Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-11-12
Female Education.

Georgia is proudly called the empire State OF
the South. This distinguished appeIlation she
has merited on several accounts. And on none
more ,deservedly than on account of her rapid
advance in educational enterprise. The greatness
of State may be more safely assured in pro
portion, as the evidence of it is found in the in
dvidual and voluntary creation OF her noble acts.
We leave out of our cause Of congratulations all
of Gcorgias noble dongs in railroads, politics,
and manufactures, and confne our remarks en-
lirely to the one great subject Of education.
Georgia has four male colleges; one of State
creation, three of voluntary contributions.
These Colleges have under their care about four
hundred young men from several States, butch!et-
y Of her own sons. ....-......-...,
Our object is, however, to call the public mind
to the proud fact that there is not sister State
in the South-if there is in the Union-with so
many chartered female colleges and Collegiate
institutions. will not assert it, but for the pre-
sent it is my belief, that what now bears the
distinguished name Of the Wesleyan Female
College, was the first institution in this great
country ever erected for the dispensation of fe-
male learning, with the powers and privileges of
chartered college. Many persons now living
can remember we'll how visionary and romantic
the scheme WAS held to be by many. While
others pro!esscd to look upon the necessity for
educated women pretty much in the same light
they would now upon the notion Of educated
house servants. And with many there was a
more cansurabe ideal bar in the way; that was,
that the female mind was incapable Of taking in
anv thing like collegiate scholarship.
The noble project, however, found in Geor-
gias aspiring sons and daughters, a generous
multitude who enabled its primary friends to car
ry it into successful experiment. And so brilliant
and decided has been its developments in the
mental culture Of Georgia's lovely daughters,
with not a few from adjoining States, that we
may fearlessly claim for it the enviable honor of
having sent out the impulse which has given
being to some dozen colleges and collegiate inst-
tutcs within the State. Noble oilsrrngs, copying
we'll the maternal plan, and running a brilliant
race with us for disributive share of that honor
which evidently awaits our State-which is, that
BY the time she can boast of more miles of rail-
road within her territory than any State of her
area, she will be able to make a still prouder
boast which will be that she can show more well
educated ladies, educated too at home, by her
own sons and daughters, than any of her sisters.
Of this every Southern patriot may, and ought
to rejoice Thirty-fve years ago when 1 was
commencing the education of my children, and
for years after that, never knew but two teach-
ers of high order whose birth place was South
of New York. One of them from Virginia, and
the other from North Carolina. But now Geor-
ola can appeal to scores, as the iustrous epis-
ties Of her own cherished institutions Other
states can join us in this pleasing exultation.
But Georgia is decidedly in the froat ratk. And
so let us keep.-Southern Christian .1dvocate.