The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-06-06
WOMEN NOBLY PLANNED" o.
How TO Educate Our Girls.

Extracts from Il Lecture Delivered by Hon.
Wm. I'orcher Miles at Donaldson
vile. La., May 81, 1885.
Finding our space too limited for the in
sertion of the full text of the discourse of
Hon. WIN. Porcher Miles of this parish,
delivered last week at the entertainment
given under the auspices of the Ladies Aid
Association of Ascension, we present the
subjoined extracts, which will afford the
readers of the CHIEF ar adequate concep-
ton OF the thoughtful views so admirably
expressed by the eminent lecturer upon the
important problem he discussed:
He was profound and subtle observer
who said, "Let me make the songs of a
people and care not who makes their
laws" so much is the national character
moulded or modified by influences which
appeal more to the Imagination than the
reason, and which seem to act more on the
surface of manners than the deep-lying
root of principles.
And may not women be said to make the
songs of life, while Hen enact its laws? It
is they who attune to harmony the social
and domestic chords which vibrate through
and influence the whole framework of
human society. Nor is the influence super
fetal or epheneral 1t permeates the en-
tire social economy, and moulds and
modihes its chalacte And it may be said,
without fear of contradiction, thst that
society is best and purest where the inau-
ence of true women is most apparent and
most sensibly felt. I say "true women" ;"
because woman false to the ideal of purity
and earnestness and unseltish devotion,
which is the normal type Of their sex, SO
far from elevating, only lower and degrade
| the society of which they form a component
! part. And, even in that case, we SEQ con-
| tirmation of the argument that it is woman
who "gires the tone to society" and
| makes it discordant or harmonious with
Truth and Virtue. Though the reflection
be trite, it is not the less worthy of eternal
remembrance, that it was Christianity
that elevated woman to the social throne
which she has ever since occupied among all
civilized nations. She must, therefore,
hold her supremacy, and claim allegiance,
| by her own continued and loyal obedience
to that Divine power to which she owes her
sceptre and her crown. And truly a thor
oughly cultured and accomplished and
graceful and high-bred and Wonla,ly Chris
tian lady is an enthroned sovereign to
whom we all do willing homage.
y Oh! if there be any foretaste of
Heaven vouchsafed to Us poor mortals on
earth, it is to be found in the happy, united,
loving Christian family! And that requires
that the mistress of it should be such a
woman as Wordsworth so exquisitely por-
trays:
| creature not too bright or good
| For human natures daily food;
! For transient SORROWS. simple wiies,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears and smiles.
|
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance. foresight, strength and skill;
A perfect woman, nobly planned,
To warn, to comfort and command;
And yet spirit still, and bright
With something of an angel light.
Nor is this a poetic ideal, existing only in
the regions of the Imagination. Thank
God! there are many such women, nobly
planned" to be found in every Christian
land-many such in our own country and
in our own Louisiana. May the race OF
them never cease to exist among US.
perpetuate this type-to train and form
such women to take the places of theil
mothers when translated to the great Chris
ton family abova-ouyh! to ba tha GREAT
aim of all female education.
IT, as physicians all testify, the
proper preparation of our food is essentia
to health, it seems to me impossible te
avoid the conclusion that some training il
the matter ought to be part of the curric
ulum of every young lady's education. O
all peoples, we Americans, as rule, pre-
pare our food with the least regard to the
laws of health. Some caustic wit has sug
gested that American cookery ought tt
have for its coat of arms "a frying pan
proper, in chief" SO universally is every
kind Of meat cooked in it, and with JUS
lard enough and heat to saturate every
fibre with indigestible grease. But I will
hasten from topic which, though felt i
incumbent upon me to touch upon, will bt
regarded, suspect, by many of my fail
hearers as 'too prosaic," if not "inele
CANT" Ny excuse for touching upon it a
all is my conviction that good, wholesome
cookery is not only essential to health, bu
contributes in a very sensible degree t.