Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-05-08

lehtai iacuitieS, while the body is confined
IN the barrow limits Of the building, de-
prived of the privilege of all physical ex-
erclse. If permitted to walk out, it is
under the most criminal restraint, and with
measured tread that would co honor to
the strictest military tactician. The les
SOW Philosophy which natures Grand
book Of bursting hs1's, and yerdant fields
and sSg iae,..sa,as. aaa,.l,a.
!; rs B saif & hef Ri I'D
s~tans and her warbiing songsters are all
lost to them. They eau only form dis
tant idea of the pleasures of communion
with the works of nature, by stolen glances
from attic windows, and an occasional song
trome some charitable bird who NAV
chance to MARBLE It's matin orison in hear
ing. And thus, fr ON such restraints orig
mate the seeds of spinal disease dyspepsia,
and the may other indispotions arising from
want of physical exercise, and mental
freedom and recreation. 1t is very MIS-
taken notion that constant application
to books and studies, is the most efficient
means of developing the mind and prop
erly educating the pupil. With most per-
sons such restrictions become very distaste-
iul, and consequently engender q dislike
to the imposed studies, and the process of
complying with the rules is merely me-
ehanleal, without the free consent of
the MIND necessary TO a thorough dges-
ton OF the subjects of study. Six hours
III the day Of application to books is ample
time ID any school-more than that is re-
dundancy, and must eventually have a
most serious reaction on the digestive men,
tai powers. 1t is through this mistaken
idea OF constant application, that the ladies
OF our day have such superficial educa-
tons. BY mechanical intuition, without
understanding and fully dieesting tAe sub
Jects oil study they retain the yerbiage suf-
ficiently long to make a glib recitation
and then when the duty is performed, not
having entered fully into the merits of the
study and impressed the mind with the
principle involved, they scarcely ever give
it another thought, because, from the ma
ture OF the young, they will seek every
means to relieve themselves of the enaui
| of such an existence, and will therefore
when all other means are deprived them,
seek it by building air-castles for them.
selves, and dreaming of the pleasure :hey
will enjoy when freed from the restraints
and confinement of the school, they can
mingle in the society of friends, and real
ize the privileges of freedom.
But at best the education now deemed
necessary to make lady. is superficial,
and impractical. If woman had been made
to supersede doll-babes--to live an ideal
life, and to be carried about in a banJ-box
with a pair of silver tongs, to prevent the
fresh breezes Of heaven from soilng hei
face. or the beauties of nature from shock
ing her nervous sensibilily-to be a
fleeting thing to please the eye, aud cap
tivate the admiration-a living musk bag
to regale the sen SEES; then would the
present system Of female education be most
admirably adapted to her mission. But
she has far higher calling to fill. She
has grander theatre upon which to play
her pant of life's drama, than spacious bali
rooms and silken lounges-she has more
exalted mission to accomplish, than to be-
deck herself in costly pharaphernalia and
spout bad frehch that she may be called
raro arts. Natures God has allotted
sphere OF duty to her, the performance of
whose obligations with propriety aud dig
nifty, requires other accomplishments than
to touch with soft hand the KEYS
of Piano, or the chords of guitar 1t
is to touch the chords of the human heart
and attune thsm to virtue, love, temper
ance, charity, and all the ennobling i'm
pulses Of the human soul. Girls coming
out of our fashionable Seminaries, as
now conducted, are no mere capable of as
Stunning their true position in life than The
dollhouse rose is of withstanding the with
ering blasts of winter. And until the
studies of our schools become more prac-
tical-until physical health and strength
go side by side with mental advance
ment, our female society must ever
remain superficial in intellectual AZ
tainments and deficient in physical capa-
! biites.