New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-08
pp5cTJCty FDUCtTJON

We gave the other day, an account of a
school in Massachusetts in which young ladies are
taught not only how to cook, but also how to cut
their own dresses and trim their own hats. Pro-
fessors of these useful and recOndite arts en-
ployed. and we are particularly told that work in
these extra branches will be so arranged not
to interfere in any way with the regular work of
the school. French and English grammar, penman-
ship the use Of globes history and rhetoric, draw
ing and music, will go on usual; but the young
lady who improves her opportunities at this semi
nary will leave ii prepared to help herself should any
emergency yicssitude of fortune make 1t necessary
There was time, and not great while ago either
when these useful arts of cooking and bonnetmakng
were no more taught in young ladies' schools than the
Syriac language, navigation or civil engineering.
There was dear old Miss PinkertOn, in Thackerays
VANITY FAIR who, next to the Bible, thought john
sons Dictionary to be the greatest of bOoks-what
would that dear old mummy of a Minerva have
said of a curriculum which included chicken sautG
and spring hats as branches of educatiOni What
would Hannah More and her starched sister have
said of plan which took all their young ladies into
the kitchen twice a week to be lcctured upon tho
scientific preparation of food
Yet practical education is not altogether of to-day.
The father of it in England and measurably in
this country was Richard Lowell EdgewOrth, who
anticipated of the features of Frobe's system,
and for his pains was laughed at as a visionary.
Many of his ideas are to be found in those books
written by his daughter Maria, in which that best
of boys Harry, and that best of girls, Lucy, are
taught the one many of the mechanical, and the
other several of the culinary arts. But Edgeworths
system was intended mainly for the children OF
wealthy parents, although he was not without a
kindly interest in the poor. OF the social
peculiarities existing in this country he knew
nothing. He was not planning to educate
wives who could make homes, of which
the resources were moderate tasteful and comfort
able. The new system of instruction which turns
out good housewives and tolerable dressmakers
has ut least the merit Of endeavoring to supply
tangible and ndsputable necessities There may be
q sduaor n continual aud pressing want, an i'll
spread uninvitng table, perpetual waste Of God
sent material, dOwdy ways and coarse habits, in
houses unembarrasscd by any deficiency of means,
enough of themselves to occasion discomfort and the
irritabty which comes of il and stays with it,
good deal is bitterly spoken of women of fash
ion, enamOred of seXpense, indolent, frivo-
lous and selfish Poems are written about
them of the satircal Sort and they are ig-
ANONYMOUSLY classed as Flora McFlimseys. There
is not word to be said in their defence, eX-
cept that they are what fond mothers and foolish
fathers have made them. But there are other
women who mean well and who would like to do
well, if they only knew hOw-pOOr, iaded creatures
who willing to work. but who, through Ignorance,
work constantly at Disadvantage; who would be
economical and so help their husbands. if they had
been early taught the clements of economy; and
who drag through life, God knows, without much
pleasure and die at last leaving a succession
of like ineiiciencies and Deliberations to their
daughters. If there be no want of WILL aud oftenest
there is none, the fatality Of this dowdy tragedy is
ignorance When good intentions and incapacty
are united IN tue same person, the spectacle cannot
be otherwise than dshearening.
A poor woman may help herself in a hundred