Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-07-06

know. TO be sure, q boy who is the pos
sessor Of great perspieacity may attain
! miucl, erudition in relation to the Gerund
| in do, the Greek particle, tho s'unities"
(whatever those may be) Of the Hellenic
dramas, comic sections, or spherical ,trigo.
nometry! He may bo able to scan with
| sophomorical readiness the most tangled
lines OF Latin poetry, and may wrangle in
the disputations of his "society" as to
whether Uorace's first ode is "asclepiadic
choriamhic, tetrameter," or Hdactylic pen.
taneter catalectic, accentuating, however,
in either case the last member OLA >dissyl-
liable which in prose he would proDou nee
differently ho may even be enabled to
cover some twenty pages Of foolscap pa
per with mathematical prediction Of fu-
ture eclipse; but, if ho be destined for a
mercantile career, how long must lie labor
TO acquire the simple technicalities Of book,
keeping? IF he devote himself to liter a
ture, or being pecuniarily exempt from tho
necessity Of toiling for livelihood, aim
at scholarship in his casa, how many years
must be occupied by q review Of his past
studies before he learns to appreciate the
genuine merits OF the classic writer's, or to
utilize the knowledge of their languages in
the investigation, of his own? Besides
classics and mathematics, it is expected
That Senior who presents himself for
examination should havc smattering of
moral, mental, and natural philosophy
how very smattering is proven by inter
course,with eight out OF ten who are grajua.
ted , but, beyond theso, our sciolist has no.
thing to show for his degree. Of his own
conformation and the laws Of his existence,
he is absolutely uninformed, and becomes
the credulous prey of dozen ignorant or
rapaciops quacks in turn; geology. with
the exception Of an inkling of mineralogy,
ethnolosy, the comparative sciences genor-
ally, arc closed books to him; yet his alma
ma ter crowns him "Artium Baccalaureus,
and sends him forth rs with s'fnished
educationI" Z
But is such as we have described be the
condition of masculine education, what
language may portray the "outev darkness
ofthe average system for Finishing" "lyoung
ladies2. You may see tho victims, thereof
almost every fine day in the Fifth Avenue,
in Walnut Street,, in the fashionable
thoropsfares Of each largo city, whero Or
nanlented vacuity is considered desirable
feminine endowment. They are erudite
beyond their years in the arcaua of the
toilette; they are profoundly versed in the
efusions of Sensational noyelists, both
French and English they are mistresses
Of the "Redowa" but what else? The or
dinary rudimonts ofhistory and geography
are included in their syllabus, though but
small results herefrom are displayed in
their conversation. French is admirably
we'll taught SO we'll that English is set
Of less moment, and the "Parisian accent"
enforced atall seasons, even after "school
hours" Enough. Italian lore to insure a
tolerable pronunciation of the words OF
operate "canti," and great digital ambidcx.
tterity on the keyboard of the piano-forte
(with little, if any, knowledge Of music),
arc sedulously cultivated; and, perhaps,
mild regimen of Mrs. Hemans, and an
expurgated Byron, strengthened by a few
Shakespeariap crumbs, may be added 10
the "feast of''rcason;", but, having said
this, we have, for the greater number Of
fashionable girls schools, said all
=. Bad as is our educational course for;
boys, it still makes some preteuse Of fitting,
them for practical lfe.; but with the future
wives and mothers of succeeding genera.
tons no plan is followed. which may :dt:
them for. the performance. of imperative
duties-no precept is given them concern.
ing household affairs or the management
of Infants SCARCELY anything that can rem.
der them attractive in: the Intercourse Of
society or il: domestic life is implanted !;
.butsthe :,are dismissed Finished" ornate
nonentities, ,to, educate themselves by after:
reading or*so. drag out a .friyolous, re-
aourceless 'existeBcs, degenerating; after, q
few years Of amusement; into embarrassing,
7ueelesaness.-Round Table. = :. =
.A<TAlI:=-Twuz a KAN still morn in
okt0ber, Mbitch,iz one NV the FAIL or ot!un
nnnths, II wps: at that. .seissn NV the:
dying yeer whitoll awaykepss fond ::4emisss,
ness, Of formur memer,es NV the .fekolek-
.shun W. zbigone daze.E.', =; -. !,
; The rane. cum. .doun I'm a kinpny fia,e,,