Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-03-02
From the Family Circle and Parlor Annual
Female EducatiOn.--NO.
BY NELSON STEER, ESQ

NELSON STEER, ESQ.
In our article on this subject in the December num-
Der, our remarks devoted entirely 10 the training
of the body, which, conceive, lies the foun-
daton of all human education. The body is to the
mind what the framework of the steamer and its boil
and fuel, are TO the engine This not make
single revolution, or serve any valuable purpose with
out framework to sustain it, and steam to impart
propulsion, the mind, in our present state,
give token of its high original, without bodily health
and strength.
Cast a glance the catalogue of our mental g-
ants of the present day-our leading speakers and
thinkers in the pulpit senate and lccure-room, and
we will find them, every one, having vigorous body
well as mind Many think with a COM
paratively slender constitutions but they can not as
speakers and actors mankind and elcctrify the
world. lie who would do more for the world than
merely to exert occasional CLEAN of genius should
lay the strong and deep foundation of his power in
sound well educated body. Then he will have the
vital force requisite to sustain the mind in long and
vigorous action and realize the hopes himself and his
friends cherished in the development of his mental ma
ture If this be trne of men, with how much more
force can the principle be applied to the education of
females, whoss habits, we regret to say, have been
widely warped by fashion and false CUSTOM in
respect 10 health and education, than those of the 9TH
er sex.
We have promised to speak of mental cducation
and in doing so VIC remark first, that the continu
ed education of the body is necessary that of the mind
should be conducted in such manner, and with such
speed only as COMFORTS with health. The female
temperament is usually more active, and the mind
more susceptible, than those oftho male. Consequent
" females usually learn laser become excited by the
praise bestowed upon their eXccencos in scholarship,
and hence the extra eXertion of the system,
habit which still clos
err application to study involves, skaters their consti
tutions at very carly age. Your fat, awkward, red
faced girl, who loves the bracing breezes, fun and
frolc in the open air, than books, is not likely 10
be injured by the above influences At sixteen her
mind will ripen and expand, and at twenty she will
be good scholar But the little, delicate, suscepti-
BILE girl, with thin sharp features expanded forehead
large, intelligent blue eyes, with strong endowment
of the love of approbaton is the very to be driv
en- almost to madness in mental activity. She bends
soul and body her books, becomes prodigy in
education, and her friends, misguided teacher, and all
lavish praises upon her educational superiority, which
only to nhame her brain, and add fuel to that
fire which is cosumng her vitality and preparing her
for the tomb Not in school only does she struggle
on in the mental pathway,-she is not only permit
ed but encouraged to take her hooks home, con her
lessons late and early if she is permitted a mo-
ments respite from her books, it to be shown up in
company intellectual pet and 10 listen TO adula-
tons of her great achievements and her mental bril-
liancy Such gifted, dollhouse plants are regarded
as the special avores of heaven and if they be So,
is it strange that the maxim found believers, that
"Those whom the gods love, die youug?"
We need not say that such children should be held
back in mental exercise, that they the very
ones who are always crowded onward, by approval
and encouragement at least if not by direct require
ment. They will crowd themselves, if it be not done
by parent and teacher The proper is to check
mental, and promote physical activity.
This, aware, is picture of class OF
constitutions, but it unfortunately is very large class,
and class that Eve are particularly anxious to save
from the of education, to from derange-
ment of constitution, and from the grave. And in
hine in ten of precOcious and mental de-
Velopment it can be done Educate their bodies first
and continually, and their minds secondarily, they
can bear it, and we might then genius enihroned
as on pedestal of granite to bless the world with
its heat and light, to ripe old age. What a sad
fact, that the brightest and best of females
be bghted and sent to early graves by instructed
education
Another error in female education, is that which
culvates the shoAy and aesthetic faculiesof the mind
and leaves the more solid, common-sense elements UNI
developed Elegant accomplishments, that glitter and
dazzle, placed in the foreground of female culture
as if their only errand in life to be placed in
social conservatory, we do flower, TO bloom
in the soft atmosphere ofperpeual admiration. Hence
drawing, painting, dancing, French, music, botany
ornamental needle-work, dress, and a useless round
adysm constitute the bulk of the popular idea of
finished female education DO females lack reasoning
power If so, then give them no scientific study thai
demands it, Is she made up entirely of the literary
faculties, with imitation, ideay, appropriateness
and the social qualities If so, give her fashionable
education, and you will call those faculties into actiy
ity, and almost no other. Indeed she will be blu
half developed, and that half which makes her weak
helpless, and dependent; tinsel ornament, rather