The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-03-31
The Aimless Education of
Girls.


+" aimless education of girls":
The education Of boys and girls is intended
to be preliminary to the avocations of life
The education of boys has always been pro.
spective; their education has some definite
end. They are to enter on the practice of nro.
fessions, to acquire trades, to be actively en-
gagged in the commercial world, to fill Offices
OF trust or enlolument. They are to earn A.
livelihood, to achieve something, to hew their
way to wealth, distinction and usefulness.
and TO help the world onward in its develop
ment.
But for what arc girls educated Ordinarily.
their tuition is superficial, and includes such
branches of education as are mainly ornamet.
al and pleasing. A little smattering oFFrench
and Italian, considerable skill on the piano.
an ability to dabble in oils, crayon or water
colors, very thorough knowledge of the arts
of the toilet and dress. with great proficiency
In crocheting, embroidery and light literature
these generally make up the sum total of
girls requirements, when she graduates
from the seminary or academy, and is pro-
nounced-educated. The aim of this sort OF
education is very apparent-it has reference
to the catching ola husband, although few
among teachers. pupils or parents would DO
frank enough to avOw it.
But when 1t is otherwise, and when girls
are thoroughly and substantially educated in
the most complete and extensive schools of
the day open TO them for what are they edu-
Gated? Their education is aimless they are
to 60 nowhere-they are to do nothing. The
customs of society-and some assert their
own physical weakness, though we dispute IL
close to them the professions, and trades.
commercial and mercantile life, even when
fitted for them, and with tastes in that direc-
ton Ifcompeiled tn earn their own liyeli-
hood, they can teach, sew, set type, be mil
liners, dress Inakeie, cashiers, librarians,
book keepers on small scale, or enter any
of the other under.paid and crowded employ
ment6 into which women are perpetually re.
manded. Or, if they do not need the pit
lance that comes from these crowded occupa-
tions, they drOne in elegant and demorali-
zing idleness in their fathers house, till they
are taken thence by husband, to home Of
heir own.
Is it strange that under this inexorab!e
rule of society girls sink into frivolity and
nothingness-or, worse yet, fall into intrigu-
ing and absolute ways? Or, if endowed with
heart and intellect Of an order that hunger
for food, and cannot be nourished by the pab.
uuIn that modern society offers to the young
woman, shall we wonder if she beat the wings
of her spirit against the gilded bars of her
cage, and grow morbid and restless. bitter and
sick of life, and consequently sick in body
Need we wonder that so many girls enter
with giddy zest into almost the only career
open to them-thas OF misunderstanding?
The curse of wOman's 8ilnless education
and dependent life is that it perverts those
sentiments and aspirations which should be
the highest and hottest. 1t leads 10 marriages
of interest, and convenience and necessity,
and SO life is poisoned at the very fountains.
While women are trained to expect food,
clothing and shelter from men, independent
mean and unfair articles, on ehicanery and
Never was there a truer utter
ance than that OF Alexander Hamilton, "Give
a man right over my subsistence, and he
has u right over my whole moral being.''
If we would redeem our social life from
muvh that belittles and degradesit. we must
change me absurd public sentiment that sane
tons the idleness Of women, and causes them
to lose caste II they earn their own livelihood.
We should make it as dsreputable for wo-
man to be lazy aud lOafng as 1t Is for man,
and girls should be taught to scorn to live on
the bounty of others. They should be edu-
Gated for all the avocations of life for which
they have tastes, as boys are, and should be
encouraged and allowed to enter unhindered,
all the industrial, commercial, professional,
or mercantile occupations for which they
have capacity 1t is idle to oppose this with
the thousand and one hackLeyed arguments
deduced from the alleged mental and physi-
cal weakness of woman. and her want OF skill.
Until she has opportunities to prove what
she can do, and of what she is capable, all
this augmentation is mere beating OF the air.
Give her chance, and let her try !Hs
Much of the mental and physical weakness
of woman has its origin in her enforced idle
ness and aimlcssne6s OF life. The inevitable
urious woman, in the form of shattered nerves.
failing health, irritable temper, and weari-
ness OF life. For labor. especially when it is
well compensated, Is one OF the purifiers Of
life. 1t is one of the most potential tonics,
one of the most soothing panaceas, that can
be administered fort weaknesses and sor-
rows that afflict our mortal existence.
And whenevsr We shall attain to a condi-
tion of society in which women stand inde-
pendently and squarely on their own feet, self
supporting and it is honora Bile for them, and
they are expected to enter, untrammelled,
every department of the worlds work for
which they have taste and capacity, as men
do, and then are paid for that work in the
same ratio as men are paid, we shall have
made long stride towards the millennium.
Labor is rest from the SORROWS that greet us;
Rest from all petty vexations that meet us;
Rest from sin-prOmptings that ever entreat US
Rest from world sirens that lure us to i'll.
Worki And pure slumbers shall wait on thy pill
low:
Work ! Thou shalt ride over Cares coming billov.
Lie not, weary, meath Woes weeping willow;
Work! with ntout heart and resolute wilt
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