Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-07-18


more simple the better for the scholar And
even the allowance had better be rather limit
ed, than extreme or over indulgence allowed.
The main object in schools is to train and
develop the intellect, too often, fear, beyond,
ii not at the expense, Of the moral and spiritu-
al natures which, through neglect Of proper
care and want of proper nutriment become
dwarted, distorted, or diseased, to that degree.
that they seldom afterwards recover their nor
NAL and fair conditions and proportions That
is all wrong. The intellect is not Il control.
ing power of the mind, but it is only a servant
to the animal prOpensitieS or the moral princi.
piles. 1t yields of itself, as readily to the one
as the other and can as easily be perverted to
the mean, wicked, purposes of the one, as to
the exalted and virtuouS aims OF the other
I'm schools the higher nature is too seldom
appealed to. Ennobling and exalting motives
are less often urged, as incentives to action,
are less encouraged, than are ambition to ex-
Gel, rivalry for place. or, worse still, fear of
punishment or hope of reward; I'LL of which
are ignoble. as motives. To make a smart
scholar seems to be the aim Of schools rather
than to make a true, honest, useful, man or
woman.
"ThuS too often the simple, social, amiabIe,
nature of the scholar is sacrificed to superb
cialities, to love OF dress, desire for admiration
emulation of notice and pride of position, or
vanity of personal condition or appearance.
"Atfectation, hypocrisy coquetry, treach-
cry, pertidy, and a host of other evils, follow
in the train OF such leaders, trampling down
and burying ous of sight righteousness, hon
esty, integrity, simplicity, and those other
traits which make life beautiful and desirable"
ooh Mrs. Reed, what hideous picture
you have sNetched / am sorry to have seen
it, for afterwards l shall feel almost guilty to
send my daughter where she is exposed to SO
much danger"
"Why need you send her, Mrs. Wood You
certainly cannot feel obligated to patronize
boarding schools"
You surely would not have girls grow
up in ignorance? l think that you will adj
NIT that it is best to secure for them knowl-
edge, even at some risk. And the only Gues-
ton seems to be, which OF the two evils we
shall choose knowledge with some evil, or
entire ignorance without any. And then we
must send them to a boarding school to learn
accomplishments, without which they APP.
pear very awkward since here in the
country few of us are able to employ private
teachers even if they could be had"
you take very strong view OF the matter,
Mrs. Wood, still | cannot agree with you.
Whatever of an intellectual nature is worth
possessing may De found IN and obtained from
books These are comparatively cheap, and
our children can study them at home, almost
as protitably as at school. We can ourselves
help them to understand what is difficult, and
if there are some things which neither we nor
they can now understand, we had better wait
awhile, than run the risk of sending them in
harms way, merely that they may arrive at all
understanding few days sooner. For, trust
me, any scholar who really wishes to conquer
a difficulty, will by patient and persevering ct
fort certainly succeed. And they had far
better be employed in doing this, though they
get on but slowly, than in correcting faults
which they incurred i'll their efforts 10 arrive
at the goal a little sooner"
"WelI, Mrs. Reed, said the neighbor, laugh
ing, sit all were OF your mind one means of
gaining Il livelihood, one source of profit
would certainly be cut Off Schools could not
have an existence"
"Private boarding schools you mean," was
the reply, "tor public schools are much less
Objectionable, since with them scholars may
remain at home with their natural directors
and guardians, the parents. But your gener
Gus spirit need not take the alarm, since my
views, instead of meeting with sympathy
and acquiescence, will be for the pres
ent looked upon as radical, impractical
Bile, and, finally, intocrable, so that, for
a long time to come, boarding schools
will doubtless remain popular and thrive upon
the peoples confidence i'll them. But prefer
that Anna should be brought up in a plain
natural, cOmm0n-sense way | could not feel
that had fulfilled my duty to her, should she
grow up fond OF gaiety, Of extravaganza in
dress, vain and proud, or with an inclination
to seek amusement and pleasure abroad; even
though she eXcelled in intellectual rank. |
wish that she might love and prefer her home
above all other places, and that she would
esteem dress, and pretty looks, and popular
favor as OF small importance III comparison
with an amiable disposition, a generous nature,
a loving heart, and pure anu exalted desires"
81 suppose Mr.. Reed agrees with you in all
these opinions, for | am sure Mr.. Wood does,
as much as if you had both be N taught in the
same school. But dear me, do not know
what | am to do with Carrie p saying which,
the visitor babe Mrs. Reed good morning, and
departed.
Anna came running in moment later,
GREATNESS with hope and anticipation. She
had Just come from listening to Carrie Wood
who had been charging eXtravagantly upon
the merits of the school, as demonstrated in the
recently received circular, and as the sum of
the entire matter, had expressed her belief that
they should both 90 to that same school the
next term; as her mother had then gone to
arrange with Annals mother about their going.
So hastily do children rush at conclusions
which please them.
But Annals sanguine expectations were
Immediately dampened by the look of quiet
composure which met her view, as her mother
kept on with her domestic abors, as if no
important question concerning boarding schools
preyed upon her mind. Annals tone ex
pressed both anxiety and doubt, as she asked
Mamma, am | to go to boarding-schooI with
Carrie Wood, next term 2"
mo, my dear" calmly, and without raising
her eyes from her work, was the mothers
reply.
"Why, mamma? Has not Mrs. Wood been
to see about it, and is not Carrie going 2"
Gamma, which of your questions shall an
swer hrst?" asked the mother, smiling
ooh mamma, do not laugh at me but is
Carrie Wood going TO boarding-school next
term? 2"
81 do not know, my daughter"
HAS not her mother said anything about
itW
"She has been talking of school to which
she thinks she might like to send Carrie, but
hardly think she has decided to do So"
"Welll am l to go if Carrie does 2"
"No, Anna"
"Why not, mamma 2"
Because my DEAR do not approve of
sending girls to boarding school, and had much
rather you would study at home, with your
father and mother, than go among strangers
for that purpose"
"Oh, dear that is Just what Mrs Moss says,
and she will not let Clara go. | wish | really
knew just why you and Mrs. Moss have so
much objection to boarding schools that Clara
and | can never expect 10 go"
"Mrs. Moss objections are the result of her
own experience in such schools, and perhaps
l cannot better make you appreciate mine than
by relating to you some incidents growing out
of her experience So this afternoon | will
relate them to YOU"
The prospect of hearing something 'related"
drova fnr tha prasont all the clnuds from