The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-05-21
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Al iudiDious physician.wns not long
400 consulted by an, anxious mother
whose daughters health was impaired
Iby oyerwork at school. There Is Just
one thing to do" he said '-Reduce
her studies, and keep en'reducing them
until she can easily master them. A
girl cannot learn everything before she
Is seighteen years old.
This, was sound aiFice. The ten
dency in nearly all Of our schools Tor
girls and Young women Is TO- crowd
work enough for lifstime into few
wears. Studies in languages, literature,
science, philosophy, as well as those In
the plain 'thrce RS" are piled upon
the unfortunate student, until the days,
heightened far into the night, are too
short for acquiring even superficial
acquaintance with any Of them. In
Z the case Of boys, such unreasonable re-
! 1uirements are apt tw find healthy
eounterbalance in the exuberant animal
spirits Of the sturdy lads, who viii have
physical exercise, whatever becomes Of
B their studies. With girlsit is different.
/ Generally more conscientious in study
than boys, they really tryto master the
prescribed course, in spite of the warn
L ing Of paling cheeks and decreasing
I strength. We have knownlschool girls
10 have no fewer than tenor dozen
I studies In hand at once, in all OF which
/ thew were ambitious to.excel. But the
/ effort left scarcely time. for eating or
necessary sleep. Nor is. this unusual.
A similar state Of things-exists in hun
dreds Of schools for girls. In one OF
the leading colleges fer young women
In New England the curriculum Is said
b. be moro comprehensive and difficult
than in any college for young men In
the country. Happily many q the
students do not attempt to,swaliow the
foil prescription. Bat. many do 70
their cost.
Twoor three years ago ono Of these
ambitious young women graduated with
; honors from seminA1yof repute. She
!. had maintained highstandard OF er-
\ cellencs through her entirs. course, and
was warmly commanded nor her
3 superior scholarship. Butthe moment
the unnatural strain was removed, she
rank into mental llethargyfrom which
y Tor months nothing eoald arouse her.
Gradually perfect rsst andl judicious
Entertainment restoradi her exhausted
y vitality, and she recovered. Other
girh.kaye not been soe fortunate. The
Il daughter of poor Clergyman, who was
assisted through the college, above 70
ferred 70, graduatedlwith credit, but
almost completely brokan down IN
health. She was sentto' . watering
p phce 70 recuperate,. bat soon heard o
a, opening a. . teacher. and ~ tn.
: earnest solicitation Of those who had
aided her felt constrained 20 take th'
d place, In spite Of phYshssl unfitness
= Bnt her constitutioRswas 20 weakened
by long and seycrestudS that In thres
l. or four months she died, victim Z
\ conscientious overwork under . baf
. syytem. These no, bat two out o
,sny instances; and the folly Is con
. sanity repeated, night In the face o
q warnings and examples OF its danger
But hard study ID mot the only way L
which schoolgirls arc overworked. !
teacher in a well4known school recent.
n informed us thatshe had had frequen
a. occasion TO remonstrate with parent
"A for allowing their daughters, while pun
i. suing their studies, TO engage freely !
al various evening dissipations such q
N. attending parties, dancing till Lat
1t, hour In the night. going To- the theatr
Y. and opera, eto. The livid faces and III
ns us strung nerves Of the girls Shove
ne plainly the pernicious effect OF thes
night pastimes; which untitled then
n moreover, to- carry on their studies wit
"A. success.
=. Against all this overworking
=" - schoolgirls, whether,byinordinate stud
n, or inordinate amusement, we enter on
8. hearty protest. The bodily vigor OF u
future wives and mothers Of the Matte
n. Is q subject of profound public interes
a Give tho girls enough TO do, but ste
N there. Don't over-tax their minds
m. senseless multiplication Of studies, !
all membsring always that "a girl cam
ost learn everything before she Is ieighte'
on years old;" and do not let untime
srs amusements sap the foundations
'"' health, on which so much Of the
eet future happiness and usefulness depen
th. N " EIduincr.