Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-01-02
Cha.s wi b Lovers.

girl sees her future husband in draw
iag.room. The ambitious mother, who
is in attendance as stage manager, has
arranged the programme. After three
performances the engagement is an
nounced, and in due time the ceremony
is solemnized by the Church. The
couple are driven to their home, and
then, for the first time, the mask being
removed, and they get peep at each
other. That both of them should soon
set about search for agreeable partners
is very wicked, after their VOWS at the
altar, but we fear it will frequently
occur. Without perfect freedom Of
choice. true aud happy marriage is en-
ceediugly improbable. There can be no
such freedom without opportunity for
Intimate acquaintance.
Oar separate schools have contributed
much to the wall between sexes. Dur
ing the awakening period, when the
imagination is most active, the sexes
are carefully guarded from each other ia
separate schools. Considering the many
years our young people spend in school,
this is fundamental mistake.
Some years ago We had supervision OF
a school for young men and women.
The desks were what is called double,
each one acco nmodating two persons.
We placed young man ADD young
woman at each. Permission was given
the pupils to render such assistance to
their desk. mates as they thought profit
abe, keeping the noise within bounds.
BIT We did not often check the him and
buzz for rs these young people were
being trained for life, and as in actual
life there is a hundred times as much
noise as silence, we should hardly have
felt ut liberty to train their Facilities IN
silence, for use IN noise. We only said,
l. Don't be too noisr."
But this is incidental. What we wish
ed to bring before you is the striking
influence Of this system upon the love
passion. When Thomas and Lucy first
sat down together, they looked and
acted just as n young man and young
women are likely to DO when they first
meet. We need not describe it. You
have seen how they look and act. This
soon began to wear of, and in month
the young people acted toward each
other like brother and sister. All tha.
peculiar expression AMI manner which
you often see among lovers, and which
you reconize at distance of three blocks,
soon disappeared. With the new ar.
i'll our school thelc was more
or less of this all through the room, but,
as already stated, it soon gave plsce to q
social atmosphere which seemed ident-
cal with that OF home among brothers
and sisters.
Still further, they were permitted to
change partners at pleasure on the first
Monday of each month. This renewed
the "lovers" exhibition little at first,
but after three months even this change
OF companions evoked no visible dis.
turbance OF the school work. But what
good came Of it II is just that question
we wish to answer.
1st From the day this system was
introduced the school required no
government. 1t was like 4 company oI
ladies and gentlemen ina drawing-room.
There was no. necessity for rules in the
one case more than in the other.
I'd Theaverage progress IN our studies
was strikinely enhanced. Stupid, coarse
fellows, who in company OF men alone
would chew, and growl, and loaf, be.
came bright, gentlemanly and studious,
and girls of light, frivolous composition
became earnest. The average progress
was greatly increased.
Sd. The young men came to regard
women, not as charming creatures to be
toyed with and to be talked down to,
but as brave, Woodworking companions,
competitors and equals. They ceased to
think OF their bodies, and thought only
of the qrality of their minds. The
young women no longer looked up to
the young men as chivalrous heroes,
opportunity ta die for their
'aiI loves, but as fIir, honest: honorable
companions, whom it was pleasure to
know, AMI sometimes TO conquer.
In single yea: they came to occupy
the same attitude toward mel with those
,irlS who have been reared in large
amjly Of boys, and who arc rarely wrong
in the choic' OF husbands Tue eirl>
who are cducltci III 4 separate schooI
are like tho "nnly child" who is amod
sure, if she has becn brought up in
sec'usion, TO fill Into :oMc trap. Tue
yonug men, after year in such school
companioaship, arc like the ypun. ma
with half dozan sisters, wac il Slre 10
he wise IN the selection Of Il wife.