The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-12-20
Female Education.


every impeachment, to think, complaints Of
the injustice and subjection of their lot,
the narrowness of their sphere, begin to
be everywhere uttered and heard. Yet
more rs thinking, pure young woman
naturally revoils at the idea OF being edu-
Gated, dressed, and exhibited in company,
mainly with view to her attractiveness,
IN men eyes, so does she begin to ques-
ton the proprety and even deicacy of a
development which looks mainly to fitting
her for the director of future husbands
household, The solace of his cares, aud the
healthtul, faithful exemplary mother Of his
children. All this she should be qualified
tor, because true woman, therefore fitted
for whatever comes fairly within the scope
OF womans probable duties. But to be a
true woman implies something more, as
well as this-implies qualities which will
render her useful, respected and happy,
though 1t should he her destiny to lead
an ndepndent life. 1t is not the part of a
true woman to affect a natural aversion,
an unconquerable antipathy to the mar
red state. 1t is that which may, from in.
fancy, he considered her probable destiny,
but by no means inevitables Affection
unrequtcd or misplaced. the death of a
loved one, failure to recognize in any
one who pr 'tfers marked attention those
qualities VI miud and heart which are es.
sentlal to an absorbing attachment-any
or all OF these may reuder ceiibacy the path
OF honoh peace, and happiness. Nay, in
the eastern halt of this Union, the mere
numerical prepouderance 0: woman rem.
ders 1t mathematcally certain that large
portion OF them must live unmarried.-
IL Is the dictate of wisdom, therefore, no
less than OF female dignity and delicacy,
that every woman should be educated for
independent usefulness and happiness, as
well as to discharge wisely and nobly the
duties OF wife and mother. Ii the
young women of our day are not impeI-
ed to an ,immodest and degrading anxiety
to marry, 1t is because the purity @: theiv
nature oveirules and subducs the base in
huences whereby they are surrounded.-
A maiden so educated that her substan-
ia! acquirments are such as to suppose
the state Of wedlock as their sphere OF
activity, and these set off by accomplish
rn>nts which are plainly Intended to fix
the regard and win the admiration of
men, is inevitably tempted TO regard mar
riage as necessary to her future happi.
ness, apart from any sense of deep atfec-
ton tor her husband. In the plan of
life which naturally untods itself to her
haIf-unconscious reveries, marriage i'm
plies emancipation from state Of social
intancy-implies an assured postic and
enlarged opportunities. All this, SO far
as II tends 10 reconcile her to suitor,
not profoundly respected and devotedly
loved, Is a snare-a pitfall! Every one
will readily admit that, to pure and
sensitive woman, celibacy must be i'm
measurably preferable, not merely to
an unworthy marriage, but to one
in which perfect confidence and affection
shall be wanting. Yet how many who
will readily confess this, in practice, ha-
bitually aud pointedly disregard it!
Woman must be freed from this de-
grading bondage. She must be emanci-
patcd from the frequent necessity Of
choosing between union at which her
soul reyoits, and a life of CALLING depen-
dence OH remoter relatives, or Of prccari-
Gus struggles for daily bread. She must
be assured u wider field for exertions in
productive industry and the useful arts
She must have conceded 10 her such q
share Of these pursuits that the average
reward Of her industry shall equal that
Of mans in proportion to its actual value.
Now, the male teacher Of district school,
in winter, is paid fully twice rs pucll as
the woman who teaches that same school
quite as ably and faithfully in the season
when labor meets wider demand and u
larger average reward. So in the cotton
or woolen factory so in the farming
household. And until the sphere of fe-
male employment be greatly widened, so
1t must continue to be. IL but two
fifths Of the work to be done is allotted
to women, while the balance is monopo.
lized by men, and this allotment is sus-
tained by an obduate unreasoning pub
lie sentiment, which brands as indelicate,
the woman who engages in the employ
ments socially forbidden to her sex, then
it is idle to hope that, so long as this al :
rangement prevails. the position of wo.
man can be materially improved. Indus
try anil its reward being the only barrier
OF the great mass Of women "a well as
men against starvation or pauperism, il is
evident the force Of competition among
that bali Of the human family TO whonl
but one-third Of the labor is assigned
must inevitably keep the mass Of them
ever in comparative thraldom and pau.
/ perisE.. -,