The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-07-06
Letrer f.om Cailrorn1a.


To the Editor Of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser /:
Among the many objects of interest in aud
around San Francisco your readers will. / am sare,
agree with me that nothing is OF more imparfance
than its educational institutions. Unless Aey are
in a healthy and hopeful condition the city aud its
suburbs have been buiided In vain. For should
we not all save the most superficial, soon become
pessimIsts did we not fondly cherish faith IN The
future based upon the rising generation? How
instinct with inspiration then is a visit to an insti-
tuition where there is an assurance that a portion at
least of the youth of the land can receive juGicious
culture and development. Such an impression have
l shared with all who attended the recent exercises
making The graduation OF sixteen young ladies from
the Mills Seminary, near this city. Many of your
readers knew DIR. and Mrs. Mills during their adj
ministration of Punahou College, and will feel O
peculiar interest in the occasion OF this communi-
cation.
After an hours ride by ferry-boat, cars, an om-
nibus drive of something over a mile brings ms In
view of the Seminary buildings nestled in an am-
phi-theatre of low hills. Ordinarily the trip is q
delightful one, but on this occasion the crowd of
visitors so exceeded anticipation that / was we'll
content to occupy q third of the drivers seat, and 1
observed the robes OF many ladies under undue
lateral pressure. The approach is prepossessing.
You are convinced before arrival that the site of
the Seminary is we'll adapted for its purpose The
coy isolation of the location savors of scholastic
success, and she art OF the landscape gardener has
been invoked to enhance the charms of nature. The
size and style of the edifces are harmonious with q
grand and noble design. 500
After q polite ana cOr0lal reception, the visitor ID
ushered into the large audience room, now quite in
sufficient for the multitude -thronging the building.
A large chapel is in process of erection which will
hereafter be used for anniversary exercises. And
there will be need of its increased capacity for
every year will only add to the popularity of this in
stitution while under its present management. Cali
fornia cannot afford to neglect such facilities for the
thorough culture of her daughters as are here pre-
sented. Here is no hotbed of affection and lady
like - superfciality, but a nursery of solid acquire
ment and healthy development. The graduates on
the platform looked bealthily and heartily In body
and mind. The good effects of their calisthenic
training throughout their course of study was now
apparent. These physical exercises as witnessed by
visitors to the ample gymnasium were no fashionable
%fummery. They were genuine Hygeian work. The
pupils were attired in a suitable simple. dress that
allowed free use Of the limbs, and these exercises
sent the rose of physical health to the check and the
bays of mental victory to the brow. No special dis
play was attempted in the examination. Members
of the committee who had teen frequently present
during the regular recitatioHs of term-time assured
US that the pupils everyday work was uniformly Of
n very high order. The elocution of these young
ladies was up TO the spirit of the times. The coming
woman, unlike good little children, is to be heard as
well % seen, and every one of these was heard.
They did not mince, lisp nor humble their words,
but uttered them with a wholesome hearty articula-
ton. The mental culture producing such pronounced
results in the sphere of female education found the
unmistakable appreciation of the entire assembly.
All seemed, in fact, to forget that any traditional
idea of womanly inexpreSsiyeness had ever elung 70
them. They found that themes of thought and a
style of composition and elocution that would become
a preacher or statesman claimed their approval and
applause. Why, here was mental exactitude and
clear and courageous enunciation without any sbate-
ment Of truly feminine grace and charm. The
problem was solved. Here was an accomplished
. : reform against the (conventional) nature " of cur
girls These young ladies were not "a unsexed u in
manners. appearance or morals while they evinoed
the mental training preparatory to any sphere Of
human effort their tastes or necessities might dictate.
Prejudice was dissrmed, and the question was settled.
that women IS well as men should learn the entire
alphabet; aud that, of course. in a very significant
sense, is all our girls or boys acquire at school or rol-
lege. But heretofore, the educational course OF CUR
Female Seminaries has very generally been limited TO
the mild sibillation Of the alphabetic Uotpeis. All
honor to DIR. and Mrs. Mills for their sturdy vindica-
ton of the dignity of female education, and the
entire audience of parents, patrons and friends said
amen. During the past year, 14S pupils have been
under instruction in the regular course of the Semi
nary and SO in the preparatory department. DOrmiA
tory accommodations for 80 more students are to he
added for the ensuing scholastic campaign. Califor-
MIA does honor TO herself and creates confidence in
her future by such liberal patronage of this institn-
ton for the useful as well as ornamental education of
young women. The accomplishments are, however,
by no means neglected. The drawings and paintings
of the pupils displayed careful attention to those
branches, and the vocal and instrumental both In
character and execution was of a high order.
In fact, we were so favorably impressed in all re-
spects that we could not but regret that such excel
lent advantages for education were limited TO the fair
sex. There is in California a lingering prejudice
the relic of q monastic age-agaiLst the co-education
of the sexes. We wish DIR. and Mrs. Mills would lend
their powerful influence in helping to overcome this
absurd prejudice by training up the girls committed
to their charge in the way they should go-oith the
boys! J. A.. BREWSTER
San Francisco, JUNE Is, 1872.