New-York tribune., 1874-03-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
rnlrCATION OF WOMEN.

Tho recent work of Dr. L. H. Clarke on the euu
cation of young women. IN addition 'o ."o w
celebrity which il gained almost from 'le ""S oi 80
publication, enjoys the advantage ol n"N'"s
made the theme of a vigorous discussion WIZ" '""
NOT but result in more complete elucda'Ioh OF ."o
-, od a fr,per establishment of essential prin-
c;ples The controversy which IT has called Ioith
adonted to uroduce a salutaTy influence part
from the specific applications so urgently SCI loi'n
nv DR. Clarke, the whole subject OF woman 3 educa-
t;on has received fresh impulse, and gwen rse 10
an agitation which will serve to clear the atmosphere
and exhibit the truth in a more transparent heht.
The question has summoned the pens of several OF
The most gifted women who are known IN the ranks
of progressive literature and If they occasionally
indulge in perhaps too lively warmth of express
sion they light up the subject with great wealth
of iutuitiye suggestion and persuasive illustration
Each of the volumes named above includes coptnbu-
tions from variety of sources that are used to COM
mand respect in addition to the essays of the editors
whose words will come with the force of authority
to a large circle of thoughtful readers.
In the modest preface to the volume edited by
Mis Rra,katt size Uners some admirable remarks on
the tendency to onesidedneSs produced by the pro-
Jesson of teaching The position io'Iuiiod for uio
work of educating uneducated minds involving
constant effort 10 state facts clearly, distinctly
and freed from unnecessary details (tbe msI CON
dtion il NAV be added. of all good wntlng, is apt
she afflTmS, To luuuce n VI
speech which sayOrs OF brusqueness and posityeness
If it may not deserve the hars5er names Of aspenty
and arrogance This caveat against msapprehen-
SION however, was unnecessary as the sNut OF her
book in general, is calm and dignted as Its con-
tents are suggestive and valuable.
In the essay by Miss Brackett which opens the
volume she takes the ground that the demand OF
higher education for girls is not a matter OF arbi
tTary choice but the growth Of the spirit OF the age
IL ~ by no means the exclusive product of American
society but is also manifested in England and even
in Russia. But it assumes a peculiar type IN tins
country. The American GIRL according to Miss
Brackett, is "a unique creation. Born and bred at
wide distance from European traditions, she has
character of her own. More nervous. more sensi-
tive with greater activity of the thinking powers
than her European SISTERS she needs restraint rather
than stimulus. Surrounded from her infancy with
"A grand assembage Of different races, she
gains something Of that breadth at home which IN
other countries can be attained only by travel.
"Our girls are frank in their manners, but we
nowhere find girls so capable of teaching intrusion
and mpertnence their proper places, and they COM
bine the French nerve and force with the Teutonic
simplicity and truthfulness. Less accustomed to
leading-strngs they walk more firmly on their OWL
feet, and breathing in the universal spirit oi
free inquiry they less in danger OF becoming un-
reasonable and capricious" Hence no syste n based
upon European life be available in this country
The American girl if treated as French or German
girls may properly be treated, falls into the faults
of both without the excellences of either She will
not blindy obey what seems to her an arbitrary
rule, and can be governed only 10y winning her CON
vction
Like all enlightened teachers of the present day,
Miss Bracket attaches great importance to physical
culture This, however she urges should be made
regular habit. and not pursued merely by fits and
starts. Her suggestions on this nn'nt "vf"nd Ia a
variety of details embracing the most minute par
ticulars Of daily life deeming nothing common OF
unclean which God hath cleansed,' and finding a
divine presence on the household hearth well as
ON the altar of the church. when the fame of
Heracltrs was celebrated throughout Greece, there
were certain persons that had the curiosity To see 50
great a man. They came, and rs it happened, found
him warming himself in kitchen The meanness
of the place occasioned them to stop upon which
the philosopher thus accosted them Enter said
he boldly for here too there are gods"
The chapters devoted to mental education. or the
culture of the intellect. and to moral education,
OF the culture of the WILL are of exceeding value,
not only for the instructive practical suggestions
with which they overflow, but for their profound
discussion of principles. They everywhere betray
the habit of original thought. as well Of acute
observation Many of the sentences have the terse-
ness and force of a maxim, cOndenSing the wisdom
of ripe experience into brief phrase that stamps
itself deeply on the memory. Miss Bracket has
marked fondness for the discussion Of questions Of
moral psycholoey--if the term is admssible-Or
those which relate TO mental analyses from an
ethical point Of Vew An example of this is afforded
IN her remarks on the duty of teaching the young
girl the importance Of dstrust. In the atectiOBate
intercourse of the family, the girl. says Miss
Bracket, has felt the necessity OF conceal
irg, in any degree, her real self She
rs sure OF the kindest construction of all
her actions If. for instance, she talks or
laughs loud ii is not supposed that this proceeds
from excessive boldneSs desire to attract atten-
tiOn, but from the natural eXuberance of healthful
spirits But a good social education demands
another lesson. She must learn that society is not
one vast family, overhOwing with kindly sym
pathies aud inspired by a sentiment Of tender
charity Sooner or later she must make this discov
cry. Shall she be left to find it out by painful ex-
perences, with her innocent condolences betrayed
and her very purity Of thought expressed in her
candid utteIance,, made the occasion Of coarse re-
maIksi On the contrary, Miss Bracket insists ON
her being Taught that all the world not pure and
innocent as herself She must be 50 educated that
she viii not lightly give her confidence reveal too
mach of her real self TO uuiDterested persons. In
other words she must he initiated into the habit Of
reserve, Of the sweet and gentle dignity which holds
all ntruders at a distance from herself. This is not
the teaching Of deceit Oh principle, bat the means
of nsming a calm seli-pOssessiou
The high ethical standard which Miss Drackett
uniformly enforces betrays the influence of her
studies of the modern German stOics She fully
adopts the sentiment that nothing in the world has
any absolute value except VIII guided bv the Right
To impress this cardinal truth Oh the mind OF the
pupil. is the first duty Of the educator. No pre-
eorir.fyp OK fprual rulpS can ausygar .La r,-nce.