The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-08-24

whether schoOlmarms are desirable can
dldatcs for matrimony. Among the la
dies themselves the opinion seems 10
prevail that as wives they would es-
pecially adorn homes and make happy
the lives Of good husbands. They ar
que that the very fact Of their getting
and holding their places Is evidence Of
their Intelligence and moral worth. two
things very requisite in wife. They
say, further, that the familiarity with
the management Of children which
teacher acquires will serve her in good
stead when she becomes mother her
self; and that the development Of her
faculties which she gets in the school
room Is Of just the sort that best pre-
pares woman for the duties Of wife.
In fact, they say that they are the girls
for young fellows 10 court.
There Is, however, some masculine
objection To these claims Of the school
marms, and it is expressed in the letter
here printed:
slR-I noticed In yesterdays San an APP
peal for recognition Of scho0l-teachers
among manageable men by one OF their
number, who, after mode-tly enumcrating
their many virtues and especial qualifica-
tions, asserts that there II a disinclination 10
marrying schoomarms, and plantisey asks
why the feeling exists. For several reasons,
! answer. First, despite Miss IGNORES as
sertion, do not think teachers a. a rule
care To marry. They are an independent
class, their salaries being more than sufii-
cient for their needs. They have much time
% themselves, especially nj this uncom-
Portable season Of the year, which l. not the
case with the average housewife. But the
sI.r
after by men contemplating matrimony H.
that they have their serious defects, which
can be paraded a. well AZ their virtues.
They generally assume superiority Of man
ner which Of itself H. enough TO discourage
any ordinary sutton: and Is they advance in
years and grades they become 30 accustomed
10 cnacting the role 81 martinez 10 the terri
tied small boy that they naturally assume an
independent and ovcrbearing attitude to-
ward Others qualifications possibly reqtii-
site for the schoo-room, but not desirable
I'M household. Again, from the constant
annoyanccs attendant on their daily duties,
their tcnlper~ become s0iired, and they lose
in measure the great charm Of amiability.
OF course there are exceptions, but this H.
the rule. j. II a wonder, then. that men do
not seek for companions among 80 uncon-
genial though otherwise worthy class
these same ~choolmarms whom your fair
correspondent so valianty champions.
s<fs ~
What our correspondent says is not
destitute Of truth, though we continue
TO fight on the side Of the schoolmarms.
We are not surprised that some ofthese
maiden pedagogues refuse, or pretend
10 refuse. To entertain the idea of mar
riage. Situated rs they are, they are
able to support themselves comfortably,
and enjoy degree Of independence
They have the satisfaction Of earning
their own living. and spending their
money as suits themselves. They feel
that they are their own mistrcsses, know
just what are their present ills, and fear
that those they might fly TO in marrying
are worse. But, though allthis may be
true, IL the right sort Of lover comes
along, and tries to convince school
marin 50 fortified BY sound arguments
against matrimony, that she would be
happier as his wife than as single
woman, we will wager that he will bat
ter down the walls and carry the fort.
Yet so far a. material comfort is CON
cerned, she might do better to withstand
the assault.
As TO schoolmarms assuming an atti-
tude of superiority, perhaps our CORE
spondent mistakes them. Their man
ner may be one acquired in their pro-
fession, and not mean that they think
they are wiser than other people, though
il so impresses some observers. II is
true that from constant contact with pu-
pills 10 whom they are SUPERIOR knowl-
edge, they may grow in time to think
they can teach every body; but if they
are brought into frequent association
with people who are their intellectual
betters, they will learn after awhile that
they do not know rs much rs they think
they do, and will draw i'm their horns
Very likely the men about these school
marms are their interiors in nominal ed
ucation, and they may be really inferior
otherwise. In such cases the teachers
are unfortunately placed, for it is better
10 associate with persons who know
more than you do than with those who
know less, rs then YOU will keep down
a self-conceit which l. always offensive
in its manifestations. Still, If a man Is
not actually inferior TO a school-teachcr,
he needn't be afraid Of her. There are
none of them who know it all, though
they may think they do.
II is too true that schoolmarms Of
long experience in handling the birch
do get little precise in their manner
and severe IN their aspect The attitude
il not, n our correspondent calls il, indie
pendent and overbcaring, but like that
Of an old drill-sergeant, a little mechan-
ica and austcre. But this Is the mis-
fortune, and not the fault, Of the school
marms long in the service. Sometimes.
too, doubtless, the daily trials and petty
annoyances Of their profession may
tend 10 sour their tempers, but SO would
any body's temper be likely TO suffer
with lot Of mruly children in nowisc
related 10 him, To keep in order from
wears end % years end. No wonder