The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-10-01

among you whose lives are gladdened by the
smiles of little prattling girls who bow their
sunny heads upon your knees a. aqsky S'c ths q
ROSY lips to f,shion. Which one of you can
honestly declare, that for the sake OF the en-
laraement and Improvement Of wcman's sphere
and womans intellect, so prated Of, he would
Lit homo to bs deflled by the foul, revolving
testimony Of criminal court, or see bis rosy
baby grown to blushing maidenhood, with M.
ID. tackled upon her name, within the diseectlng
room, holding in the dimpled hands which ne
had proudly led along the path Of life, some hall
diseectcd spine, and hear her talking learned
ly about the brdckidl plerus
We have before us a case which viii ever Be
luminous spot in the history Of our land; Mrs.
Garfield, the noble woman who ovcrcame nature
itself, battled down the weakness of an enfee-
bled constitution, to cheer and nourish back to
life and love the man whom, above all others ON
Gods foot-stool, she had sworn to honor and
obey. Is there one here now who could have
more admiration for this courageous creature
If she had possessed the requisite scientific ed
ucation to probe for the murderous bullet which,
in entering that loved form, wounded the hearts
of fifty millions free born people!
The idea l am feebly attempting to convey Il,
that educating woman co-equal and conformity
with man, and the constant association therein
eutailed, would undoubtedly have tendency
to produce too great familiarity and want OF re-
spect, alloying the feminine mind with the droso
Of masculinity, which Is even now attracting the
attention Of our women to the glitteriDg gener-
alities of the sol disdnf ''rcformers and leading
them TO seek the public honors that are antago-
nistic to every natural feminine instinct.
For what woman can attend thoroughly TO
professional career aud yet be the guiding
star of home; deliver an erudite lecture when
the consciousness that Spring cleaning ought to
be done and that the preserves are working Hes
heavy on her mind and twill not down !" or
n LII <f ~wt oh
hangs trembling in the balance, when she should
be stitching ON little lace-decked garments that
are entirely too small for herself and much too
large for good sized doll
One of the greatest authors Of the age-he
who, by the magic of his pen, could paint the
bly, and refine the gold, make strong men
sob and tremble like tender babes, and call .
ieeting smile to the lips of cen the veriest sage
has given to the world a Mrs- Jcllyby who
stands an undying prototype ofthe i9evitahle
platform and the hearth.
1t is the same cry for reform" that, uncheck-
ed win slowly but surely undermine the very
foundations Of pure society, and It Is not din.
painful Enthusiastically too common-as
the appearance of women as chief actors In Pc
dsstrian contest rowing matches and base ball
games, clothed-not to put too fine point upon
neither limbs With prodigality worthy of
You answer, co-education is not TO blame for
this, since il has not yet been practiced. Grant
ed but would not the throwing together Of sexes
at time when nature has peculiarly adapted the
girl to be most impressionsble and the boy to
lack that reverence for woman which he acquires
later on In life, lead him 10 treat her with bone
ean,aYddcris which would familiari1e her with
the rougher side of masculine nature and aid in
bringing about this deplorsble result
Our girls hold within the bellows Of their
dainty palms the morals Of the future.
Educate them, then, TO- hold womanly modesty
at greater value 70 be less slangy" and more
they distribute 80 freely; to cease encouraging
mashers' and abandon various handkerchief and
fan flrtations. and you achieve greater victory
than can ever be wen by encouraging them to
competitions and struggles over mathematical
scientific and political problems.
There is no general need, even, that the sexes
should pursue Identical courses of study. The
man is essentially fitted to 60 forth and grapple
with the sterner exigencics Of life, while the
woman does not need instruction in'those branch
es peculiarly necessary to the masculine intel
lect. We now have women In almost every
profession IL Is true, but they arc exceptions 70
the rule; and while there are 30 many men to occu
py these positions let woman be content 10 have
her kingdom encompassed by her own hearth-
stone and to shine supreme there
Which most becomes woman, sitting bcside
The Preside of the heart, feeding it's flame.
So yield the forum and forensic display to the
ruder sex.
Let ii not be understood that advocate the
supprt ssion of woman or her total seciusiou
according to the Muscovite principle, which
holds that she is only 1T for obedience and
position to take, belonging as dc 70 an Assc
Cation composed, with but few exceptions. of The
masculine sex.
It is just. though not necessary, that woman
should be mans mental equal, and the
State wishes to make provision to that effect,
then let coeducaton mean the pursuit OF the SAINT
courses of study, but in separate institutions.
The rearing and educating of the sexes, while
admitting Of identical instruction, nust DO con
Quoted according to systems totally irrccon
cilable with each other. having In view the
dissimilar duties which the pupils arc called
upon to perform and the different destinies they
are fhted to fulfll in after life.
| training could not be governed by the same ruiz
as that Of her moro robust brothers without tend
| ing to undermine constitution upon which tn
future of the country depends; for, 1t Tht
hand that rocks the cradle is the hand tha'
rules the world" 30 upon the exceuen
health, the perfect formation. the splendii
phNsiqus of Americas women depend the futur
greatness of her unborn generations.
Another and equally as great consideration
| that pleads with mute though stirring eloquenc'
against the daily and constant association of th,
| sexes which coeducation would necessttate Il
| that il would tend to drag woman from her loft,
| sphere, deprive her OF much OF that gentle IN
| fuence she has heretofore excrted, and increase
greatly the perverted, hippant tone which IN
happily pervades young society TO such {
considerable extent.
While the stilted formalities of Grandson
| are not necessary in our generation stu sligh
soupcon of the old fashioned courtesy and rUv
erence of women which distinguished our fore
fathers is greatly needed to restore and prcserv
intact that native delicacy which women los
by habitual and too familiar intercourse with tn
rougher sex.
Noone can contemplate for moment the recor
ia vassar or Staunton and oppose system 9
State education for women. Instruct onr girl
| in every necessary branch, give them full vcop
TO ACQUIRE all that is allotted the masculine min
if they desire, but educate them apart lest PEI
feet womanhood be destroyed forever. Lei
them be instructed in Literature, for no on
can doubt their capacity to excel in that brano
after considering the achievements Of tho gifte
Brontes, Muloch, George Elliot and othors who's
names are burned with an Immortal radianc
upon the scrolls Of time Medicine, even. - n
woman can ennoble herself moro than by GOV
erpinr the health of those who arc under be
domestic jurisdiction. Let her master Physic
ogy and Anatomy, comprehend the nine grca
systems, and upderstapd the mysteries an
workings Of the little bslng which, sooner Q
Inter, an Almighty Ruler lays within he
arms. :.
She needs not the cap&bility TO diagnose di