St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-02-16
STUDYING CURRENT HISTORY.
Youths COMPANION.

III 1ouhs companion
a class of young girls, who have lef
1iIool. was formed in Washington city
ID long ago. for the study of current
tents. They met twice week, and
ere under the direction of woman
81 knowledge and experience. The
swspapers were diligently read, and
ach subject of public interest-wheth-
it concerned European politics, the
riff, the prospects of presidential
andidates, or the execution of the
aarchists-was carefully studied and
xplained, until each pupil had a clear
ID rational comprehension of it.
We would recommend such course
30 only to our boy, but to our girl
zahdeIs also, warning them that it will
10 be as easy as it appears at first
gilt. "The study of history" says
i abeaux, increases in difficulty as it
approaches our own times" If we
ask to find out the truth about BrUtus
Fl Cicero, there are but half-a-dozen
81 hOrities to consult, and we cannot
HestiOn their veracity but if we wish
b make "a correct estimate of a living
Residential candidate, the air is filed
Il Eth countless cOntending voices, and
*e know not which to credit.
B An English woman, well-knOwn in
Ia literary world, observed, while
dwelling in this country, lately, 81
III your young people well-infOrmed
8, TO the character and events of the
I'm of Elizabeth, but singularly ig-
srant of those of the present day in
#hgland. At a dinner-party, largely
Imposed of young women in New
zork, the question of Imperial FEEDER
ION was preached, and not one of
I'm even knew what was meant by it."
n No doubt the lady was right in
linking that the young people of this
silntry-and the old people, too, for
Be matter-are not very close stu
snts of English politics although
sey have had, during the last year or
d, surfeit of dispatches, and arti-
Is in the newspapers regarding the
7sish question and Home Rule.
g But it would not be just to yOnng
nericans to represent them as more
nDrant of what is going on in other
Entries than are the youth of En-
md or France. Fancy a young En-
sh boy or girl, in any walk of life,
He'd upon to give an Ineligible ac-
ant of the movement known here as
ommercial union with Canada"-a
bject which has been much more dis
ssed on this continent than the fed
ton of Great Britain and its pos
sions has been discussed in England.
ID one of them could do it.
& Tn urging our readers to interest
ebnselves in what is going on, there
ID, we by no means intend to init
&c that they are more in need of be-
Ii stimulated to the study of current
=ents than are the young people of
1er lands; but we insist that all
'3hld be greatly brOadened and i'm
owed by acquiring a general knowl-
he of what the world is doing.
I'd is not only as necessary, as a mat
of education, that woman should
*bw the current events of the age in
Itch she lives as well as those of the
st, but the immediate effect of such
dy is to lift her own mind, and
ng her into the spirit of the times.
Dung girls of the present genera
n, to whom the higher education is
en, are apt to look down upon the
tellectual condition of their grand
til of the South and of the North,
lo lived during the Revolution and
Re Civil war, developed remarkable
length and vigOr of mind, which was
own, not only in frequent deeds of
urage, but in indomitable fortitude
d endurance.
The reason was that they were
ought in contact with great thoughts
d events. They did not study his
~, but lived it; they were educated,
Rt by textbooks, but by battles, by
ffering, by noble devotion to a cause
bich seemed just to them.
Let our girls go outside of petty pur
its-Of painting china and art needle
Drk-and bring themselves face to
&c with the great movements of the
Ay i'll which they live.