriten page
of beng-who produces impressions which only
death can obIiterate-and mIngles with the
cradle dream what shall be hereafter revealed in
the light of maturer life Well may statesmen and
philosophers debate how she may best oe edu.
Gated who is to educate all mankind,
The ancient republics overlooked the value
of that sex whose strength is in the heart
Greece, SO susceptible to the principle of beauty,
so skilled in the essence of grace failed in APP
preciating their excellence, whom these had
most exquisitely adorned IT, in the brief season
Of youthful charm, she was constrained to admire
woman as the acanthus leaf Of her own Corin-
THAN capital, she did not discover that, like that
very column she was capable Of adding stability
to the proud temple of freedom. She would
not be convinced that so feeble hand might
have aided to consolidate the fabric which phi
Iosophy embelished and luxury overthrow,
Rome notwithstanding her primevaI rudeness,
seems more correctly than polished Greece, to
have estimated the "weaker vessel" Here
aud there, upon the slorm-driven pillows of her
history some solitary form towers upward in
majesty, and the mother Of the Gracchi still
stands forth in srong relief amid Imagery over
which time lras no power. But still wherever
the brute force of the warrior is counted god
like, woman is appreciated only as she approx
mates to sterner natures as in that mysterious
image which troubled the sleep Of Assyria's king
the foot of clay derived consistence from the
iron, which held it in combination,
In cur own republic, man, invested by his
Maker with the right to reign, has conceded to
her, who was for ages in vassaIage, equality Of
intercourse, participation 10 knowledge, domin-
ion over his dearest and fondest hopes He is
content to 'bear the burden and heat of the day.
that she may dwell in ease and aflluence-
Yet from the very felicity of her lot, dangers are
generated She is tempted to be satisfied with
superficial attainments, or to indulge in that
Incidence which corrodes intellect, and merges
the high sense of responsibility in its aIlurng
and fatal slumbets
These tendencies should be mentralized by a
thorough and aborous education S!oth and
luxury must have no place in her vocabulary
Her youth should be surroundedb by every mo-
tive to application, and her maturity digniied by
the halIowed office ef rearing the immortal MUD
While partner tolls for his stormy portion of
that power or glory, from which it is her prl-
vege to be sheltered let her feel that in the
recesses of domestic privacy she still renders a
noble service to the government that protects
her, by sowing seeds of purity and peace in the
hearts of those who shall hereafter claim its
honors or control IFS destInies.
Her place is amid the quiet shades, to watch
the little fountain ere it has breathed a murmur,
Bot the fountain will break forth into rlll, and
the swollen riyuIet rush towards the sea- and
who can be so vel able to guide them in right
channels, as she who heard their first ripple,
and saw them emerge like tImld strangers from
their source, and had kingly power over those
infant waters, in the name of Him who caused
them to flow.
And now, guardians of education, whether
parents preceptors, or legislators-you who have
so generously layished on woman the means OF
knowledge-compete your bounty by urging
her to gather its treasures with lreless hand
Demand of her as debt, the highest excellence
which she is capable of attaining Summon
her to abandon selfish motives and inglorious
ease. Incte her to those virtues which promote
the permanence and health Of nations. Make
her accountable for the character of the next
generation. Give her solemn charge, in the
presence of men and angels Grid her with
the whole armor of education and of piety-and
see if she be not faithful to her children, to her
country, and to her God.