The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-11-22
co-EpucATloN OF TIE SEXES.

ASSV We @8&6 S6<A61s
In another part of our paper we
publish an article taken from the
New York Sun, on the question of
co-education of the sexes. For sew
eral years we have opposed the CO.
education of the sexes, and we see
nothing in experience to cause us to
change our opinion upon the subject.
To see great rough boys come romp-
ing along the streets with girls of
their own aye, with the undue famil-
iarity together Of daily intercourse,
cannot fail to awaken in the minds
of thoughtful observers a fear that
Familiarity breeds contempt" of the
finer feelings and emotions, the cour-
%tesies, the respect which ought to ex-
ist between the sexes when they ar
rive at the age of adolescence. The
bashful blush which mantles the
honest pure cheek of the rustic,
speaks more eloquently of the purity
and good faith of future social rela-
tions, than the brazen impudence of
the sweet scented fop, who whirls
his embroidered handkerchief at the
city belle, who with q cheek equally
hard and brazen responds.
We may scout as much as we
please, the conclusions of older civil
izations are but lessons founded up
on experience which usually have a
solid Ease, and we doubt very much
whether we may not in many re-
spects profit from them. We all
know that the rough nature Of the
boy is moro than a match for the nat
ural modesty of a shrinking, timid
girl, and that as surely as his supe-
rior vital force is in the ascendency,
just SO surely will he, upon the play.
ground and elsewhere, maintain an
ascendency of influence. The plays
of the school grounds are controlled
by the boys. Their voices ring loud
est, and would it not be better for
teachers and taught ifthe two sexes,
so soon as the line of childhood has
been passed, be separated There
are matters connected with the daily
Experience, nature, wants and de-
mands of youth, which should not be
in common. We incline strongly to
the views of the learned Presidents
of our leading Colleges and Univer-
sites are right. Who would want
to see a daughter or a sister enter a
d~issecting room with a lot Of rude
male medical students, even if some
strong minded women should ayow
ever SC e~loquently, there could no
harm come from the association? We
would put up no bar to woman's
achievement in any field-but mod
esty is the next jewel to virtue in
woman's brightest crown. She can.
not stem the tide which man must
in this worlds affairs.
Take our churches and we ask,
what one turns out purer wives and
mothers than the grand old Catholic
Church? In our leading hotels
Catholic girls r sought for help be
cause they preserve that character
for yirtuous lives which throws &
halo of glory around the humble patti
they tread; and as arule that Church
opposes the co-education of the sex
es. While we would make no invid
ious remarks or comparisons, We d.
say that this one characteristic o
those who are true to its faith ant
system of education, is doing NOR
to secure patronage from Protestan
fathers and mothers of America, es
pecially SO far as their daughters ar
concerned, than any other. Nor ca,
we complain of proselytism if it j
won by such fruits.
We must consider carefully tn
Question which is agitating the bes
educational minds of our country, fo
it is one of vital interest and touch
es the very foundation of the socis
structure rising generations are I
build up or ruin. For one, we al
now as always, opposed to the CT
education of the sexes, after the liz
of childhood has been passed.