The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-14

WILLIS AND THE School CAUSE.-THE leading
editorial Of Willis for this week, addressed to ladies,
quite TrQpoS at this time when the trial is
about to come on, in which the reputation of Mr..
Willis is concerned 1t is addressed to the ladies,
who are, he says, "the court by which female re-
putation is tried and judged" lie, further, pro-
poses that the ladies, clubs, societies. circles or
churches, should combine to protect innocence bya
fair trial, by testing accusations. Truth, justice,
and charity and mercy, he adds, would rejoice
at this.
Such is the conclusion Of the essay, in which Mr..
Willis draws comparisons between female
education in England, France, and the United
States. We deny his assertions, as premises of the
argument. 1t is not true that young la lies in our
country have greater freedom than those of Euro
pean circles On the contrary, mock restraints are
the parents of half the social errors among us. An
American girl, In some sections Of the coun Try.
cannot give her arm to gentleman without being
liable to an action for breach of promise and, in
the crowded thoroughfare, the occasional beau, in
order not to find the lady thrust from his sde by
silly convention is seen carrying, or pushing The
lady along, as if she were n musket or basket. This
is an exterior symbol Of whole class Of restraints
which have no business with honest, frank and vr.
tuous hearts and which are more common in this
country than in any European city. In France, or
even in Paris virtue is not sustained by suspicion,
by bolts, bars, or family polite. In England, the
freedom Of young lady at eighteen, when she is
supposed to have head well MS heart, is tina,
Of a woman grown to the knowledge Of the decep-
tons Of vice Her only certificate of purity is not
the assertion that she has been closely watched.
She has been taught to rely upon her strength,
well as to fear her own weakness; and Beatrice,
Constance, Lady Tcazle, and similar characters Of
the English drama, are types Of English girls, as
bred in towns and cities.
That American girls are "over sen.mentally'
trained we admit-and here it is that Mr.. Willis
errs in assuming the exuberance Of freedom pc
culiar to American girls. All the freedom they
have is on paper; and when they get pen in their
hands and an object upon which to exercise il, the
freedom restrained by conventional hypocrisy aud
the art Of concealmeht breaks out without reason,
and knows no bounds. This is true-but this is the
only truth with respect to the superior freedom Of
the American to that ofthe English or French girl
II is that freedom which grows upon restraint and
surveillance, and which is more likely to lead to a
precipice than to a paradise. What is good in
European frankness, in conhding and trusting in
tercourse based upon respect, in the privilege of
Independence which seeks honor only, Is what Is
required here, and not the equiyocal benefit from
seclusion Of the European nursery aud coistcr, "a
Mr.. Willis would recommend.
But there ia a deeper meaning in this lecture by
Mr.. Willis 10 which we alluded in the outset
sidelong explanation of certain letters ofpublic no
toriety contained in the passages referring to
tie exaggerated style Of correspondence common to
school girls. Mr.. Willis says miscarricd billet
doux Il mourned over "uttor ruin" fancy adj
miration, that has brought about a scoliins, is
dscoursed upon as the - dark error fatal to her
peace forever" q mslaid rose bud is dcplored Ne
''the ore loss on earth tina. could never De re-
stored" There may be much truth in all this.
There Il more reason 10 it than in the general scope
az Mr.. WILLIS views on the freedom Of American
girls. Such is opinion.