Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-09-20
USELESS KNOWLEDGE
D Called "HiGher Edu~~sion'' Thas ofssn
work. Mors Harm Than Good.

% Called 'Higher Edu~~s,on'. Thas Ofssn
work. More Harm Than Good.
am glad that there are few men
In this age of the world like the old !
farmer who once said To me that (
"wimmen hadn't no need o farnin
beyond knowledge OF how 10 write
their own names and read fairly well.
But | do sometimes think that this |
higher education for women should |
be governed IN some degree by con
siderations as 10 what their future lives
are 10 be- This conviction was
strengthened the other day after had
read the account OF a marriage of a
young friend OF mine. He is plain.
plodding, good natured sort OF a young
fellow. of ordinary mental capacity,
working for a very good salary. but !
doubt II he ever has anything more
than salary. by way of income, and
il was this part OF the wedding notice
that set me 10 thinking The bride is
q graduate Of our high school, Of the
w Normal school and Of K
university. She has made a special
study Of the languages and speaks and
reads French, German, Spanish and
Italian with as much ease rs her mo
ther tongue. while she is very prof.
cient in many scientific studies.
IL occurred 10 me that a young wo
man who had been educated up To this
high standard must have had little
time for the study OF many things il
behooves the possible mistress OF
every home 10 know wondered Of
what earthly use her knowledge Of
chemistry, OF astronomy and geology
would be in the home she would now
iaave and in the society in which
henceforth she is destined to move.
bethought me Of the mistress Of a GER
tain house. whose knowledge Of bot
any is very much greater than her
knowledge OF bread making. and she
could discharge the duties Of a college
president better than she can direct
the affairs OF her own wildly disor-
dered home. Too close application To
her books has greatly undermined her
health, and her husband and children
are objects of general sympathy in the
neighborhood in which they live.
| recall the case of hard working
mechanic and his wife who made
every sacrifice that their only daugh.
ter might receive an education better
than that given her in the excellent
public schools in the city in which she
lived. After graduating from the
high school she was sent for -four
years TO a well known college, ant
came home highly proficient in many
things she knows nothing about 10
day, for she is now the wife OF hart
working carpenter who cannot affort
70 keep even one servant for her, ant
she married in utter ignorance of som,
of the simplest rules Of housekeeping
She has four children. and the sys
tenn Of housekeeping prevalent in tha
home would drive tidy housekeepe
, crazy.
IL does not, of course, follow that
: highly educated woman must be eithe
q slattern or an inefficient mistress of
q home. But IT cannot be proven tina
! this so called higher education is q
! my value To the wives OF nine out O
ten men. The education given in ou
2 public schools is amply sufficient 70
] their needs, and If 10 this can be ado
, cd the practical education necessar,
l 70 conduct a home and n knowledg
S OF how TO make that home place q
u rest and peace and comfort TO her hu,
) band and children, she need neve
blush because Of her lack Of know
u edge or what use IS a knowledg
Of chemistry and higher mathematic
!, and hydrostatics 10 the wife OF a man
a who may have 10 do her own houss
e work and care for her own children2
e A great deal Of fun and poor wit
/ poked al modern cooking schools, bu
= -
form q part of every woman's educs
y ton, for the palates OF u good man
y men have keener sensations tina
their hearts when they are once fairl
y established in their homes, and tn
best of them think "a sight" of wha
they are TO eat. so that il behoovt
e every woman 10 60 to a home OF he
own prepared 10 conduct its affair
J, In a wise and sensible manner. Tn
> 10 particularly true in this day OF IL
efficient servants, when even wealth
!, women are sometimes compelled |
Ie discharge the duties of the kitchen an
= laundry and pantry themselves
q clear conception of her duties as
u wife and mother should form part {
&c the education Of every woman, eve
though she goes 10 her grave withol
D knowing how TO calculate the exa'
distance from the earth to the mool
" or how TO separate carbon from OK,
. gen in anything IN which those usefl
q elementsexisL She will most ikel
e have husband who can forgive sue
&c pitiful ignorance II she can make h
" home place of rest and peace TO hi
IA home that is indeed home for Il
spirit.-Zenas Dane in Good Hous
kaaninu