The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-09-24
Home Education.

can never be done at home"
"tlave you good schools hcre?" asked
"Tolerably good. l suppose she learns ms
much from books at home AS anywhere, but
she will never he a lady or fit for genteel
society till shc goes somewhere. But her
father wont hear word about it, say he
cant afford it, and that it wont be any kind
Of use to her. aud all that. Strange how
little a man knows about such things -
Mrs. G. who thus gave expression to
her sentiments, was an old friend Of mine
whom WAS visiting. and this conversation
her husband and chiliron were in bed, aud
VIC were having little confidential chat.
had not seen Della Ann for some five
years, but remember her very well, rs II
pretty, lively, rather selfwil!rl young lady
OF twelve, who was Il great tavori" i'll the
family, and ha,lc fair 10 grow up Into
handsome attractive woman .au,i i; WAS
with no small interest looked forward 10
meeting her.
The mex. morning We SIT down to break
fast at an early hour. hut Miss D.i;a Ann
did not make her appearance until we w"rr
nearly through. was surprised to see
what a tall lady she has grown up into. an:
how very pretty sh, hal become. Her
pure brilliant complexion, her s,lt bin eye
and curling brown hair wun'l have ma,i..
her quite Il belle in some circles but ;i.t-
with the conviction OF her extreme rrcli.
hess Game another, equally strnnG. that hen
manners did really need improvement,
and that change in MANY Of her habits
would be desirable. She was dressed in n
flying morning wrapper Of gay colnr"l
clintz, with brilliant rcd border, SO far
from clean that my eye turned away f;"m
its greasy spots in disgust her hair had
frizzv look anil rot been comhed her l...l.
and nails had been s!,"ckinaiv negiectrd
and were now actually filthy, though, scv-
eral costly rings were encircliny her fingers
at that early hour She sat Lrwn to t!ir
table without so much as saving "Goo,i
morning" to her parents or brothers. and
looked At everything before her with very
dissatisfied turn up Of her pretty little nosr.
found fault with the coffee, which she sip
ped with lou, noise. and finally, after
swallowing few mou,hfuls pushed away
her chair without saying word. and lett
the room loudly slamming tho door after
her.
"a boarding school TO teach you manners,
young lady " mentally exclaimed, "Wha,
you want is a good home training. one
which should have YOU taught TO rise eally
wash your face and comb your hair prop
erlv, and clean your teeth and nails to
dispense with re,hborders aud finger-rinyS.
and dress yourself in family with pleas
ant smile aud a checul "gool morning."
to drink your coffee and hold your knife
and fork properly, and pa,take Of what YVES
set before YOU without any disparaging
comments; this would have done infinitely
more than boarding school ever can, to
make you lady"
Alas what can boarding schools do when
building on such foundation! What, but
add p few superficial airs and graces, n
little smattering of French and music. n
little more fondness for dress and outside
show, which will make the innate vulgari-
ty all the more conspicuous.
1t is sad to see the false ideas Of refine
mcnt and genti|ity which exists in many
New England hcmcs. To make lady OF
the daughter is often the great end and aim
for which great sacrifices are made, and
yet they so train her as to make her totally
unrefined and vnl gar in dress, manners AMI
feelings. 10 be lady seems to be in their
vocabulary an cxpensively, f;,shionabIy drcs-
sed female, who looks with contempt on
tho useful home occupations, and dawdles
round the house with piece Of soled EN-.
broidery in her hands; who plays n few
tunes on the piano or guitar, and who has
been taught few conventional phrases, and
affects certain style and air, Which imply
vast superiority over those around
her. 4 lady "Good heavens and minis.
ters of grace defend u.s. from all such 4
Lady! Oh, it is downright desccraton
thus to apply word SO significant Of all
that is gentle and kind and modcst-a word
that first OF all, is synonomous with neat
ness and amiablity and Of though,fulness
Of those about it.
If mothers, ambitious for their daughters
success in life, would only understand HAT
to make them refined and lay-like, thcv
educate them for it alone, instead of rely.
ing on the tinsel ornaments Of boarding
school education than underlying all cx.
ternai graces OF manner, there must he II
foundation OF modest. refined thoughts, and
womanly feelings 10 make them such as
shall phase the higher classes Of society,
we might hope for better things.
we know young woman may be mod.
est, neat and refined in feeling, wi;hnu, hay
ing the grace ofmanrrr which would charm
stranger, but one who is such, and truly
simple and unaffected, will never disgust or
repel the most fas,idious, and TEEN from
the truly cultivated portion Of the com
munity.
There is no farm house in Massachusetts
where the daughter Of wisc pains.t taking
mother may not grow lady,iike and pleas
Ing to the eye Of the most refined. Who
OF us have not seen such (? One, the child
OF very humble, hard.working parents, rises
before mo as wrilc-a fair sweet vision.
With her round, rosy face, her smoothly
brushed folds Of dark hair. her sunny smile.
her gentle tones of voice, her elastic move.
ments, graceful, because unconscious and
perfectly natural, her trim little figure ar
'ayed in cheap calico of modest co!ors,
neatly but simply made ofspotless purity
she is an object on which the eve of the
most fastidious dweller on the Fifth aven,,r