The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-10-06
EXPLANATION
A State Female College and the Press.

A State Female College and the Press
EDITORS CLARION: 1t is with mucl
pleasure that | notice ehe courteous anC
favorable responses of the press, to thu
suggestion made through your columns tina
a State Normal School be established il
Mississippi for white females If the Ladies
can only secure the cooperation of the
editors, half the battle will be over; anC
should the ladies and editors succeed il
obtaining the establishment of such an III
| stitution, great victory will have beer
gained and great good accomplished.
The Aberdeen Examiner, while endorsing
the views of mississippi Woman" upon
this subject, suggests to the fair writer
/ that it is in the power of the women OF
! Mississippi to so shape the course of study
at any one of our admirable institu-
/ tions for the education of females,
as to meet the requirements she emu
| merates. And adds: whenever the ladies
of Mississippi announce their determination
not to patronize the female colleges of their
State unless certain branches of study are
added to their curriculums the additions
will be promptly made" The truth of the
suggestion will he generally acknowledged.
There are now in our State excellent insti-
buttons where women can be trained for a
"remuneratiye and Independent lifework,"
but in all these, to use an expressive colo
quialism they "pay their money and take
their choice" Whist annual appropria-
tioGa are made to the normal schools at
TougaIoo anu Holly Springs, where c9tored
girls are educated, the Sta.e@ fosters 10 seho"i
Tor her white daughters, and the gre;is orlh-
ciple contended for is this, that inasmuch
the State has begun to educate, it is both
unwise and unjust to discriminate against a
class of persons so capable of receiving an
education, and to whom it is so essential as
to our white females Education to them
is everything-soclal standing, a means of
support, and of doing incalculable good to
others. The Examiner concludes his sug-
gestion thus THE entering wedge having
been driven, the Legislature can be easily
captured by the ambitious aDtaz0ns at its
next session."
After the Pauline Standard had been
raised as to women preaching, and it was
distinctly stated that woman suffrage was in
expedient aud undesirable, to be called
ambitious amazons' is the "unkindest cut
of all" There is only one editor to whom
that phrase describing the modest and con-
servative ladies OF Mississippi, would have
been accredited, and he was handled very
properly at Nicksburg and left Okolona
under the lash ofindignatior some time ago
But if to desire an education is to be an
ambitious amazon then would that Mis-
sissippi were full Of these amazOns, not in
the beastly derivation Of the term, anna |
IONS. not that they would mutlate the body |
that they might more successfully draw |
the bow, or seek congenial surroundings
amidst strife and carnage-but amazons in |
this, that being educated and fitted for it, |
they would take their stand by father or
husband in the great battle of life, and |
should either fall be able like the can
noneers wife at Monmouth, to take his !
place and bravely discharge his duty.
II is contended by some that the educa-
ton of girls should be conducted only I'M
der the auspices of the church. Why,
more so than that of boys? Some fear
influences. Whilst the charge of
corruptiBg Influences is brought against our
State University, = cannot be altogether
true. Nav, | believe the statistics will
show that our University at Oxford far,
nisilas Is great a proportion of students to
theological seminaries, as any church school
within our borders That institution can
not be wholly bad which educated such men
IS Galloway. Grafton, Carradine Garr4th-
,rs. T. c. Johnston, the Mecklins, Alexan-
iera, our Christian statesman, Hon. ID. u.
Money, Gqd many others whom / cannot
wv name, IA Shs last catalogue of our
State University, it is stated, # ! mistake
lot. that every one Of the facuity Is
member of some church.
So we wee that while the churches give
he teachers for the University, the State
he means In carry ii on and tins |
% church and State unite to educate and
'hristianize our youth. similar institu-
ion should be established for our white fe-
lales. First-because it is just. Secondly
because it is becoming more and more
ecessary. In ante bellum days this necessity | .
id not exist southern parents, as a rule,
Tere wealthy and the seminaries of the {
7orld were open to their children. Now, !
II know it is quite different. Lastly-it {
hould be done, because it lisa wise measure !
f political economy to increase the pro- | !
ucers and lessen the number of consumers, | :
nd this would be done, when more |
iomen are made selfdependent. Were !
uch an institution established, the
wing Mississippian could feel that daughter 7
) we'll as son could share the fostering | |
EDUCATIONAL aid of the State and did he |
lightly appreciate such advantages he would
now that an education is for them better | l
Inheritance than lands or money, or an in t
lrance policy upon his life, because it is /
n investment that will yield eternal diYi- (
ends.
Thus once more do most earnestly urge :
ur Legislature to found State Female l
olIege. Educate our women so that the J
residing genius of every home will be an
lucated mother, and when this is done, the
roudest title that any Southern lady can
aim will be
A MISSISSIPPI WOMAN. d
~, - TooE-so, Dad +