The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-03-23
r.m.Ia Edncatlon.

cause nearly the first half of Il is devoted to
satire and rdicuie, bordering too much upon
the personal 10 afford pleassve 70 intelligent
readers. The other half contains entire-
~, too much "Auic salt" to suit ordi-
nary palates. We hope this communica-
ton will wind up the discussion on Female
Education. After it is settled definitely,
whether or not young ladies should study the
Classics and Mathematics, we hope the at
tensiop Of the public mind will be turned to
more practical questions, such as,i it proper
that children should be taught to read, write,
and cypher!-and if SO perchance. would it
not be advisable to adopt some plan for the
erection of decent and comfortable school
houses in Evansville! TIC be sure, these are
very homely questions, and II is more than
likely not a half dozen "yosng ladies" in town
would read communications on the subject;
but then there might be some practical result,
while there is no such possibility in the pre-
sent discussion. s 81
After abiding satiricelly to a writer in the
pocket" our correspondent continues as
below:-[ Ed. Jour.
i He lays down automatically the proposition
! that "womnn is as different from man in her
mental as in her physical organization" and
makes it therefore that lit is as absurd to say
that her mental training should be the same
as that woman should bow, sow, end reap,
because man plows, sows, and reups." Grant
the premises, which might be shown to be un-
true, we deny the conclusion, aud assert the
fallacy Of the illustration. Prom this very
admission that the minds Of man and woman
differ only as do their physical constitution
the similitude of the training necessary ts
their healthy development Of a eonseque nee
follows. For, supposing a case where the
natural vigor of the body has become impair.
ed and the functions refuse to do their office
the one only course recommended 10 man OF
won an is to pursue a sy stem of bodily exer-
else. And this exercise in in both cases pre-
cisely alike in kind, though for man a greater
degree is demanded. They both must ride OF
walk, but where one must cover four miles
daily in order to attain the desired result, one
half or perhaps one third this distance will
for the other, answer the purpose; yet this
half or third is as absolutely necessary for its
lobiect as is the full four miles for theirs
So in imparting strength to the naturally
weak and Uniformed mind, whether male O.
female, process Of training must be gone
through with, and what is best for tie one il
best for the other. And if the study of the
classics be this best walk for inducing intel
lectual healthiness is it not just and scientiG.
} to prescribe il! And is it fair to fence it in
with all its numerous benefits, and write oye
Its gateway Mascuiines alone admitted!"
But then says Gmpliedly) Mr.. Nameless
admitting that exercise is necessary for men
tai progression, and that the study of classic,
is the best possible to be found, yet it is no
a the most preferable for woman because sh,
cannot, in the nature of the case, pursue it Z,
It's perfect result and "a little latin produce
strophy and weakness, instead Of expansion
enlargement, and invigoration." He quotes
: "a little learning is dangerous thing, &c, ,
h evidently, by his emphasis, comforting the ap
plcation of the word 'dongero 49, making
refer to the danger Of {" a little learning
producing weakness Of mind, whereas
= plainly indicates its tendency to initiate an
!, give one undue conception Of his impo-
/. lance. "He that knows little thinks h
q knows much" And now notice the absurdit
: and absolute rediculosity OF this view. II
. continue the parallel between man mentally
g and physically. An individual is PROSTATE
d with bodily debility. Exercise is the grea
q one thing needful that the system may recov
er its wontoned tone. The physician point
ont road and says to him "Walk upon thai
but mark me! reach, in your walk, the fourt
It mile stone, for if you stop short of it, at tn
,. first, second, third, the exertion SO far fror
/ benefiting you, will but increase your prostrs
- tion." Now, is not this simply absurd! ]
lexercise is what is needed, is il not palpabl
that any will benefit just in proportion as
r is greater or less! And it is equally as non
n sensical to assert that Latin and Greek mus
be studied to perfect knowledge, else thei
;. tendency is to weaken instead of strengthen
ID If this be the result, they had better be dis
carded from educational systems ultogethe,
for where one mind is invigorated by thei
# perfect mastery, atrophy is induced in thou
q sands by stopping short. But it is not go.
an intimate acquaintance with the musterit
o Of these languages has been attained, tn
mental faculties are increased in power i
proportion to the exertion made to this enc
!. and so are they if no farther proficiency
gained than to be able to translate Casa
Z Virgil, and Graeca Majora.
Then why have we SO much abominabl
foolish ehattering from learned gentlemen
(wrIting anonymously about the inuiit
10 nay! the actual dctriment of women studyin
the classics, inasmuch as they cannot becom
thoroughly accomplished in themi
/ 8 SNODGRASS.