Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-03-22
HIGHER EDUCATION OF GIRLS.

If the true greatness OF a nation depends
as much on its women as on its men, too
much stress cannot be laid on the paramount
importance Of educating our women in such
a manner that they shall be prepared by
suitable physical training and mental culture
to discharge their duties in the domestic and
social circle, aiding and counSeiling their
husbands and brothers, and moulding the
plastic minds of their children into all the
forms OfgOOduesS, patriotism and selldenal
Thus prepared and thus discharging their
positive duties, the question ofthe privileges
to which women are entitled as members Of
the community, and to which they may lay
claim III the body polite, will admit Of easy
solution. The subject is suggested to Us by
a paper on the Higher Education of Girls, y
by Miss Emily Davies, part of which is
given in the HcssacLpsrHs Tcuchcr for
November. When a woman speaks to her
sex it is always with sincerity and generally
with Il knowledge OF the theme which moves
her to address them. In the present IN
stance no fattcry is used. Actual wants and
Deficiencies are pointed out, a distinct ad-
mission Of which is to be prelude to the
neediul reform. We are told by Miss
Davies Of the small esteem for their intelli
gence and good sense in which English wo-
men OF the middle class are held; Of a llabit
Of eXaggeratOn a, a feminine characteristic:
of mental weakness not compensated for by
bodily strength, and Of want of health 50
general in the sex. Women Precluded
from wholesome sources Of excitement in
towns, resort TO such as are unwhuleSome,
and fall into indolcnt habits, with their re
sultlng dulness. In times gone by, clrcum-
stances provided a discipline which is now
wholly wanting, and which needsto to be sup
piled by wider and deeper cultivation. Men
OvertaX their own brains aGj. 10y doctrine
OF vlcarlous rest, are quite content thaJ wo-
men should be kept in a tate Of wholesome
rust. This system tells in different ways
Some giIls fret and pine under it: others are
content to idle about from morning to night
acquiring 'lndolcnt and desultory habits
hard to break through when, later in life,
the demand for steady, methodical exertion
comes upon them. What" asks Miss
Davies, do ladies talk about at morning
and evening particE Children. servants,
dress and summer tours constitute the sta
pie Of conversation, which, after awhile,
lags, and leaves the tired countenances to
express the Vacancy within ''Of liteTa-
ture women Of the middle c lass know next
to nothing.
Con v-a ea,- much oF that nj :be high.
.Ioss2 Tba c,.aInc1c a.. LaoLse1IarSs cirr,,,
Iat;no FLrary in T,I1cb sar,nj r,ta frfigo
Iarne r nrnidn;p,ta '' ia ,;r ', r;.ron 'I' -
tbe rangn and taste IF lad raa1ars NJ
osSortin,' tbat rcTys,.,,,or. .r. .ce-,.aI,. s,,r
noyoJ TO- Lo r.,i b. ,ro,,cn .+ III -,;nst H.
rreccire5 eth i,rr, .,iin,yanr,s IN dis con-
tTV where Ton1rn. are mite a. mpcb raadrr-
ofnewspapers as the men wv hen political
fice thew commonly iudce them from some
nurelv nersonaI poiDf ofyiews: an infirmifv
his we NAV ad1 not confined ~ tbe fair
sex we Ike mu,I, dc sentiment conyeycd
in the followln. words. The want Of
ses which are divided by broad and easily