The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-09-28
AN APPEAL FOR THE GIRLS.
THE GIRLS IN THE RURAL DIS.
TRICTS Do NOT HAVE A
FAIR CHANCE.
No Nation Ever Rose to True Great
ness that Did Not Educate Its WO-

N 0 Nat1On Ever Rose tO hut 0ICdts
ness that Did Not Educate Its WO-
men.
Especial Cor STATE CHRoNICLE)
DURHAM, N. c., Sept. 25.-I have read
with great interest and rising hope the
able article from the pen of Prof. Nc
Iver. in a recent number of the CHRoN-
IcLE, upon the important subject of ed
ucating the girls. In one or two little
talks at school openings during the lat
ter part of the summer, uttered the
same sentiments which he has so ele
gantly and gracefully elaborated in print.
And I trust that his appeal will, as good
seed, bear much fruit.
The State of North Carolina cannot
afford, in this progressive age, to allow
the present condition of things to go on
much longer. If the girls are al
lowed to grow up without education,
what hope can there be that the next
generation will not be as ignorant as this?
If the growth of ignorance is to be
checked, have we not inverted the phil
osophical order of procedure? 1t is as if
one should seek to kill a noXious tree by
Topping off the boughs, or to purify wa
ter by working on the stream. Reverse
the method, or rather equalize it, and
educate the girls and the boys of the
next generation will be set forward; for
an educated mother will find some means
to educate her boys and girls.
In passing through the rural districts
of the State, my heart has been panied
to see so many girls, from twelve to
twenty years of age, growing up in COM
parative ignorance; handsome, full of
life, naturally intelligent, but destined
to mere drudgery, and in the next gen
Grafton their children to be ''hewers of
wood and drawers of water" for other
people. In the name of humanity, let
the girls have fair chance.
A civilization that is soggy with ignor-
ance is wickedly low and difficult to
lift. Our efforts for its betterment have
been largely barren of good results be-
cause We have thrown our power upon
the wrong end of the lever We have
never yet come in full view of the power
Of woman. The methods Of the ancients
still cling to US, and we wabble anC
stagger under insoiable problems Ed
ucate the girls and they will lift tbs
men: "the hand that rocks the cradle
rocks the world" No nation. ever rost
to TRUE greatness that left the wome1
in moral and intellectual darkness
Woman registers the high wafer mari
in all true progress Of the race. w
may joklrg taunt the Germans witt
being beer-drinkers, but they inherit th
blood of one Of the noblest races tha
ever gave trouble to the tyranny Of th
Caesars; and their women were noted 70
two things, first their natural nobilit
of mind, and secondly, for bein
worthy to be consulted by thei
husbands in every matter of importance
Gibbon says that the German wome
were regarded as possessing a sanctit
and a wisdom more than human. Blu
in high and complex civilization lik
ours, woman can Onl y assume he
; proper place when qualified by educs
ton to meet it's responsibilities. Th
mass of the race cannot rise if th
women are kept in the outer court {
knowledge. The girls must be educated
In cities and towns the girls have th
advantage of their country sisters
this M ter. The graded schools an
seminaries furnish them opportunitie
of which the country girls are deprived
And we shall make slow progress unit
the State wakes up to the necessity {
making better provisions for educatin
the girls.
Our most excellent and capable supe
intendent, Maj. Finger, and the talente
and energetic Prof. McIver, as well
others, are doing glorious work
this matter. May success, health ar
happiness attend them.
E. A. YATES.