The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-08-21
Tdueation Of Girls.

her own living. And it should be the
desire of both, q desire as strong and
lively as that which actuates the father
To lay aside money for her future use, to
try 10 fortify her against, and prepare
her for such a catastrophe. Fling TO the
winds the notion of feminine depend
ence as it is generally interpreted, learn
her to be strong, self-reliant, and self
dependent. Let her education be as
broad as time and means will permit,
but let it be thorough and practical.
Study well her disposition, her inclina-
tions, and her talents, and let her stud
les lie in the direction indicated by
these, never forcing upon her attention
those branches for which she has no
taste. If she incline TO the study Of Ian
guage, furnish herwith the best OF mas
ters, and encourage her not only TO
ground herself thoroughly in the gram
mar and construction of each tongue she
acquires, but to familiariZe herself with
its literature as well; and do not insist
that she shall be equally proficient in
music. If she has fancy for mathe-
MATES, do not compel her TO cram her
head with history at the same time,
which will only be forgotten as fast as
it is learned. Insist upon her being
thorough in everything she undertakes.
If her education should not be broad,
let it at least be deep. Do not send her
to school with the idea that in three or
four years she can master a dozen or
more regular branches and "eXtras,"
any of which, to become even moder-
ately familiar with, would require the
entire time. If she is compelled TO at
tempt all these, do not let her parents
fiatter themselves that she has received
n NJ fRinrr fhatt fha flinnnGf a p
nish of an education, which a few rubs
and knocks in actual life will cause to
disappear entirely. No matter il the
young girl fail to fulfill the programme
of her school, and is entitled to no di-
ploma, the actual experience of after
: life will convince her, and all interested
I in her, that it was well mere piece OF
parchment was not permitted To out
! weigh more really important considera-
tions.
! do not wish to be understood as dis
claiming against high standard of cd
ucation for women. There is no posi-
tion i'm life, private or public, in which
a carefully disciplined, well-infOrmed
mind has not immense advantages over
an unregulated, ignorant one. But it is
this smattering OF various abstract sub
jeets, which are seldom or never pre-
scented to them in any practical light
this universal superficiality in attain
ments and ideas, that is the bane of the
schoolgirl. \ girl of eighteen or twenty
has actually learned nothing. She has
done well, if she has laid firm founda-
ton for future study and requirement oi
knowledge-if she has learned how Ia
/. learn. To call her education finished
when she has reached this point, is as il
the farmer should carefully plOw and
harrow his ground, and then, without
sowing any seed, declare tine labor OF
the season finished. And to deelaim
against the incapacity and inability oil
women who have been allowed and en-
couraged to pursue such n course, is as
unreasonable as this same farmer would
he should he come in the fall, and afteI
looking vainly for crop, rail against
his land for its unproductiveness. The
farmer will find plenty of weeds, no
doubt Aud so the carefully prepared
mind of the young lady, if thesseeds Oi
true knowledge are not planted and
cultivated, will harvest luXuriant crop
of vanity, extravaganza, false senti-
ment, selfishness, and kindred follies.
IL a woman wishes to measure her in
tellect with that of man's-and the
world is now calling on her to do So
, she must prOlong her years of study as
he does his. Her intellect may be as Wig
orous, her faculties as quick, and her in
tuitions far reader than his; but she can
not expect that she shall accomplish as
much as he, with a less amount of prep
aratiOn. We are constantly reminded
that the number of women who have
distinguished themselves in the sci
ences and arts is very small compared
: to that of the other sex. But did ever
, any statistician attempt 10 ascertain the
exact ratio of distinguished men and
, women, and compare it with that Oi
men and women who have received
, equal advantages of education ? Where
there is one woman thoroughly edu-
: Gated, there are ten, l do not know but
| may safely say, fifty men. The whole
t training of a woman is directed rather
, to prevent than TO lead her to any pc.
culiar excellence in any special depart
ment. Ii is diffusive and superficial
Concerning those women whose name:
q the world delights to honor, l think in.
: vestigation will prove that their course
! of study has been exceptional, AM
formed more after masculine model:
: than after feminine ones. 1t is wei
: known that such is the case with Har
. riet Hosmer and Rosa Bonheur, two
/ artists who stand at the head of thei
! sex in sculpture and painting, anC
whose works will compare well Will
: the best of modern art productions
= these two ladies had been compelled t
gain their ideas of their respective pro
fessiOns from a bOarding-school or recog
| niZed feminine point OF view, it is very
' doubtful whether the world would eve
have heard of them.
4 Give our girls good, thorough, practi
: cal educations. Whatever they are Sc
IN gfnHU ruc no ftnna sf Loo
0 furnish them with the means of learn
ing, as though the knowledge they ac
/, quire were to be put to practical use.
V Every young lady should consider 70
e herself that there Is no knowing wha
s may happen in this country; and whil
: she adOTns her mind and her depOrt
: ment with those graces which MAJ
serve her in the highest station, an
which are never out of place even in tn
n lowest, she should try to prepare hersel
!, i'm other ways TO meet any and al
!, changes of fortune, be they good or Ill
: Ii cannot be denied that, In many de
J, partments, wOman's wages are made
g Quate to the amount of her labor. Bu
- il is because the standard of her labO
. has been degraded by the Incompetence,
: and unrelia6ility of the many; and tn
excellent few have been made to suffe
3 in consequence. Raise the standard @
: = excellence by adopting plan of educa
ton which shall increase the number c
j. accomplished and reliable workwome
: In all branches of employment, an
: there can be but little doubt that wage
n will rise in proportion.
l.
e The wife's secret-Her opinion of ht
husband.