New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-11-03
CCOMAuEIcATR p.
The Public Night Schools.

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Rally, boys, rally Reform reform! is the watch
word, not only in our City Council, but among the
boys and girls of the city. Pretter girls cannot be
found in the globe than are in New Orleans. They
look they walk they dress like nymphs, we all allows
and, with all their intelligence and science, are truly
feminine With genuine, active goodness in their
own spheres, they noselessly fulfil woman'a mission
but never do they evince their folly in higher law
assemblies, or womens rights associations, and we
think that, with all their tenderness and sympathy,
Ira Stout, or any other wife murderer, would seek in
vain for an advocate to demand Communication Of his
punishment.
Boys, you know I have cousin Nellie, whose sur.
passing oveliness makes you all coyet my right to
the privileges and immnnities OF cousin. You know
when she graduated and how we all coveted the
daguerreotype Of all the class, which favorite Su
perntendent received their parting gift to him.
Soon after there was such an Improvement in the
biscuits pies and puddings in the flower and culinary
gardens and the girls wore such nice homemade
dresses and beautiful needIework, l said "Wel
our High School girls dropped their books very sud
denly after leaving school," Yet | never found them
in lack of the news Of the day-and incidentally
they'd let slip an idea from Shakespeare, Milton, etc,
or express opinions literary subjects, indicating
great familiarity with them. Of books our Nellie
seldom talks; but sometimes, in family discussion
those dreamy, musng eyes kinde with interest and
then she becomes most entertaining instructress
when even her fastdious father, who hates manly,
loud talking girls, betrays his pride and pleasure in
her correct judgment and accurate knowledge Of gem
eral subjects. Not long since 1 found paper in
NeIlies handwriting, with more on the subject of
bread, and other farnaceous food, than had ever
seen before. A strange subject, thought /, for the
investigations of young girl. Soon after found
another, on painters-from the mighty Hogarth to
the charming Rosa Bonheur My curiosity was ex-
cited There must be something in it, Silently and
adroity | formed my plans for the solution of the
mysterious question. Why does Nellie study such
subjects and write articles, (of which presumed,
circumstances had shown me but little y A trivial
accident revealed the whole, viz: The girls, with
out any form or hustle, Immediately after leaving
school, associated for selfmproyement in all the no.
ble pure arts of womans sphere. Systematic beneyo
lence profitable industry, and quiet opposition to
vice and irrelgon with earnest tndicous indefatf-
gable exertious for mental acquisitions Of practical,
homeillaminatfng character, occupied their minds
and time. Now, boys is not their course worthy Of
imitation? Shall we treat our sisters and their friends
as mere wax figures, upon which we may hang laces,
ounces, etc. and then sneer at them for the vanity
engendered by our own course, or as immortal SEN
tent beings on the same plane, though in different
circle from u.s. Shall we stigmatize as buS-bieu
every girl who presumes to express thought beyond
the weather. OF shall we evinCe our sympathy in
their pursuits following if they in advance of u.s.
or leading them if we are ahead As an individual,
intend to follow in their lead. My employer, in
addition to a good salary, for a boy, gives many
advantages for increasing my competency in his bust
ness, and am confident be will let me leave his
Office by seven o'clock, to attend night school this
winter Iintend to induce as many other boys to 60
as can, You know there are thousands in our city
whose ruin is wrought by their evening associations.
Ask the police what is the great laboratory Of their
subjects, and they will tell you the nightstreet asso-
Citations Of boys. Corner gatherings, cigars, liquor
and vice are sure and legitimate successors to each
other # some ofus have homes, loving parents and
sweet cousins, others have not, and we, as young
Americans, are bound to do all we can to save and
benefit them. They will be on the stage of manhood
with US, and now is our time to bring them up If
neglected, we may feel their power in bringing down
this community, when it is inemediabe. What cpl
demic is more fearful than one of ignorance dshon.
esty and basphemy, and how many boys are en-.
ployed during the day who roam about at night, and
find their way into sinks of iLiquity, which breed
yenemous, abiding evl2 If they saw respectable
boys" the sons Of gentlemen" going to night
school, they would CO. aud there learn their first les.
sons Of truth-mora and intellectual
II these schools are as crowded as they were last
year we might render the teachers important aid in
their undertaking. and thus turn glance of grateful
recollection to our alma mdter-the public Schools
The angle Of our vision is enlarged by the addition of
few years, and we shall find much within its scope
which we, in former hurried course did not heed
W. may be there is plenty for us to learn vet