The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-07-10
EDUCATE THE GIRLS.
Some Sensible Remarks by Arizona ="
on the Subject


on the Subject
Written for the Tin es-Democrat.
In this practical age there are still many
persons who indulge in those poetical and
sentimental ideas that would make woman
"a creature far too bright and good
For human natures daily food"
Childlike innocence aud utter inability to
pursue any useful occupation are the qualities
that must recommend her to that sex which is
supposed to shield her from all rude contact
with world for which she never was in
tended. Reared in a fictitious atmosphere,
the stereotyped young lady of society is a
creature of shallow requirements, filled with
those romantic and delusive dreams, that are
sure to be dispelled by the stern realities and
bitter experiences of life.
Marriage is the chief aim of her existence,
and, las she has never been taught to discern or
admire those qualities that make an honora-
bic man and good husband, is it strange that
she is often
DESTINED to weep DER in sadness at night
Tue visions most worshipped in mornings pure
Light
In the estimation of many born to a life of
luxurious ease, all labor is deg aiding, and the
woman compelled to earn her bread, even by
her intellectual attainments, is supposed to
have lost that delicacy and refinement which
are the browning graces Of her sex.
Even were this the case, since we are ex-
posed to continual vicissitudes of fortune,
should it not be our chief care to prepare our
daughters for any encounter with an adverse
fate, knowing that the loss of a little polish
and elegance is but small matter compared
to hopeless poverty, calling dependence, or
loss of virtue,
Can there be a sadder sight than young
widow surrounded by her little brood, scarce
ly less helpless than herself, vainly endeav-
oring to recall some hali-learned art or worth
less. accomplishment, by which she can up
hold that roof so suddenly deprived of its sup
port?
And yet, with such examples constantly be-
fore us, we continue to equip our sons for
the rough voyage OF life, while their Trailer
sisters are launched on the treacherous
sea, to sink or swiS at the caprice of for
tune.
Every girl should be taught that marriage
is not the only road to an honorable and use
full career; and that, while it is her duty to &C
gu all those domestic arts necessary to the
good housewife she should also become mis-
tress of some trade or profession that would
enable her to earn her livelihood in case of
need.
No girl should spend mo4nent at the piano
if she is unable to distinguish yankee
Doodle" from "The Last Rose of Summer"
or at painting, unless she possesses decided
talent for the art; and, il disnclined to intel
lectual pursuits, she is foolish to think of
teaching, merely because it is more genteel
than many other things which she might do
we'll.
The young lady trained to look upon her
head and hands as implements intended to
carve out her fortune, and accustomed TO
laugh at those silly prejudices that would de-
bar her from every avenue of remuneratve
employment, is not likely to burden the de-
clining years of an overworked father or to sell
herself into the cruel bondage of an uncon-
genial marriage. If we weuld take care to
supply that education best suited TO the nat
ural bent or inclination of the mind, our
daughters instead Of smattering of all things,
would be able to master some particular
branch Of learning that would enable them to
earn an independence in case of necessity.
| We no longer live in an age that immures
unmarried females within convent walls, or
corpels them to humiliatiDg dependence,
lest their relations should be disgraced
by the honorable activity of their
lives; and we have outgrown that
tender reverence and chivalry that left woman
only the needle to ward off starvation and sus-
tain life OF poverty. In some of our large
cities young men complain that they cannot
marry, since women step into those positions
that would enable them to maintain families.
Let them strike out into the country and be-
come tillers of the SOIL and while learning to
earn their bread by the sweat of their brows,
the bracing air and hardy toll will develop
such strength and manliness as will teach
them to dispise the yard-stck and all indoor
work that might as well be performed by
women.
While we advocate the necessity of trades
or professions for that sex too often van
pushed by misfortune, we do not mean to in
sinuate that any one blest with competence
should, through love of change or graspng
avarice, relinquish the duties and pleasures of
domestic life. Home is woman's safest
refuge the true sphere of her usefulness yet,
when we consider the number of rum shops
waging constant and successful war against
it, we must see the wisdom of educating our
daughters to fill those places left vacant by
profigacy and intemperance, ARIZONA.