The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-08-21
Resaaale RAnration.

49,
Femase RAseasSss. n
If the objections against the better edu-
cation Of women could be overruled, one OF &
the great advantages that would ensuc would I
be the extinction Of innunerable follies.
A decided and prevailing taste for one or an
other mode Of education theie must be. A
century past, it was for ho,sewifery--now
it is for accomplishments. The object now
is, TO make women artists,-tO give them
an excellence in drawing, music, painting.
ard dancing,-of which, persons who make
these pursuits the occupation Of their lives.
and derive from them their subsistence, need
not he ashamed Now, one great evil Of
this is, that it does not last If the whole
Of life were an Olympic game,--f we
could 90 on Teasing and dancing TO the
emo, this might do but it is in truth mere
ly provision for the little interval between
coming into life, and settling in it; while it
leaves long and dreary expanse behind,
devoid both Of dignity and cheerfulness.
No mother, no woman who has passed over
the first years of life, sings, or dances. or
draws, or plays upon musical instruments.
They are merely means for displaying the
grace and vivacity of youth, which every
woman gives up, as she gives up the dress
and manners Of eighteen; she has no wish
to retain them, Or, if she has, she is driven
out of them BY diameter and derison. The
system Of female education, as il now stands,
aims only at embellshing few years OF
life, which are in themselves so full OF grace
and happiness, tina, they hardly want it; and
then leaves the rest Of existence miserable
prey to idle insignifcance. No woman Of
understanding and reflection can possibly
conceive she is doing justice to her children
by such kind of education. The object is, to
give to children resources that will endure as
long as life endures,-habits that time will
ameliorate, not destroy, that
Twill render sickness tolerable, solitude
pleasant, age venerable, life more dignifed
and useful, and therefore death less terrible;
and the compensation which is offered for
the omission of all this, is shOrt-lived
blaze,-a little temporary effect which has
no other consequence than to deprive the re-
mainder of life of all taste and relish.
There may be women who have a taste for
the fine arts, and who evince decided tai
ent for drawing, or for music. In that case,
there can be no objection TO the cultivation
Of these arts; but the error is, to make such
things the grand and universal obect.-to
insist upon il that every woman is to sing,
and draw, and dance-with nature, or
against nature,-to bind her apprentice to
some accomplishment, and if she cannot
succeed in oil or water colors, to prefer gid
ing, vanishing, furnishing. box making. to
real solid improvement in taste, knowledge,
or understanding.
A great deal is said in favor Of the social
nature of the fine arts. Music gives pleas
me to others. Drawing is an art, the
amusement of which does not centre in him
who exercises it, but is diffused among the
rest of the world This is true but there
is nothing after all, so social as cultivated
mind We do not mean to speak sighting
ly of the fine arts, or 10 depreciate the good
humor with which they are sometimes ex-
hibited; but We appeal to any man, wheth-
er little spirited and sensible conversation
displaying, modestly, useful requirements
and evincing rational curiosity, is not well
worth the highest exertOns Of musical or
graphical skill A woman Of accomplish
ments may entertain those who have the
pleasure Of knowing her for half an hour
with great brilliancy; but a mind full Of
ideas. and with that elastic spring which the
love of knowledge only can convey, is a per-
petual source of exhilaratiOn and amlsemen,
to all that come within its reach bot col
lecting its force into single and insulated
achievements like the effort made in the
fine arts-but diffusing, equally over the
whole Of existence, calm pleasure-better
loved as it is longer felt-and suitable to
every variety and period of life. There
fore, instead Of hanging the understanding
of woman on the walls, or hearing it Vi
brate upon strings,-instead of seeing it in
clouds, or hearing il in the wind, We would
make it the first spring and ornament Of So
ciety. by enriching it with at,anments upon
which alone such power depends. -SrpSEY
SMITH.