Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1876-04-15
TIE FUTURE o. WOMAN.
Taking rs a basis for future remarks

the premises already assumed, viz; ,
that there is urgcn. need for diver
sifcation of feminine industry and
Furthermore, that woman is fully pre-.
pared for this estcnsiOn, brief inspec.
ton Of the popular errors In the train.
ing and education Of girls. and some
suggestions In this direction, may not
DC inappropriate. :,
But before entering upon this dis
cussion, pardou the digressisn,) We
desire to qualify tue priviles ses claimed
for our sex, in the acquisition of
learned professions" Though, in
the general illusions then made, We
thought only of Medicine" AS the
legitimate field for woman's practical
developments, the obscurity of our
previous remark, may possibly Lead
: to grave misconstruction. At another
time this explanation would be unncc. I
essary, but just now the danger Of
being classed with. tho followers Of
! Woodruff and Anthony demands that
We smphaiieally &sclam their unfem-
mime dugmas, Blu while disavowing
now and forever, this hateful creed,
we wosld have no avenue to lsaEniil+s
closed against the woman who would
aspire thus high We would not
dare manacle genius, but rather en-
courage each and every woman. not
bound by stem necessity to an occu-
patton for Subsistence, 10 passae SOME
science adapted to her taste. even
though that particular branch may
sss fall within the range of her practi-
eel demonstration. For instance.
women are not practical engineers or
surveyors or nachinists yet, what
possibls objection, if they have time,
can there be to the theoretical knowl-
edge of Geometry, Mechanics or Men,
. suratiOny :
Among the learned Professions, the
world has long Acknowledged hsr
value to the science Of medicine"
: nor can there be any doubt tSat the
, hundreds of female nurses, who
5 throng the wards of our hospitals,
, would be rendered morc efficient with
o thorough knowledge Of the science
;. to which they ,Aiaister. Indeed, it Is
4 scarcely possible to estimate properly
). ahe value of Florence Nigh,en-
c gale" as an educated and skillful
!, physician, nor to realize how admira-
!. DIV her native tenderness would sup.
J. plemcnt here more solid accomplish
Il ments. However, tits point needs
e no discussion the rapidly increasing
: proportion of female graduates, as
o well as the shining record of distin.
Z gsishsd medical wOmes, prove her
n Importance here.
d in theology and Law, we solicit
- no tolerstion-ws mean as pul h!
Is declaimer-and yet. should any
C woman be impelled. like the spiritual
ID Ouakress, to raise her feeble voice in
:, the public minis,rations Of "God's
~ !" Temple" one would scarcely dare
intervene, where conscience speak,
u. merely on "question Of privilege
re Finally, should she select the study
i" Of Jurisprudence, what matter if sh'
:, acquire the love OF . Blackstone. 81
IS she intrudes not upon the rights o
IS, another, nor presumcs beyond he
~ sphere. Again, there eau be % con
ne a., ceivabls objection to the abstrac
m ,r learning, has she desire for it; bu
a, the peril Of true wOmaDhood let he
ng shun, rs tho deadly peslilenee. tn
.d first encroachments Of that "nev
OF o' morality" which would unsex her
e, and instil into ber honest mind To
se science of political intrigue. Far b
af it from Southern woman to dcslr
lor political distinction, or to covet To
=. - honors of the Forum" Let not tb
Dr. m contamination of this ugly iniec,io
ue ever reach her, to wither like the fat.
ed "simoon " her ancient crown Of purity
u. ~ Let her power be welded, as beret'
~, "% fore, iu the sanctuary of home, wher
on quietly through the gliding years. sh
is molding the statesmen. who sha
The guide tho nation through the storm
u Ie Of the opening century. Here is ht
"d ~" political value, and here alone an
" if as "motber and teacher" her ul
ing unbounded influence be used, to inst
hip into the bosoms oftbe darling boys
m the principles Of honor, aad TO fos''
,t,, tcuderlv, religiOusly, the idate love
"er M the true, the beautiful and the goo
lice she will have fulfilled her higbe
is''- destiny. In this arduous service. b
usefulness will far surpass that OF u
horde of c!amorous enthusiasts, vi
en' vainly dream OF "felnale suffrage"
o., ;n the "era" which shall purify al
,b. evangelize the world.
pair But, while our girls shall bo pl
ma pared to resist INCREASINGLY and Il
II ever. the tidal wave" Of woman
y - rights" which is even now lashi
,o.e its ugly crest agaiLst our belov
,li,y "South. Land" yet arc they in the
We Strengthened times, being prepared
well, to buffet the encroashmcnts
poverty und want? We feel assur
al the widened latitude for feminine
'y crtion for which We plead. will read
nm, mn be granted. And, when released fr
.,ou the trammels which circumscribe
aArs usefulness, aid through the justice
!pps an educated public, she shall be lnvi
,usr' ",,' to come up higher, to positions yi'
v ing an easier subsistence. than th
of ber ancient domain, how shall
ward profit thereby. Surely not while
the present method Of female educattiO
TN, 'ns adhered to. There must be On en-
!, ~ %r, revolution in The plan and cxecutio
the intellectual development OF