Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-12-10
WOMEN AND EDUCATION.


a year ago was visiting some friends,
and said to little seven year old nephew
Johnny, when you grow up, what do
you intend to do ?"
Wen, I thiok, said he, "I'n be a law
yer like my papa, or an engineer, and drive
the cars-or, may be I'll lie minister.
Turning to his little sister | asked
And, Susie. what are you going to dor
20, I'm going to be lady, and make
wax flowers, and get married.
But, Susie, said /, don't you think
you ought to be minister, or something,
as well as johnnie r.
The poor child looked exceedingly discon
certed for an instant, but Johnnie cane
promptly to her rsiief with the non seq,atur
Why Auntie, Sudie can't he anything,
she's nothing but a gi,lF'
Here is the secret of the whole matter
4 wrong idea of woman's place, conse-
quent false education. deepening, genera
ton after generation, into 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 a
writer in a late numher OF the Atlantic, IF
you would abolish the inebriate you must
begin with his grandmother. If we would
inaugurate and build up better system Of
society, in which woman shall not only be
better trained than now for the one "ehief
end Of women '-nlatrjmoay-bu also be
| fitted for the emergencies which mast meet
her if her prince does not come, and may if
he does, we must begin now, with the gen
eraticn just growing up, with the little tod
lers who cling to our knees-the babies who
nestle in our bosoms.
That the cause of this is not any inherent
peculiarity of women, but arises from the
educational and social sources / have spoken
of, 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 the diverse ed
ucatiou God made one law to govern hu-
manity-men have set up different code
for men and women. The one sex has
been left and untrammeled, to make the
best of It's possibilities the other has been
pent up, cramped and confined until natural
development has become impossible. As
well expect that tree, planted in pot,
tied down to earth and twisted out of natur-
al shape, should grow as erect, vigorous and
beautiful as one left free in root and branch,
as that nature which is hsmpered and re
pressed BY social and educational restriction,
condemning it to subieciion and inferiority,
should develop harmoniously and divinely.
Before eondemning a 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 by mans side, equal
" unfettered, and free to deyelope the pos
sibilities Of her being To give her this po-
siton she must be as free before the law, and
must have equal legal and educational aa
vantages 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 advantages are awarded to her,
for spheres aud conditions appointed by
God viii take care of themselves. 1t will
take time, and far different work than has
vet been given to the cause, before she viii
have legal equality with man, but the latter
advantage can be accorded to her now.
Grave obstacles and also ideas of expedien-
cy stand in the way of the first, but there is
no reason why our colleges and higher
schools should not open their curriculum to
women; no reason why they should not be
addressed to the professions, trades and
employments of men, as they become intel
lcctuaIly and physically fitted for them.
Let women once have free access Of the ca
reers for which they are adapted, and they
viii no longer be elamoriDg for those which
are suitable only for men; society will lie
reorganzed on grander, truer basis; men
and women win regard life and its belong
ings with noble vision, and be mutually a.
tracted to each other BY worthier sympt-
thies; marriage will cease to be sought from
base motives, or as refuge from want, and
thus one Of the most terrible curses Of cur
present state legalized prostitution, viii be
abolished, while true marriage viii he vastly
increased and, as the conditions of birth
have an untold influence upon life, the COM
ing generations will be far grander aud more
harmonious than ours Hannah Nac L.
Shepard, IN Rackdrds Monthly for Noraa-
Der.