The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-11-12
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER u. 1859
Women and Education.


A year ago 1 was visiting some
friends, and said to a little seven
year old nephew
"JOhonie, when you grow up, what
do you intend to do ?"
"Well, l Think said he, "I'll be a
lawyer, like my papa, or an engineer.
a minister"
Turning to his little sister 1 ask
ed
And ID, Susie, what are you going
With pretty toss of her aaxen
hair, and a cOmically assured expires
sion, she answered:
80, Pm going to be a lady. and
make wax flowers, and-get mar
"But Susie" said I, "don't Won
think you ought TO be minister. or a
doctor. or something as we'll as
Johnnie ?"
The poor child looked exceeding
y disconeerted for an instant but
johnnie came promptly to her relief
With the non sequitur-
why Aunfie, Sudie can't be any,
thing. she's nothing bur girl 2"
Here is the secret of the whole
mafter-a wrong idea of woman's
place, a consequent false education.
deepening, generation after genera
ton. in'o the minds Of the people
and influencing character. until at
last an abnormal condition is taken
for the natural and proper state of
affairs. Says writer in late num-
Der OF the Atlantic, "If you would
abolish the insbriate you must begin
with his grandmother" five would
inaugurate and build MP a better
system of society, in which woman
shall not only be better trained than
now for the one "chief end Of woman
-matrlmony-but also be fitted for
the emergencies which must meet her
If her prince does not come. and NAV
II ne does, we must begin now, with
the generation just growing up, with
the little toddlers who cling to our
knees-the babies who nestle in our
bosoms.
4 = j J X \
That the cause of this is not any
inherent popularity of woman, but
arises from the educational and So
cial sources l have spoken of. I think
most of my readers will admit. In
its moral tendencies human nature is
the same in men and women. and the
differences alluded to have arisen
from their diverse education. God
made one law to govern humanity
men have set up different code for
men and women. The one sex has
been left free and uutrammelIed. to
make the best of its possibilities
As well expect that tree, planted in
a pool, tied down to earth and twisted
out of natural shape, should grow as
erect, vigorous, and beautiful as one
left free IN root and branch, as that
the nature which is hampered and re-
pressed BY social and educational re-
strictions, condemning it to subjec
ton and inferiority, should develop
harmoniously and divinely. Before |
condemning woman to a position as
the natural inferior of man, allow her
chance to prove what her nature is.
This opportunity she has not now, she
cannot have until she stands bv mans
side, equally unfettered, and free to
develop the possibilities of her being.
To give her this position'she must be
as free before the law, and must have
zfualfeSst and educational adyau-
tages with him. Then, and only then.
can men say whether she is inferior
or not. If she is so by nature she
will stay SO when all possible advant-
ages are awarded to her, for spheres
and conditions appointed by God will
take care of themselves. It will take
time, and far different work than has
yet been given to the cause, before
she will have legal equality with man,
but the latter advantage can be ac-
corded to her now. Grave obstacles
and also of expedieucv stand in the
way # the first, but there is no rea-
son why our colleges and higher
schools should not open their currieu-
lum to women; no reason WHY they
should not be admitted to the pro-
fessions, trades and employments of
men, as they become intellectually
and physically fitted for them. Let
women once have free access to the
careers for which they are adapted,
ard they will no longer be clamoringI
for those places which arc suitable
only for men society will become re-
organized on a grander, truer basis
men and women will regard life and
i's belongings with nobler vision, and
be mutually attracted to each ether by
worthier sympathies marriage will
cease to be sought from base motives,
or as refuge from want, and thus
one OF the most terrible curses of our
present state, legalized prostitution.
will be abolished, while true marriage
will be vastly increased; and, as the
conditions of birth have an untold
influence upon life, the coming gener:
ations will be far grander and more
harmonious than ours.--HANNAH
Mel. SHEPARD, an PackarFs Month
ly far Norember.