The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-27
SMITHSONIAN IRsTITyuoN,
REV. DIR. cUsHMAN's LECTURE ON EDUoA-
TON OF GIRLS
Godfrey nIno,s.

SMITHSONIAN IHSTTTUTI0N.
REV. DIR. cUsHMAN's LECTURE ON EDUoA-
TIoN OF GIRLS
We had the pleasure of attending the de-
livery of Dr. CusHMAN's lecture on tho Rsgui-
SITES of american Female Edueotion,p on Satur-
day evening, the sth instant, at the Smithso-
MAN Institution. II presented in strong clear,
and eloquent language the Importance of the
subject showing striking contrast between
the wealth and talent and labor bestowed
on the education of boys, and that bestowed
upon girls; for, while colleges for boys are,
in every State, richly endowed and main
tanned by the best talents Of the land, the edu-
cation of girls is left almost entirely to private
enterprise This lecture was delivered by one
who has devoted himself 20 the education Of
American females with distinguished success,
and we hope it may yet be presented to the
public for the benefit of parents, who should
lay TO heart connsels so vital TO the wsll-being
of their children and the future destinies of onr
country.
We noticed the lecturer turning over pages
unread and, unwilling to lose any portion Of
the lecture, we asked for copy OF the sup
| presssa pages Why they were suppressed in
it's delivery Of he Smithsonian laStitution, vii
be apparent to our readers, to whom we com
mend this extract as being worthy OF their es
pecal attention. We regard the fashion o
Protestant parents sending their daughters b
schools under the care of Nuns, and of boys b
schools and academies taught by Priests, an,
these Priests Jesuits as worthy Of all censure
and to be the subject Of open reproaoh, by all
who value the importance Of our liberties Of
thought and action. Such parents are recre-
ant TO God and Truth recreant to their chill
dren and their country and we hope to see
these views Of ours the public sentiment, and
we wish Professionals would leave these schools
TO the sole patronage of Romanists Then we
shall see these seminarics, with fanciful names
taken out of the Roman calendar, dwindling
away. and Protestant schools taking their
places How can it be possible that priests
and nuns can be fit teachers OF those who are
soon 10 take the places Of their parents, and
uphold our republican institutions l-men and
women who by the course of training which
makes them monks and nuns, have as truly
dwarfed their intellects as are the feet of Chi
nese girls by their bandages and wooden shoes.
What lady in our new State Of California
would think of sending her children TO Canton
to learn dancing and the graces of social life
from the Chinesel We think the comparison
eminentIy Just and felicitous. But we now will
introduce 10 our readers DIR. Cushman's ex-
tract and leave him 10 express his views Of this
subject:
evils, il is said, work their own cure. But
sometimes one evil only makes way for an
other And SOFT has been in this case The
deficiency of our means of education have been
seen by class of men renowned in the Old
World for their skill in training the young to
their own purposes, who are ever willing 70
teach wherever they may control and who,
sustained by the gold Of foreign spiritual des-
potism, are willing to make every provision for
the education Of our daughters, for no other
reward than the Htrrender OF our civil and re-
lgious freedom
aTo meet these deficiencies, the choicest sites
have been selected, and beautiful sdi6ces are
rising ell over our land and teachers, trained
behind the CRATES Of European convents TO q
blind submission both 10 civil and ecclesiastical
tyranny, and nm sbhorrence Of the principles
both OF our religion and our Government, are
already occupying these enchanting retreats
and smiling most winningly from their portals
on the descendants of the Huguenots and the
PurtsnS and the martyrs Of Smithfcld and Of
st Bartholomew.
AAnd the lure has taken effect And why
should it mott II is foreign; it is novel; II Is
economical, e and it gives an occasion to show
our liberality
But my counhymen, fathers and mothers
of America, children Of men who fed from the
prison, the Sibbet, and the stake 70 savage
wilds, for the enjoyment Of religious liberty,
and b give life and freedom TO you, how cen
You esteem so lightly your hlood-boagh. birth
right az 20 fling it back into the very laws Of
the seven-headed beast, from which IL was
saved by their voluntary exile Nay rather
why win you bcckon to the very refuge they
gave you, the uDchangeably remorsslsso power
from which they fed, and commit your tender
offspring to its caref Mysterious ipfstuation
worse than pagan cruelty. Christian parents
causing their children 70 pas through the Gre
to Q Moloch whose acceptabis offerings are
s!oces and Uuls Of men l'--Rev xvii, 10
The Hindoo mother, ignorant OF the living God
deyotce her helpless babs TO the jaws Of the
. moment Of anguish, ons piercing
Shrek, ard ell ~ over. On Axy part 1t was the
religious oblation Of benightsd mind, and the
child has passed from tbs txoablsd waters II
tho Gauges 10 the calm Of Heaven. But you
deliver up yonr child 70 influences that msy
unfit her for the duties and snjoyments Of the
present life; that nssy Iced her 70 a refiigs Of
lies Tor her religious trust that may rob her OF