The Ottawa free trader., 1876-01-08

and. But never mind, the story is told
and you can guess how pretty Kitty looked
on the day she was married to her hero.
; From The Aurora Herald.
| Prof. Clark on Stairs and Studies.
! In the December number of the Illinois
Schoomaser we find the following commu-
nication from Prof. Thos. Clark, teacher of
the high school on the east side of the river
in this city. AS the subject treated of has
attracted much attention here, the article will
he read with interest:
Much has been said in denunciaton OF the
long flights of stairs leading to some of our
chool-rooms-much, too, in criticism of our
courses of study. They are breaking down
our girls in mind ana body, it is charged.
| We do not propose to defend the cause Of
the stairs We admit there are more of them
than We would have. Desirable as are al!
heavenly influences, we would prefer our
daily school sessions not quite SO near the
angels. We grant the stairs are sometimes
"weariness TO the flesh" 'vexation to the
5ones," and possibly, in some instances, even
worse, though we have not seen conclusive
evidence Of it.
Nor are we going to defend the cause Of
the studies. They require work; there is no
denying it. They are arranged for healthy
youths, not for invalids; for WORKERS. not for
idlers for students, not for devotees OF So
ciety; for those who believe "life Is real'
and earnest and who recognize the duty
Of preparation, in knowledge and mental dis
cipline, tor Its duties and responsibilities
not ter those whose vision catches no glimpse
of the future beyond the point where "lhe
winter Of their discomfort" in school shall
"be made glorious summer" in matrimony.
Raipp on arranuoH q nur ,,uni1o fol hx,
the waysde, and their fellows have to pass
on without them. The trouble may be in the
stairs; 1t may be In the stHdies. We defend
neither. There is fault, no doubt, in both.
Yet Is II not barely possible that other
agencies than these work part of the mis-
chlefg Some Of our schoolgirls mount the
stairs leading to the opera.house gallery an
average Of twice week; they are quite con-
scIentious IN making two or three daily trips
10 the post-oflice for their mail--each time,
OF course, climbing the high bluff on their
way home; they attend frequent sociables
and parties at private houses, and in their
frolics run up and down stairs a dozen times
an evening; they eat much confectionery
and take hearty meals at unreasonable hours
they reach home two hours after the time
that girls of such age, with the duties of
school resting upon them, should be in bed
and sound asleep; they are careless in ex-
posing themselves 10 the weather at times
when too much caution cannot be exercised
Yet, when ills come upon them which i'll
would seem might well be attributed In
some small degree, at least, TO these dIssip
tions and exposures, they are all charged upl
TO chose horrid school stairs When the |
ills grow more numerous and serious; when |
the dear creatures grow nervous and troubled
with headache or sleeplessness or even worse
then the other scape goat-ihe studies--is |
up for service, aud all the sins
left, after loading the former. are packed on
the latter.
a few Of our good doctors-we say /; re-
gretiully, for none hold their usual good ser
vices in higher estimation than we-are
quite too prone 10 aScribe all youthful ills OF
body and mind TO the schools.
A tender mother consults the family physi
clam about her daughters health. The symp-
toms and troubles are duly recounted. The
doctor listens dTreetss duribus, looks wise
why should he not:) and gravely propounds
Ihese queries: Does your daughter attend
school. Does she have TO mount two or
three flights of stairs daily? Does she take
All the studies of her classy An affirmative
answer being given 10 each, with the signih.
can't ejaculation, "Ob, those stairs and stud.
les ~ he proceeds TO write prescription of
some powders and pills, charges the mother
ID withdraw the daughter at once IRON
school, settles backs in his easy char. and
wouldn't give farthing to feel any surer
han he does that the recording angel is busy 4
adding another 10 the long list of credit
marks opposite his name in the heavenly
register. The mother is delighted that The
:ase Is no worse. Ycs, and she Is flattcrcd,
90; fol- is il not clear that the doctor believes
Ier daughter capable OF mental spplications
W intense as even to be dangerous? OF
course. she believes every word OF the ad.
Eice-it is so easy to believe what one risAes
20 believe--snd holds in higher esteem than
ever before the professional skill of the
sdviser
Darling shall quit school at once Strange
did not realize tie trouble sooner That
AEs3.s A4.-- -.-. SOEs..1a. s,p~al lacS "a