The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1859-04-21
A MORAL,

Anu on tDcT ears pour sNIukIsuc UiOWs
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A MORAL.
The late tragedy at Washington should
impress upon parents the great response
biity which rest upon them regarding
the manner in which they educate their
children. In former days the sense of
this responsibility was generally more
deeply felt than it now is. Even at the
present time, throughout our country,
most parents do dis, barge the duties to
their offspring in a conscientious manner
1t is in our cities and large towns that
children fail to receive that moral and
mental training which strengthens the
character and enables them to fight sue
cessfully the battles of life.
II we trace the course of young lady
educated for fashionable life, we find in it
but little which can be productive ofreaI
good, Sent at an early age to d fashion
able school, she is there instructed thor
ougly in nothing but accomplishments.
She acquires superficial knowledge of
certain languages LEARNS, perhaps, to
speak them. She may study philosophy
and mathematics, and may read some
work on general literature. With all
this, however, she is not educated. Her
mental powers are not trained. She has
acquired certain amount of information,
but beyond she had learned nothing
She may speak French, Italian and Ger
man, yet she would never dream of ia
king up and reading the best literature of
these languages. The object of her edu-
cation has been attained when she is able
to speak these tongues, and has become
a snowy musician. In the meantime
what has been her education at home
She has been to church regularly at least
once on Sunday. She has been taught
to pay this outward respect to religion.
The chances are that Of true religion,
that of the heart, she knows nothing. AT
an early age she has commenced to re-
ceive the attention of the young men, or
rather boys, the reiguing beaux in society
Her head has been turned with the silly
and nonsensical compliments they have
poured into her ears. At seventeen she
is formally introduced into fashionable
society, and then commences the career
for which her education has been partic-
ularly adapted. Here she meets every
variety of characteristic young married
women who cares but little for her hus-
band, and devotes her time to firtations,
as well as the young man who fnot fast,
is probably incapable of conversiug upon
any subject but the usual gossip Of fash
ionable circles. She sees that the aim of
others is to dance and to firt, and she
presumes that this aim must also be hers.
Why should she not There has been
nothing in her education to teach her 9TH
erwise. She has known no real moral or
mental training. She is accomplished
and her great object now is to make ia
vorable match. What does she look for
in husband 7 Those qualities which
would ensure her real happiness No
These are secondary considerations
With the advice and consent of her pa
rents she seeks an eligible match--s
young man who has money or the pros
pect of having it. His character is
matter of little importance, provided il
be not too bad. Finally she gets married
then her trials fairly commence.
Her education has been such as to give
her no resources. She can read nothing
unless it be light novel, and few sub
jects can interest her unless they relate
to dress or society. Her time is spent il
paying visits, attending parties, or in re
ceiving calls. If she be attractive SHE
will be surrounded by numerous fashiona
bic men, in whose conversation she finds
sufficient material to satisfy all her men
tai cravings. With some of these she
may keep up Irritation which will give
to her life that stimulus without which
she would be wretched indeed. Her win
tiers are thus spent in the city, while hel
summers are whiled away in similar
course Of life at some watering place.
Her husband probably of the same menta
stamp as she is. He has perhaps receiv
GU u OoHOS- ldbC CuuCdliUu, Dub HAS ETduu
ated with his mental faculties no better
trained than those of his wife. A course
of fashionable city life has bunted hi.
moral perceptions, and has caused him t,
regard the transgressional of the mora
law as a merely trivial offense. He him
self continues his firtations after mar
riage, and allows his wife To receive thu
marked attention of his friends. Now Q
man can carry Irritation to any length
without being postivly condemned by
fashionable society and, as fashionable
man has no sense Of honor as regards
married women, he will not hesitate t.
take advantage of them whenever the Cd
portunity for so doing may offer The
dangers therefore which surround a young
and attractive married women must be
great. The Irritation which she has en-
I Il