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


ought he character Of that training be? This
depends on the light in which her powers are
viewed. Ii lifo be esteemed as a mere day
drcam of pleasure to be speni in pursuing the
follies of fashion, or wasted ovor the pages o
novels, if she learns to rival the song Of the
nightingale and the grace of the gazelle. only
for the sake of being filtered and admired
then her education may bo. both superficial
and as slender as art can make it; it u,ay be
nothing but brass covered over with the thnesl
gliding Of knowledge If parents would pre-
pare their daughters to the mere toys of the
parlor. the idols of fawning sycophants, the
beautiful canaries of their homes, then is there
no need of subjecting them TO the seventies oi
mental discipline, or of inspiring them with q
laudable ambition to be blessing to the world
But, il, on the other hand, she DO viewed as the
mighty mistress of human destiny. standing
above the cradle of mankind as the tabled Au-
rora stands by the gates of morning, with pow
or to open upon the soul of maa tho clear light
of Heaven or wrap it about with the dark clouds
of vice and infidelty, then should her training
comport with tho momentous mission which
she is appointed to fulfil. The first condition
of fitting education ia to engraye upon her
mind tho ruling idea that sho exists for the
world instead of mbibing the opposite not on
that the world exists for her This thought
should be planted in her infant soul, should
grow up with the growth, should be fostered
at home, and unfolded in the .,alls of learning
that she lives 10 be ministering angel OF. good
mankind.
The chief influence Of an Academy like this
Tho influence which should surround the pu-
pills like an atmosphere by day and by night
ought 10 impress them with the idea of useful
ness here and of glory hereafter. as the final
end of living. This thought should be written
by the hand of God on the hearts of the teach
ers; it should appear in all their conduct. drawn
out in characters of light; it should be manifest
in all our social and educational arrangements
We deem it of more Importance to inspire the
souls of our pupils with such lofty ambition
that all other attsinments and accomplish.
mcnts can bc namod. IF VIC can but succeed
in fixing b, fore their aims such lofty pur
pose of improving their faculties in order 10
do the utmost good, all other oxcelencies will
follow in It's train. This will make human life
seem to be grander thing. on account Of its
relation to the millions around, and to that O.
ternity which opens beyond it. This will
make time appear like jewel too precious to
be dissolved in the cup of sensual pleasures
This will give them taste Of solid learning
and sober thought, that will make them like the
illustrious Lady Jane Gray. that noble model
of literary and religious woman. If such an
aim as this, ihon, should be first before the
mind. it is equally evident that she needs, in
the next place, to have her Intellect thorough
ly disciplined and well furnished She should
be an independent thinker. 1t matters not
whether her reasoning powers equal those OF
the strongest Sex; those powers were given he,
as guide through difIicsties Of life and as
guard against error, superstition and sccpti-
cism. Ii is not TO be tolerated for n moment
that we are to take our opinions without in
vesiigntion from the other sex There are
questions OF great importance both to onrsclyes
and to society which We alono can solve. Ii
will not do for a woman to leave her father or
husband to solvo the question Of her souls
salvation. To her own Maker she must stand
of fall. Neither will it do for us 10 put forth
our mighty influence at random. for il is u sol
cmn trust, that often requires the greatest skill
and tact. and reflection to- use il Alright, ard
for which we shall be held amcndable 10 the
Judge of oil the earth. TO meet these respon-
sibiities wo need the enlargement of mind
which results from tho comprehensive survey
of the wide fields Of knowledge which nre now
open before ns. Thn be,uifu' gardens Of D.
lite literature. as well as tho ample prnvinces
of solid learning. should be familiar to our feet.
five acknowledc that Adam is the l,rd of
this intellectual Paradise. he should DO suific
iently magnaminous to own that Eve was de-
signed to be his intelligent companion in tho
bowers of fancy, the grottoes of philosophy. or
the groves of song: and that from whatever
summit of science he looks forth upon this
goodly land, it should be his pleasure to ac-
knowledge that the gentle genius of woman
has been appointed. of all this. an caual c,.in-
heritor. We should drink so deep of tho Pic
ria t, ho 6
tainments. Yet, as il is not the province of
our sex to subdue the soil, exercise tho art of
oratory. or dive into the depths of science in
Sc rch of new discoveries, neither is it neces
that they should be so familiar with chemistry
as farmer, attain to snch commands of ihet-
ORC as the preacher or the statesman, nor be
so profound in the mathematics as the astrOno-
mer. who takes the dimensions Of planets and
carries measuring limo over tho boundess
fields of ether. But female education should
be so symmetrical as TO devolope all her now
or in due proportion. Sho soould not aim to
a prodigy of learning or wisdom, or wit, but
quietly winning her heavenward way; she sho'd
be like the modest moon among the celestial
spheres. shedding forth light. not so spark
ling as that Of tho stars. nor yet SO gluring as
that of the sun, but light so pure. SO even, So
mcllew, that every eye shall behold her with
picdsUro, cOntcnt tnat sne nOlus tho scepfer Of
tho sea, and cxer's more controlling influence
over the tides, of human feeling that many an
intellectual orb that surpasses her in grandeur
and glory.
SO far, then, as the cultivation of tho mind
is concerned, il shall be the aim of tho Acade-
my to carry the pupils through course of study
and training as will best fit them for all tho
duties and trials, the responsibilities; and ro-
verses of human life. We shall endcavor TO
prepare our young Ladies. rs fully a. NAV be.
for rugged. and rocky, and thornv paths Of
life, by training them to severe and sober ,ho'i.
and inculcating upon them a just reliance up
on ihcir owe capacities and powers. This
world is not all that it promises TO Youthful
hope. nor is the sweet summer Of prosperity
certain 10 be of long continuance. The flow
nv robe of June is often blasted by wiihering
frosts long ore the chill of Autumn comoth.-
The rose bush that sends its delicious perfume
through the chambers Of homo while all ia
sunshine about il. must often be transpan,cd
bv tho hand of affection TO shed its diving fra
granco over the hallowed spot. whore the dear
est Of earthly joys, and the brightest of teres-
tial hopes are buried II viii be our purpose
io show these clouds that skir, tho horizon of