The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-03-09
EDUCATING Ar HOME.

The STATEsMAE's article of few days
ago, bearing upon the subject of educating
children at home, has met with universal
approval, and the subject is one which calls
for continued comment. Austin is one Of
the most delightful cities on the face of the
globe. Situated above malarisl stmospheres
and refreshed during the summer months
by pure breezes from the Gulf of Mexico,
aud located amid scenes Of natural beauty
enchanting as the panoramss Of Northern
Italy, she is the disdem of fair, grand and
growing Texas. Her people are refined and
educated, and they feel pride in rearing
children who will even eclipse their worthy
parents in all those accomplishments and
rehnements which add tone and dignity to
society. The STATESMAN is part and par
eel of Austin. It would carve out for its
people influence and wealth, and would rear
up temples OF virtue in its midst which
would command for it the respect of the
world. 1t is q labor of love to US to add
to the present or prospective dignity of our
fair city, and If all will labor for it as faith
fully as the STATESMAN, the light which
springs from an Athens or an Oxford illumes
the world. Austin may become great in
wealth and population, and 1t can become
very great in intelligence and refinement.
With its location and its salubrity of eli
mate, its inspiring beauties of nature, and
its resources, it can be made the center of
learning in the great Southwest. The capi
tai OF the greatest and prospectively the
most populous State in the Union, and the
central point where each year are concen-
tered all its great statesmen and infuen-
tial men, it becomes, peculiarly, with its
natural advantages, the point where science
and the arts could be nurtured, and where
they would flourish, and whatever will nerve
up our community to an appreciation and a
final realization of this fact will be pur.
sued by US with a zeal. Pass it by as one
may, the question of home education di-
rects itself more particularly to these much
desired points than any other. Let the
boys and girls of Texas be educated at
home, and they will feel more pride in their
States advancement. They will grow up
with affections strengthened at home, where
they will be most needed, and as their
years advance into manhood or woman
hood they will be under the fostering care
Of those who love them and who WM pro-
tect them. A child, placed at school 8
thousand miles from home, becomes the
prey Of those who may seek to effect such
an end. Tender age, untutored minds be-
come moulded to other purposes than those
for which God intended them. Boys, away
from the influence of natural friends, give
way to passions which ruin them and girls,
without the tender care of those who cher
ish them, lose that tenderness which makes
woman sublime. These are questions which
go home to the hearts of parents, and if
they will but stop and consider, their minds
will henceforward be made up to the end
that they will keep their offspring near
them. Lfe, honor and happiness are in the
scale against death and regrets; and besides
the practice of sending children abroad is
robbing US of honors and prosperity at
home. Let every parent in Austin turn
their energies to the creation and mainten-
ance of home institutions, and our commu-
nifty will be enriched in means, and many
rank weeds be rooted out of society that at
times almost overcome it.