The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-03
FRIDAY EVENING, JAN. 8, 1873.
PRACTICAL EDUCATION FOR
@ WOMEN.

l WOMEN. .
We are glad to see this all-important
a~rousing attention in u State.
The Norfolk Vrginiaa brings its valuable
aid to the good cause in an excellent arti-
Gle, from which we quote:
The Princess Louise has been made President
of the English Nation al Union for the Improve
ment of the Education of Women. The object
of the union is to deliver women from the piano
and bad French, and make them fit forthe exigen-
cies of modern life. At Windsor the staff of
teachers consists almost wholly of the Eton Col
lege masters, who give their time and experience
to the task. Similar things are being done at
Huddersfield, southampton, Rugby, Clifton, Ply
mouth. Guernsey and Cambridge.
Can'twe do something in this direction in the
United States 2 There are scores of indoor occu-
pations now pursued by men which should be
given up to women; but these they cannot take
without the necessary training. Every day IL
becomes more painfully manifest that large
numbers of girls must depend upon their own
exertions, and it is equally plain that the educa-
lions they receive do not fit them TO encounter
the struggle for existence. .
The Raleigh Era endorses the above and
pays a graceful and deserved compliment
to Mr.. Hope, as follows:
The education of women, and women's work,
are subjects that should occupy the attention of
every intelligent man of the South. 1t is appro-
pirate that one who has done so much to allie
viate the sufferings of the poor, as James Barron
Hope, of the Vtrgtntdr, should now essay to I'M
prove the condition OF our worklng-women and
seek to provide occupations and the comforts OF
life, for SO many of the dependent of our South
ern country.
The Era proposes for itself a fight on this line
until something practical is accomplished, and
in behalf of the struggling poor of North Caro-
lima, and the South agitation shall be the watch
word of this paper until the claims of the poor
are recognized and the dignity and rights Of Ia
Dor are indicated and established.
Bravo for our gallant allies in this good
work!
What is needed is q healthful public SEN
timent which will discourage idleness and
worthlesness in young ONE as in young
men I; which will make it disgraceful
for a young woman to waste her time in
dress and show, dreaming over novels and
doubling out empty small-talk, while her
mother is breaking down with an overbur.
den of care, and her father is sore beset tc
find the means of maintaining her in style
The cities are full Of these sad specta
cles of men and women bowed and ben
, with care, maintaining in a kind of shabby
gentility a family of worthless daughters
hoping by some chance to make an eligibl,
match for them. These weak-minded ant
unfortunate people suppose that gentilt!
consists in doing nothing and knowing moth
ing useful. The more ignorant, helpless
and utterly good for nothing, for any prac
teal purpose they are, the more gentec
they conceive themselves to be. Thes
examples are terribly contagious anon
school girls, and it is surprising how early
the children learn to put on the airs Q
sham gentility. Indeed, this bad elemen
poisons the atmosphere of nearly al
our fashionable schools. We would a
soon send a daughter to a state prison a
into such a circle of influences. Euery girl
whether her parents are rich or poor
should be taught that she must share tn
common burdens of humanity. She mus
be taught in early childhood to do her lit
tie part in the work of the household
growing with her strength, till she Can tax
the place of its head, when old age, sick
ness or death require it. If this is not fea
slble, then she should master some remu
nerative employment or profession, whicI
will give her security of q living, in case Q
disaster to the family, and that sense G
independence which every one should ain
to possess. To do this, all schools an,
educational opportunities should be open t
both sexes. The people of Virginia ar
heavily taxed to support several schools o
high grade from which aDonlen are excluded
This is a conspicuous example of tina
false public sentiment which is to b
reformed. The young women of Virgini
should demand admission to her be.
schools, and the people should open a
doors to woman's culture.
Let young aoomen qualify themselves, an
we believe there is still chiyalrous courtes
enough in men, to leave the lighter employ
ments for their sisters. If not, they shoul
be driUen out, as q man would be, al
soould eropd a out of the Hfe-bot
phen the ship was sinking. We have 4
patience or liberation for that mean-spirite
and counterfeit manhood, which shirl
the tasks that God has appointed for IL
strong hands of men, and crowds Jeeb
wonsen out Of their appropriate means
subsistence. We hope to see the preseI
Legislature open those schools that secul
aidfrom the State, and certainly the Poly
technic school to both sexes, at once. Th
would be a great step in advance, al
would help to direct public thought into
healthier channel.
A DESERVED COMPLIMENT is paid 0
Probabilities in connection with discu