Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-11-22
EDUCATION IF FARMERs' DAUGHTERS

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The following sensible remarks b,
ono Of tho loading educators of tn,
State, we find in the current numbc
of tho National Aqriculturist. On
country readers cannot overestimat
the Importance Of tho subject 30 clev
erly handled:
'Thc.timo was when it was consid-
erod unnecessary TO educate women
Ehcn she was the slave, not the COM
papion of man. Sowly has the error
| been dispcllcd. There are those sill
in onr country quite Intelligent m on,
too-who assert that all women noed
is simply knowledge of the moet
common branches of study. But
when VIC know that thoro are twonty
two colleges in our land which receive
students Of both sexes, affording tho
same advantages 10 both, and that
through tho great liberality of Mr..
Vassar, splendid building. costing
half million Of dollars, has boon
erected, where young ladies may on
j'y tho very best privileges under the
most able instructors, with elegant
libraries, cabinets and works of art,
we realizo that change has taken
place in the public mind and that wo
man is beginning to orjoy tho privi-
lcgcs SO long deni,d her and 10 which
she is justly entitled. The happiness
and interests Of man, rs we'll as wo-
man, are concerned in this upward
movement. No intelligent man do.
sircs TO ho associated with an ignorant
companion. The two have a mutual
ihhuonce over each other, clevating
and ennobling or degrading and de-
has'ng Then woman has fur more
10 do with tho formation of the mind
OF the child than man. During all
her growth tho girl is the constant
companion of her mother; and this is
truo, also, of the boy, in all tho earlier
years Of his life. The mother moulds
the mind and forms tho heart. From
her the child takes his Impressions.
She imparts TO it from her we'll or
ilI-furnishcd mind its first food for
thought and it's Incentives to action.
On her tho children lean; in her they
confiIe. And the child which has u
truc, good and intelligent mother is
not ashamed to have it known that he
is influenced and controlled by her ;
indeed, it is his pride.
If these statements are correct,
then to what extent should our far
mers' daughters be educated? Is it
not true, as is often asserted, that
their position is low and they must
no: be educated above it, lost they
become unhappy and untitled for their
place? BY no means; no Part of this
assertion is true. A farmers life %is
suited to give wealth, health and vir-
tue. 1t Is high and honorable call
ing, of which no one need be asham.
cd; usually removed from tho city
and from much society. If the farmor
and his wife havo. taste tor. books
they may improve and enjoy them
selves much; if not, the mind will
become woak and will be occupied
with trifilng and unimpostant mat
ters. The children, too, cannot usu
ally enjoy tho privileges afforded 10
our cities. Moro than othersarethey
with and under tho influence of tho
mother. If she is thoroughly educa-
ted, possessing,a a knowledge of histo-
~, literature and science, che will
over be. pouring knowledge into the
-minds:ot the children, improving their
tastes and inspiring them with Is love
Of books and of, knowledge. The
more she knows tho more she will be
respected BY the children, the, moro
readily wiiLthey be,infuehced by her
in all respects: Besides no .cluss OF
persons mereneed The amusement and
soothing inf fdehce Of books: than far-
mers, wives and daughters. All per:
sons require changes, E, creations and
,amdsements. The mind, confined to
ohe:mode !ef,tbi, king, Without relax
alton, often Ioses. its balahoe and be;
.cemos permanently. disordered; And
we. have seen it stated in the reports
Of snpcrintendents of insane sylnms
that q larger per centnge;;ins propot-
ton, Of farmers' wives become. insane
than Of any other. class; and this ID
owing mainly to the severity ard
want Of variety Of their mode Of life.
nepce. tbe,demand: for tire pleasures
ahd changes which books afford, and
the strength of. mind which. 3 sound
education gives, We lo2e To tBiIk OF
Tho happiness which 10 enjoyed away
from the. .cxcitement and temptstion
81 the-city by the family after the
tolls of Ibe day. Are .otor,s gathered
around The, domestic .hesrth.ln rending
or study. And This is not ali theory,
Nauars. withou h. mn f.S fef M eiss. ma