The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1859-12-31
For the North Carolinian.
FEMALE EDUCATION.

For the North Carolinian.
| FEMALE EDUCATION.
This is Indeed a hackneyed topic, and I cannot
promise my rders that they win hear anything ue,o
but it will ssisfy my ambition, if they will only
of novelty
This topic affords two perspicuous divisions.-lst
| why women should be educated,-2ndly, how they
| should be edu ated.
Does it seem possible that this age should need
enlightenment or stimulus on this suicct Is not
land filled With Female Semnares OF high grade
and are parents fully impressed with the value
| of education to their daughters, when they expend
yearly hundreds Of dollars in procuring them the
most costly advantages Of c;,urse then can pro-
mise nothing new in my humble and unpretcnding
thought particularly subject which has en-
ployed the pens of an Edgcworth and Hannah More
for ecntury past. a view of the various duties,
important parts, which women have to act in the
world, will evidently prepare us to show what kind
of education will fit them TO fulfill those duties
and act those parts with dignity and propriety. The
very proposal of the question, why women should
be educated needs apology and reflects diac.edit
on the ignorance, and naroN -ilifte iess OF the
sterner SEX ia past ages Obvious as is the truth
that the softer deserve and entitled to edu
cation it is. never been Iclt or acted upon in any
but Christian countries, ;d not in them till later
period OF their history. This arose from low and
iberal view of the dignity of woman, and the 9TH
she has to discharge. As long AS the world was
ruled by force, and inf ience eN,rted except by
the sword, taen her rights were dlsrcSarded, and
she looked unon as being incapable Of accomplish
ing any .roo, whatever. 1t is taaeed h0Hof to
her that civilization advanced under the
benign influence Of Christianity, aaI 1t became Ell
dent tiiat raj gentle anI KIND influences we're
needed to Eorate the condition Of the world that
her nlport.l q was felt and appreciated, and IL
found thai meek quiet and Patent virtues were
competent to execute = e. sa ,e good that was
~ plant Of valuable instruction, both IN
13 - ss-7<sszar-e-.s----.ni -lens
the pa X 5! learning by the swoSN-oncS of gentle
persu fion, AMI impress the heart with vrtuous
prnciiSes and train the moral habits? Hcnce ii
she is TO be called to career OF such nigh and
important duties, size 4S be lifted tor those duties
by sgitabte education. Every Will a;.lnoNi-
ilse that women should be educated, ane the ques
ton is how she should be considering the high
noble. and intellectual prpVice in which she Is call
ed TO act, it will appear, conclus'eiy TO every one
mind tl.tt She shoui DC rtligi sly eIucatcI both
for her happiness .tai usefulness. 10 her Is COM
mite! the mohldng Of the young household and She
must recommend religion by the exhibition OF CHRIS
tln prnci pie ana the example Of chTistlan temper
and sch is the divine force and charm OF True religion
that She yil effect much good and do honor to her
Masters Take for instance, the worldly mind
ed young Collegan, who has Just competed MS
course of studies,-he is not likely to ilsten with
respect to his mothers religious admonitons, if
he discovers her mind marrow and unenilShtenct and
that he outreason her. But II he Hnds III her
that dignity which should ever characterize her,
and with which conscious improvement always
invests her. if he sees in her the charm of mental
refinement and she outrca>on INN, detect and
expose his shallow sorhstrics then he VIII not be
prone attribute her to the weakness OK her
Understanding but viii listen attentively, and be
guided BY her instructions. These duties devolve
upon daughters well as, mothers Inc sister Is
the presiding divinity, and she p2inrrl her du-
ties daughter and sister han t>o:neiy, ana with
becoming dignity unless her mind be cultivated:
Who calculate the moral NH 1lence oil tl1t sister
letters upon that college boy, she has no" ms con
fi'ience and commanded his respect by her fne un-
of
iuence, is not confined to her Einiy-sle Is to dc
her part in refining and polishing society. so that
none will leave her presence without becoming wiser
and better In this age OF active teneVoience he"
fields OF philanthropy opened to the female SEX
in visiting, and instructing the poor, dis rlbutln9
tracts teaching charity schools conducting Sunday
schools and cooperating N missionary ana o1hel
societies, and for these operations if well educated
women not the oniy instruments, they are Ger
stainly the best instruments. By education women
Views lifted and expanded and calses hen
TO feel that she is the daughter of q ID an car
like HIM diff lse happiness around her, and that she
can be m ms equal if not his superior, in the reno
val of crime and wretchedness from our midst.
The question now is will the present system ID
educ ation prepare woman for her duties IN life =
we rather think not, for sad to TELL those ornament
al branches, which should only be secondary. art
mostly studied while the useful totally
neglected We see it frequently the case, in thcs
fashionable days, for dame Fashion rules with al
iron sceper-that parents send their daug ghters t.
the best of Seinnares, where they can have ever,
advantage, both useful and ornamental and whcl
giving their parting advice, it will be to pay
particular attention to all their artificial branches
never once mentioning those solid ones which alone
when studied fit her to enjoy life and be useful
This causes the to study these branches diligently
and become proficient for it requires but little exer
ton, comparatively speaking, while the useful ones
which require every exertion, attended to occa
sionally if at ALL The consequence is when the
return from school, capable of performing doze
5 tunes the piano, and repeating a few Frenc
md hail 10 Tutin term
ed accomplished, while 1T the same time they AZ
incapable of carrying conversation on the mos
tritiing subject. 1t is indeed great pity that sue
!, should be the Shall God lavish his workman
ship On that fair body to delight the eye, and Wi
f the heart of man, and parents not take the utmo
pains to accompany these charms of body with equ
charms OF mind and heart: Snail the bealtl II
half of creation be just like collection Of picture
pleasing the eye, but having Cruces OF mind
match those external ssraces-no beautiful te.'s dl