New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-07-29
Hon, Q Educ alton.

L {
w Home Education.
Home education forms by far too Insignificant
part in the instruction Of youth. 1t is, per-
haps, the peculiar misfortune of the United
States that the idea of education is always
affixed to some thing away from home. The
boarding school, the academy. the college, are
the only places where many suppose it possible
for young men and young women to receive an
education. Home is regarded as only place
to eat, drink and sleep =
Parents gladly shuttle off the duties and
responsibilities Of training the heart and the
social nature of their children, believing that,
if the intellect is properly developed in the
school, the whole man is educated. Hence, the
miserable one-sided and incomplete character Of
so many even Of our most able and talented men.
Their heads have been educated, but their
social nature almost utterly neglected.
Awkward manners and rude address are
not the only evidences that many lawyer, pro-
fessional man, or merchant, offers us continually
that this education has been wholly picked up
away from home, or that home was never raised
to a level calculated to give instruction. A want
of taste for all the more genial and kindly topics
of conversation, and want Of relish for refined
and innocent social pleasures, give evidence that
q mans early life was not spent amid the sweet
attractions of cultivated, intelligent home
Such persons, though they be ever SO success
full at their profession or trade, are uneasy and
out Of their element in the social circle, because
they do not appreciate it; and how could they,
when they have never been taught to use those
social qualities which teach man to love his
neighbor as himself, and to throw the sunshine
Of cultivated understanding and heart upon
the trifing events Of every day life?
We are not ignorant of the powerful influence
Of woman in any question touching the improve
ment Of our social education. In fact, it is she
who holds all the power; it is she who really,
but silently directs, controls, leads and governs
the whole social machine Of this country To
women, and especially to women in the country,
we appeal for a better understanding and a
more correct appreciation of their true position,
If they will but study and labor to raise the
character of social life and home education, to
make 1t more refined and cultivated, the whole
matter will be accomplished.
But this must be truthfully and faithfully,
and without depreciating the dignity or respect
ability of any calling, 1t must not be done by
taking for social growth the fnery and gloss Of
mere city customs and observances. It is an i'm
proyement that can never come from the atmos-
phere of boarding schools and colleges, as they
are now constituted. III may be done by cul-
tvation Of the spirit of intelligence of order,
neatness, taste and of kindness, and a desire to
make others happy around.
Let the family be provided with books and
periodicals. When evening comes, wheel the
table into the centre of the room, bring on the
lights, and gather around them. While the
mother Ia busily engaged in sewing, and the
daughter with knitting, and the younger chill
dren In some quiet but innocent game of amuse1
ment, let the father or son read from an inter
esting volume, now and-then pausing, that all
may join in o brief conversation on the subject.
or, perhaps stopping to listen when one desires
to make remark, or ask any question relating
to it,
81 From the associations of such home. and
family room, and centre table, with its stores Of
knowledge. there would 90 forth into the world
to engage in the duties of life, Young men and
young women with o social influence which
would Danish from society much of its selfish.
ness The affections of those who leave such !
home will cling to the place where their minds
first began to be developed, and they viii seel
other centre-tables round which thew still NAV
gather with the shades of the evening, to drinI
III knowledge, and wisdom, and understanding
- 800
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man an, The ra;meut man n snS ',ae sen.ie
tast - h;s nont;i;tn ~ th heas 10 no ilior
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as ~ w. sas Moss sus. i9s aenhleiol
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flows Is 90 stronsr that tbev orc aln,ast ;saaroa
abla Eyarv man who jabors ia NOT 'l ssatia
.nan mt * ,nan az, he a.nt,a nos suhoie
labor n some WOW thonab tbs snharss i; ", sh;e,
men labor are as yara1,s a. the hsman va" saoa
Some ~ the yreatest men we've tba hord es
workars II is hy this ,nsan. tho tbs baaas
sreat Who wonld think If bav;nS f $500,
irons without labor Tbe soil ,nnst ha o,,1t;
yaied mr. it will, not nrn5uea e. 1es 49, ~ oa,' III,
are not spontaneous ppoduct;on Of h h,,
thev re- farmed Nv thu ssvsrsst tnl tha go; ~
est sole leniaj and the most act;ye nv
oban;cs iaborers and farmers orc otta,s me
Al heca1,se their hands arc borny her aia.h
soled hnt do these men refieet iba4 Il - eha
yery mechanics, laborers and farmers rs WI, VIII