Ellsworth American., 1874-02-19

women are excluded, and what
tendency to de graduation ex.
lists in all them. Where are vouno
men most like gentlemen in their
oehavlor-in the parlors where they
meet with women, or in the clois.
terrific of the college? Let Young wo-
men go TO college with young men
and colleges will become as free from
dissipation and coarseness "a narlor .
are now.
Every step forward in human progress
mas brought together men and women
III greater companionship. This com.
panonship OF men and women is either
the cause or effect of social progress
probably both. At all events Il il in.
separately associated with it,
Mr.. Clarke alluded to the old custom
III England of ladies retiring from the
iaolc al certain season of the reuast
una. thc men might indulge in excess
ana coarseness, and the literature of
two hundred years ago, scarcely fit TO
read, because at the time thew were
"ritleh women were not expected to
read. As soon as women became com.
pailiohS OF men i'll reading and theatre
gong, what was before coarse and vul-
gar grew decent and pure.
we nave carried this principle further
III tins country by our system of com.
ihon schools, where boys and Girls stud y
together. In the primary schools. the
grammar schools and most of the hioh
schools, girls aud boy. read the same
BOOKS and recite the same lessons. We
nave thus been preparing them TO take
part IN common pursuits afterward
consequently women are now being as
soclated with mcu in most of the occu-
pationS of life. We fiud them in trade
as bookcepers and sales women. in n
multitude Of mechanical pursuits. 10
some extent IN all the professions, and
thus Tar only good and not harm has
come from IL. Can we not take n stem
further, and trust them with thei.
snare OF the control of those iusti.
tutlonS In which they are so much inter
csted-pubiic schools ,asylums, hospitals.
rciormatorIes, poor houses, insane asv.
luus, institutes OF education?
we up not know what the feminine or
masculine elements are - but We do
KNOW by all the past experience of the
race mat they are made to co-oD.ratc
that they need each other, that life he.
come, less savage and more humane os
thcS uhlic IN any work. The quick pcr-
ceptoh-, The ready sympathy, the dele
cie tact, the moral sentiment of woman
: needed III every work Of human Gfr
Mah. alone, j. social failure: woman
alone, Is social failure together. rhoy
are always il success
We have Ictt our hospitals, u,ylun4.
rci"rmai"rN institution, in the hands of
directors aud trustees. who are All mon
These men, ii they are fit for their wo,l,
arc usually too busy 10 attend 10 II. If
they are not too busy, they are usualiy
uuilL. - these in>titu ION. are not real.
iN examined by the examiners. borrower
orrlI ny ii"' oNcl>crrs, nor visited by the
visitors. They run intu rtit~. ANA ur,.-
eo>arI!r. degenerate.
lac same l. true OF Our school, The
school Committees, whose work rr.
iulic' the greatest LnuWlcduc, fidelity
culture and care, il they have ability.
nave no tHc-it they have time. thry
nave commonly no ability. They often
seek the office not to do its duty, bur a,
stepping stone e. something else. In
keeps their maine before the public, and
gives them chance for some more
pt"htaDlc office. Our children are sarri-
need that Mr.. Polite Trick-trr and Mr.
Ahroit Seek for office may get into
the Common Council or tile Leoi,-
Iaturc. Meantime there are number, of
excellent women - mothers sisters.
teachers, who understand children
women of the highest culture. who are
able and Willin" to do this work. The
fathers and mothers of the children wish
them 70 do it. But it might interfere
with the political prospects of some dem
a9ogue who wants the place if a woman
/, chosen To ii. SO all obstacles are
thrown III the way OF this most ueces-
sAry and important wprE.
lhe whole future OF America depend,
on her public schools; the safety OF the
nation, threatened bv the ignorant yot-
er> who become the tools vi robbel, a,
III New 1ork-the continuance Of Re
publican Institutions, threatened by the
IoopN, the rIng, the great moneved cor
porailons, and by all sorts OF the leyisla-
I'VE Oiundets. can only be saved by the
Tree sclool-. The tree schools we've able
to put down the Rebclion-thc .Iac
schools must cure these inward cv l.. or
they will not be cured. Enliynteued
puOllc opinion alone can sustain repub-
Ilcan institutions, and the roots Of all
enlightened public opinion must be
planted by the public schools.
But for this purpose they must be
goOa schools, they mu st not get into ruts,
they must be watched, overlooked, con-
stantly improved. A mere routine OF
work IN school is not enough. The
minds OF the children must be aroused,
must be interested in truth and good for
their own sakes. They must bc taught
to love all truth and all Justice. The
schools ought to be the inspiration of the
children OF the country, and they can he
made so, but not as they are now
n good school can only exist while
there Is good Committee to watch it,
ana to care for it. No Committee which
goes through its works periunctorily
Will answer. And, as far AS can see
the only possible way 10 obtain good
working school committees for our
schools Is to have large proportion oi
their members w omen
| know it will be said that | am slam
dering schools, teachers and school com
mittees BY these remarks. Try to i'm.
prove any institution and this will. al.
ways be said. The school committee are
naturally satisfied with themselves, and
DO not see how they can be improved
Many teachers are naturally satisfi d
with themselves, and often do not like
the idea OF having sharp-eyed women
come to look into their methods. Good
teachers will welcome women on the
committee-but routine teachers will be
sure to object to them. All this is self
evidence and to be expected. Twas moi
surprised, therefore, to hear that SO uIt
female teachers had objected to having
women on the School Committee. The,
did not care to have their schools reall,
looked into. But they too will learn tc
like the change.
Mr.. Clark then spoke of the law OF tn,
State OF New York, which authorize.
the employment of women as visitors to
the hospitals and asylums. He re
marked that the best women in the
community We're engaged in the work
and the results of their careful examina
tions fully established the success OF the