The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-11-22

! To save, forgive, and every wound To heal
| God knows it ALL
| The following Address to the Friends of Female
! Education, was made by Mrs. w. w. RoBIsoS, nj
Penn YAM L. Y, at the opening of the Female Acad
| emy.
HER PROPER SPHERE AND PROPER TRAIN
| ING.
FRIENDS OF FEMALE LEARNING:-
| The occasion that has called us together is
replete with peculiar interest There belongs
to it all that springs from the general diffusion
of knowledge, and something more. The
birthday If any Literary Institution is en-
twincd with the most pleasing associations
We hail the new conner as another Morning
Star. that hcrads the approach of the Sun OF
! Science, which to shed univ 'ersal day over
! the wide firmansent OF the human intellect
/ 1t is delightful ever to consecrato some new
grove to the walks of Philosophy, or set apart
| some shady fouatan to be a favorite haunt for
the Muses. But there is special joy whicl,
arises in the heart of the Ptilanthropist on an
occas ion liz this Wo are about to baptize
ban Institution of Learning, which will all their
| polish was never known in tho classic climes
oil Greece aud Romo. The idea that woman
oug hit 10 receive thorough education had not
| daw ned even upon the most enlightened ma
tions There was not one of the seven hills
cf Romc, there was not a hill ihroughoui her
| wide empire, that was crowned with such an
| Academy as this. Ave. ard we may look in
vain for anything of this kind, that shOne out
like a solitary star through the long night OF
tho Middle Ages that followed the downfall Of
that empire.
The first faint cleaning of such a thought
was mutely Predicted in tho idolatrous regard
with which the fair sex were viewed i'll the
II Il. a. Il L..
ter had passed away that chl'alry threw arouud
her, and learning began 10 revive after the
| Reformation, the germ of this thought was
slowly unfolding. until in these latter times il
has sprung up with marvellous vigor. 1t is no
longer o question that woman occupies yer,
| influential position in society. and that she
needs thorough and systemsticaI education
to prepare her for its high responsibilities
Yet, as the public mind seems not 10 be exact
lv settled as to the duties she is bound to dir
charge, we would invite your attention to a
few thoughts suggested by this topic. Our
theme is Woman-her proper sphere and
proper training.
We are not of that number who adopt the
Amazonian doctrine, that her sphere, oven in
teectualy, is the same with that Of man -
Her peculiar constitution, was well rs Holy
Writ, Indicates her true aud noble calling In
some important respects there is an exact l.
IDENTIFY between the sexes. She, like man, is
the child Of hope and heir of Immortality
Reason fits her, as well as him, to be u pupil
Of the Diety and companion Of angels. Her
intellect is furnished with the SINE chambers
of beautiful imagery-the capacious store
keuse of Memory-the same faculty of rearing
monuments that sha ontast the pyramid OF
Egypt, or even the dome of Heaven. Neither
was made for Solitude; both are alike posses
sed of soc ial affections, and equally live and
move and have their happiest being in the at
mosphere of refined society. Yet the soul oi
woman, though made like mans in the image
of its Maker, bears the impress of differen,
mould. We can read her peculiar destiny in
tho very architecture both of her BODY and
mind. Man has more of bone and muscle;
woman moro of nerve and feeling. While
both share these faculties and suscepthilities
in Common it H. not TO bo denied that they
possess them in widely different proportions.
The one has a larger amount of physical
strength-the other phy,ical hcumcn. What
ever superiority belongs, therefore, to strength
IL his by Divine right This very circumstan nee
must ever enable him to excel his fair rival in
ovcry department where energy is the first
condition of success This is Heavens decree,
while it were folly in her Office to bear the
shock If battle, subdue and cultivate the soil
buffet the waves of ocean, plunge INTO the
dusty marts oil commerce. or GUIDE the snip 0
+ State. Before she is fitted for these she must
be made of firmer stuff In like manner this
very muscular power must give man the pre-
ccdence in every department. of literature
which requires long and exhaustive process o
! thought The lark, that rises heavenward to
gr, ct with song the morning sun-besm, cannot
soar to such lofty heights as the eagle, purely
for lack of strength. So may female gcnins
soar into the clear ether of Science, and tell to
tine world with charmed words the glories tha,
meet its gaze; but when the deep mysteries o
creation are about to be expIored,n of ourse1
will ever reach tho sublime eyre Of thought
whence Bacon and Newton beheld the marvels
philosophy which they have made known ia
man. While admitting this, We will maintain
her unqucstoncd righ, to explore cvery field
Of science that is opcn 10 human Inspection
Let none bar against her tho highest heaven
of Poetry, Philosophy, or of Biblical lore. In
/. any or in all these literary Edens. she may
roam with che freedom of an angel. No Di.
vine prohibition keeps her from tasting The
tree If knowedge anv more than her intellec
tual o,nsort Man is no lorger he only hn-
nointed high priest of nature, investigated with
the solo pc ogrtye Of lifting the veil and en-
terinc her utmost shrine: bnt now and hence
forth woman may pas the partition wall anc
offer incense to the Deity from tho golden C n
sor of philosophy Still Il bchooves us evor
; hero TO discr;mintc. When We roam among
| the splendid monuments of human thought W,
should boar in mind that by far tho larges
part " all that has becn achieved in the pas
ages by the human intellect IL OF mascuIin,
mould. How many from our ranks have ira