The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-11-12
Plea for the Higher Culture CT Woman

.An Address delivered ON Commencement
Day Of t!.r I.:,,rcm,, llr Female College. july
: |. ISIS. hy Rev. Th"s. y. lI"yt Of Able
. vile, :. G. i'uhli.hc.! by rr,iuc, Of ,l,: T.,:,
tees, .;.urcuevllc =. C., Eobt. II. Stoke, Pub.
| Usher.
We are in!yhtr,l to the Publisher for copy
"Fthi very cNrr.!rm, .l!rr<s. hy our g.. ~.v-li.,,l
fellow tvwmetn",,, lh: Rev. Thos. \. IIo,t. The
Address proposes to answer the following .:rs
tons lst. Shall Woman be educated ~.
What thcn is al alcqn' Education for Wu.
man 81. What are 49,, essential Hrurrhr, Of
Study 1!"sc various t"rcs are discussed il;
vein Of ginal, wof"und anl searching.
thought, and III a style clear. pointed an i'm
rrcsSive. The Address cxl. il:. throughout The
evidences @! disciplined intellect, a,l cr,;i.
va,c.! taste, ar the fruits oin,i-li rra lin. and
reflection, and will add 10 the reputation of
the author as just and original thinker
The necessity Of u liberal education for .l.e
female rand, thc author finds in the Position
Which has been assigned. by modern Society
10 woman, the friend an. minister of man.
No longer rs in Ancient times the slave Of
man, as in the Middle Aces a,,oreI as
Goddess, s!'c has IN modern society assumed Il
position ofsocial equality and hence is sl.. is
required to read, 10 tl:ni: AMI to talk Il tho
rough c,!ucation has become Il prime necessity
Of her position.
In answering the question Of 'What is an
adequate education for Worau and whether
it. should be different from that of the other
sen, TIE author discusses the question wl.cthc.
there be any original differences between the
s:Nc$, and cites the authority of Plato. Dugall,
Stewart, Nulta!rc, Sidney Smith and others
in proof that these differences are entirely the
result ofcircu,ns,anccs. But whatever may Lc
the decision. rs the aulhor remarks, il is en-.
trclv immaterial TO the question under discus.
sion, unless it denies to Woman the ability TO
pursue the higher branches Of s:uLy-a posi-.
ti"n which would scarcely be incd hy
any.-Thc education of men is twofoL-!ibc-
raj and professional. The distinction between
them Is radical. The one is intended TO dis
cipiinc The mind and develop It's powers, and
Is therefore preliminary I" the other which is
designed I" fit men for the active duties flite
The great bjcct Of female c,,ucation is 10 train
develop, and inform the mind of woman, and
consequently those studies arc to be pursued,
which will cultivate most fully and larnvni-
ous!y her whole nature.
In considering the essential branches Of n
liberal cducation the author urges n strong
!, plea for the study Of Metaphysics, and the An
cicnt classics. and points on, in detail their pre-
eminent advantages i'll disciplininy the mind
and refining the taste. This branch ofthe sub.
jcc, lie discusses with great fulncss Of learning
and research, and urges will! great force the
necessity of thorough education, to fit wo
man to assume the proper duties of a wife and
mother The merely useful and ornamental
should not be neglected, but should be merely
subsidiary TO that higher culture, which willis,
1t enables the mother 10 dcvclupc the b;s, In
tent germs Of the infant mind, will enlarge tho
synrathics Of the wife, and prepare her fol
holding the must enlarged communion will
her husband.
The Address We have found original anL
suggestive, and having read it with much inter
est commend it to the attention o + our Eca
dcrs.