The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-10-09

anho"d. This proposition has been no.
liced largely from negative stand
poiut, bul YOU Se,. tile drifi of the argu-
meut
Gire hcm q comprehensive education
In these days Of literary advantages and
attahImeuts, aud at period when girls
are allowed equal advantages with boys
1 in many Of our schools aud colleges, it
may seem unnecessary to urge the edu-
cation Of our girls, were it not that we
mean one more comprehensive than a
textbook education. That we leave
with our educators, except that It is
/ hardly wise to leave our girls to pursue
such 4 course as the usual stereOtyped
routine of a college education. There
are many things to be considered-the
the adaptation OF each to certain studies,
aud, as far as possible, the future appli-
cation Of the same. But there is not so
much objection 10 the course usually
pursued as in the manner aud circum-
stances in which it is pursued. Owing
to an ignorance or neglect of the laws
| Of life which govern our minds and
bodies, there are but few OF our girls
that go through college who do not
come out physically wrecked, their
health so shattered, and consequently
their mental forces so exhausted, that
they are unable to receive the benefits
.F fsn - =. d
and many die, their talents covered in
untimely graves before their education
is completed Tbey possess the jewels,
but, alas no casket to hold them.
Our girls need to be taught economy
aud the knowledge Of business, trade
and commerce such as will call into
question their individuality aud inde-
pendence of thought and character
Teach them the duties of wives and
mothers-the science of housekeeping.
A girl is but half educated, though she
may have conquered all the sciences
aud fne arts, IL she is ignorant Of do
nestle and useful knowledge, whether
or not an application Of such knowledge
is demanded Of her. One OF the great
errors in regard to the teaching Of our
girls is the "cramming" process inva-
riably adopted, which has a tendency to
destroy the taste for future study. Edu-
cation is a constant process Of develop
ment, aud therefore life work. \
well-trained mind in a strong body will
expand and develop from youth to old
age. One strong reason why so many
Of our girls are so easily satisfied with
useless, trashy reading, that does not
tax the minds, is because Of the "crsIn-
ming" process.
Girc them employment In less than
a single decade the time will come that
girl who has no business, trade or pro-
fession will be in line with such men Of
to-day, "tramps" We are disposed to
look with suspicion upon the man who
presumes to pass in the ranks Of society
with no special profession, trade or bus
iness that is remunerative. II will soon
be as true Of girls. Nothing can be
more elevating to the character of our
girls than honorable employment. Idle
ness is the parent Of vice. Such have
been the changes within the last few
years relative to woman's work and po-
sition in society that we find very many
avenues opened up to our girls which
were closed to women when we were
young. In addition, girls now have an
almost equal place in educational labor,
and the doors of medical, law and theo-
logical schools are opened to women.
I Trades are also available. Mothers, we
should begin early to watch the natural
developments Of adaptation in our girls
for certain professions, trades, or busi-
nesses, and educate them specially for
/ the positions which will suit them, and
aid them in securing such places. II is
useless to educate an artist for teacher
or banker, or for one naturally domestic
/ to be urged into the editorial sanctum
or the lecture field. Let no girl feel that
it is right or safe to leave the parental
roof to enter into society destitute Of
the means Of a lucrative employment.
The time for girls to be bequeathed to
society as parasites, to be petted and
supported, is well nigh past; it will
soon be dishonor, as it should be,
rather than something to be proud Of.
This naturally brings US to the consid-
Grafton Of our next proposition.
Gire them money, as it is given to
their brothers, when they earn and are
entitled to it. Every child, as soon as
it can count ten cents, should be taught
the real value of money, and should
have a separate purse in which to de-
posit its little earnings aud gifts; as
soon as few dollars are accumulated,
have it appropriated for something use
ful and durable, or loaned for interest.
This is the only way to teach our chill
dren the value and use Of money. We
are often reminded OF the extravaganza
of girls. This is largely because they
never have enough money Of their own
earnings at their disposal to know its
real worth. This fact is detrimental to
the present happiness and future pros
nerIty Of our girls. Many of our indus
trious better class OF young men refuse
to marry because they feel unable to
support these girls Of extravaganza and
idleness, who are utterly unable to sup
mort themselves. Many unhappy mar
riapes are the result Of this heiplessness
of girls, who have neither occupation