The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-09-06

tom that will vanish at our approach-it IS no
dream that the sunli ght will dispel 1t is sober
reality within the grasp Of all who live in this en-
lightened age. who are willing to be baptized in
that pure Jordan whose waters will cleanse Us
from pollution and heal all the maladies of the
race With the motto of Love Purity aud Nir-
tue Inscribed upon banner aud flung high to
the floating breeze let those teachers who are as
sembied on this occasion begin the great work
II IS worthy of their most attentive care Ii must
begin with their professon-the youth is the clav
in the hands OF the potter ready TO be moulded
into any shape you may give IL Then wash your
hands, let Us all become eleansed and purified
let Us determine that will no longer be govern
ed by any of the excesses TO which our natul e
NAV be suhject-:hat having obtained the govern
ment of ourselves we can then with some degree
of success cultivate those refnements in the youth
who are placed under our care. Aud br this
means onlv can we expect TO raise up generation
and people who can properly appreciate and per
petuate those inestinable principles developed by
our forefathers who, tired of the corruptions and
expressions that existed in their native land,
braved the pers of the billowy ocean, and all the
dangers of howling wilderness. And when those
oppressoDs in their inciplent stages began to
raise their fated heads aud threaten their peace
and harmony, they all, with one accord, resisted
their approach and declared that all are
created equal, that they endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable rights, that
among these are life, liberty and the pursuit OF
happiness-that to secure these tights, govern
ments are instituted among men, deriving their
inst powers from the consent Of the governed
That government was instituted upon this broad
basis and has been sustained upon the most liberal
principles allowing all men the blessed privilege
of worshipping their Creator according to the
dictates of their own consclence-and we ma oc-
casonally when the permanency OF these lnvalua-
BILE institutions have been threatened by the cor
ruptions OF men, and the outbreak of the lawiesS,
.,F S.I(f "a
US In the season of trial would be found stand
ing in the breach band of patriots, worthy and
venerated sires who were ever ready to grasp the
helm when the vessel of State was rocking to and
fro upon the troubled elements and guide her
safely into port. Bat alas, many, very many. have
gone to their last resting places, aud the few that
NAV be left will soon follow aud where, but among
the youth who are now in your hands, are We to
look for succor to aid US in sustaining tins noble
fabric-ths stately bark that has rode proudly
and triumphantly over the swelling waves OF the
stormy ocean, and has brought many comfoi Is
to the homes and iresides of this great people
To that class alone to the youth to the risin.
generation, who now under your fostering care,
can we rey rs gou s0ic the seed. shall tce
reap the fruit Then reflect, and let your steps
be guarded your minds enlightened, your temPer>
sweetened, and your actions elevated by the reil-
ming test of virtue; aud the young scions who are
springing up under your care, will thrive and grow
to maturity. and bear fruit, rich and savory, to
your honor-the honor of our common country,
and the glory of the Great Planter
There is another subject connected with school
matters wiAicfi has caused considerable di.Fersity
of opinion among teachers, well as employers
and claims the most earnest consideration of shc
whole community, and that is the proprety of ed
ucating the two sexes together. There many
persons that sincerely believe that they should be
educated separately and advance this kind of re-
soning: that where both sexes together III the
+baro dow, e fba ole pf cb
becoming contaminated; and should the moral.
not become tainted that the female character, at
least. may deterorate and lose that high order oil
refinement which should be carefully guarded
beside which, there is much danger OF love
matters perplexing their minds, and very often
producing entangling alliances, not unfrequenty
resulting in matrmouy, form some of the objec
tions which are raised to this plan of education
will readily grant that the latter has sometimes
been the case within the range of my acqnaint
ance If it were deadly sin, never to be forgv-
eu for Young people to fall in love aud marry. then
I would recommend that or the other of the
sexes should be transported, and colonzed on
some distant continent, lest they might cast eye
of love at one another become enamored, and
finally when they attained lawful age, be guilty
of the suicidal act-that of matrimony.
{ To prevent this at schools where both
sexes have been admitted. the parties have estab.
lished very rigid regulations, making it high
nlisiemeanor for the opposite sexes to have any
correspondence. conversation, or intercourse with
each other--have raised prodigiOusly high fences
and impossible barriers; and if they have not in
scribed the imposing letters upon them. the silent
impiicafion is as forcibly set forth that this is
forbid len fruit Whilst some exclusively female
schools have been greatly annoyed by insolent
vounr men stealthily approaching these semna-
ri.s and seeking opportunities OF hurting some of
Cupid poisonous arrows at the hearts OF some of
the fair nadens resident at these schools; md
/ A. ipty of ta,
who have been induced to .'take the veil" with the
intention of forever obscuring their fair faces from
masculine ewes. have occasionally been ruthlessly
taken from their secluded retreat by the enticng
wiles of cunning young men; and the colleges and
schools for the education OF the males, have ofteG
been thro sn into direfGl commissions on account
of the occasional heart piercing giances from
these a,tless young girls,
Thus we may perceive the variety of troubles
maltitudes of which cannot be enumerated here
/ by which our schools have been constantly sur
rounded and agitate1. Schemes ave been devi
sed and p!ans tried, until the wit of man has groer
weary Of research, in finding oEt the best means o
avoiding these difficulties; and many have come &c
the conclusion that the remedy is incurabe.
/ Sensible conclusion, So | would also conclude
As long as girls and boys. men and women exist
upon the earth acd are endowed with those faen q
and iuclnatons which have been imp. anted ir
their nature, and very properly, too, 80 long will il
ever be fruitless undertaking 10 set up any wall:
of separation bet tween the sexes, though their sum
NIT should pierce the clouds
! | have beer al Inmate of some OF these schools
for several years of my early life, and know the
many expedients the sly and cunningiy concealed
% ans the endless subterfuges that were contlnna!
IL resorteJ to- to correspond with the opposite
saxes when our movements were watched, and ou
action scrutinized with eagles eye by our supe
riore uhe with all their sagacityvwere unable te
detect the many little stolen opportunities inter
views that would be had, often at unseasoDabl,
times and improper placesthai might all hav. beer
avoided had there been bat little restriction ol
only that kind of restriction laid upon Us which
was natural and reasonable.
THE few years experience that l have had il
Ischool affaiss latteElE. has been where the sexe