Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-10-14
The SchOOl.NzjAlreSS,

With the faded gardens, the cool shadows and
Tho frost suggesting vapors of early September,
comes the schoel-mistrees. She vanished from
us inst as tic tulips were towering and first
wrens were balancing themselves upon the Ca
talpa twigs by the south window. Wo remem-
ber how weary she looked as she passed along
the street that last day OF school, few steps
behind the prim little calcoed misses aud tic
hilarious young brats in button ups. She steps
more lightly now as she goes smiling to the
work and worry of a now torn. The pale checks
that she took away with her when she went out
TO Kansas to spend her vacation have gained
color from the pink and russell tinting OF the
rich plains sunshine and the now life in those
months ago, looks like u surprise of blue sky
through the niist-lke veil that serves the dou-
bic purpose OF concealing her freckles and pro-
tecting. her against the ill-mannered staros OF
street losfors. She still dresses in, material that
can he washed and "donc up" and wears that
inevitable white apron, and the brown kids
irayed al the iipger-ends but not the Holen of
the Iliad "clad III the beauty OF a thousand
stars, was 80 lit to be enshriusd in immortal
song.
We owe her royal welcome, tho returning
September schoolmstresa She is cmpaticai-
ly one OF Our things We might better spare
the whole Iaca OF politicians than this modest,
earnest even tempered step-motler of every
body's children. She it is who, in her qniet aud
patient way, sways and fashions the Grant for
ces upon which depend, not merely the rise and
fall OF rldimentary knowledge, but tho security
and growth of all that preserves and exalts 80
clety and gives to popular government its pro-
gress and its glory. Nine-tenths of our children
get the most OF their education in the public
schools and there can be no higher mission in
such country than that Of the meek-faced wo-
man, with no crueier weapon than bunch OF be-
lated marigolds or a copy of tho last ST. Nicholas
brings the boys and girls, WHO are to bo our fu-
tr,re men aud women, safely and clearly through
tho decisive experiences which, more than all
else OF life, fix the bent OF mind, OF manner and
of morals. According to the sincerity and skill
Of her iabors, must be tho character of the
schools and as tho schools are, 80 will be the
citzohg-whicl is but saying that 10 will be tho
nation. Tor honor or for shame.
The returning school mistress will find things
us ,e zsmo as she !a5t ahe the r S 10 10
also but, there is No alteration in the general
outlook, and her work ia ready to be resumed
Just where she dropped it. week hence, she
viii have the business Of her school reduced to
system that no civil service reformer could I'M
prove. She will know, not simply the name, age
and scholarly standing of every child under her
charge, but also all their individual tastes, habits
and prejndices. 1t is this admirable faculty Of
discovering and utilizing the peculiar character
Htcs Of each mind with which she has to deal
such pronounced snccoss. With her, to impart
instruction is not to turn the crank OF mac inc.
Instead OF adapting her pupils to her teaching,
she alapts her teaching to her pupils She
sometimes has dozen methods OF presenting
and enforcing tho same thing, not one Of which
il to be found in any book. II Johnny stun
bles in his syntax, she does not refer him to
printed rules that are ten years ahead OF him
but explains his error to him in language Of the
play ground and il little Susie gets mixed in
her multiplication table, she s got straight again
by some homely Illustration which is worth a
whole days study to her. Ii took us R long
time to loarn that teaching ID II specially of
women. Tho school mistress has won her place
in spite of us. Aud, having won it, she is enti-
tied to our greatful recognition as she appears
again after her vacation (which, let us hope wss
pleasant and proftable) to remind us that Sep
| tember has come and " schools recalled"
Our September school-mistress will DO making
a wife Of herself one of these days. She
| always gets married. There is place for her
| in mat'iinony, just rs thoro i'd in education. A
widower, with five or six children, ia Homa-
where constantly waiting for her, She could
| not eyade him If she would perhaps she would
| not If she could IIe is not an educated man,
| and there is q smell of the soil on his garments
| but he has a comfortable home and good in
come, and he will worship her in his clumsy
| way as il she were second Minerva. When he
| gains her We lose her forever. 0nce II wife,
| not oven September can bring her back again
| and the inclination to be wifo Is the one
| temptation that she cannot resist. The trail OF
| the serpent is here as everywhere. Good and
| useful aud necessary as she is, the besettine
| ambition of her sex will creep in To lure her
away from us. Being woman, she cannot, ol
will not, escape her destiny. Like al! the rest,
che is looking and lettering for the expected
| husband. Long may the good Lord delay hie
coming 81. Lpuis GLobe Dtmocrdt, Sept 12h.