The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-08-12
Accomplishments What they
are and Their Value.
nY - y. kInNEI.. -. rA.

AZ the breaking out OF the Revelation
sTy War agriculture was our leading IN
dustTy. Like Cincinnatus Of old, who
was called from his plow 10 lead the
Roman army, 50 it was farmer led the
American army TO victory and who guid
ed our ship Of state over the first eight
years Of her voyage. To-day, as thsn,
agriculture is the chief source Of our
wealth. Engiand's staff Of life Is furnish-
ed from the grain fields Of the United
States; the beef for the court Of William
ii. IS fattened on our great plains, and
even Queen Victoria eats honey made by
our American bees. Then, the produc-
lions Of our forests, oak, pine and hem
lock, are sources of immense wealth
As representative Of the most prosper
Gus people in our land. it is ft and prop
er that you should desire to raise up sons
and daughters whose God is the Lord, to
inherit the goodly lands that he has
given You. With reference to your
children, We will now consider accom-
plishments7 they are and their
value. We viii speak only Of the daugh-
ters, and the sons, with their superior
advantages, can speak for themselves.
Too many persons regard accomplish
ments as the lustrs given by the varnish
brush instead Of the beautiful rays Of
light reflected from the diamond as it
comes fresh from the lapidary's hand.
Such persons begin the education Of
their daughters as Patrick began to build
his ehimney-by holding the top brick
up and showing the others in below. The
worth of the diamond in the rough may
never be discovered polish it, and it
becomes "a thing Of beauty and joy
for ever" So, many an intellectual gem,
many beautiful character may, lacking
the refining influences Of education, lie
hidden under the rubbish Of ignorance,
as the treasures Of POmpeii under the
dust and ashes Of Vesuyius.
Too many girls are compelled to leave
school at an age much too early to real
ize what is expected of them and this
applies more directly to farmers daugh-
ters than to any other class Of girls. They
are expected not only to be able to bake
variety Of pies, cakes and breads, and
to attend 20 a housekeeper's duties in
general, but also to be able, after they
are through with their work, to sit down
and entertain their guests, and are not
excused under any circumstances If they
cannot attend to the latter as gracefully
as girls who make the entertainment Of
their guests a study and nave little else
10 claim their attention.
Is it not in many communities the
prevailing sentiment that girls do not
need the same amount Of education as
boys7 This is especially true OF a great
many farmers. While they greatly care
for their daughters in providing for them
future legacies, they fail TO see how utter
ly helpless they leave their children by
not giving them at least a fair education.
Is there any reason why country girls
should not be polished for society? The
memory Of the happy home Of childhood
is the grandest legacy any farmer can
leave to his children. A home in which
there is ignorance is full Of darkness and
gloom, while in a home in which there
is culture and refinement is full Of sun
shine and JOY.
A young lady was presented 70 King
James l. as lady Of great accomplish
ments. The gentleman who introduced
her said; Il assure your majesty that
she can both speak and write Latin,
Greek, Hebrew, French and German;
she is skilled in music and painting"
These are rare accomplishments for a
dansel, " said the king, "but pray tell me,
can she spin?" Spinning in those days
wos a necessary work, done in every
household, and perhaps the king struck
the keynote Of all true womanly work
when he inquired if the maiden were in
structed in that humble accomplishment
Of making home comfortable.
Let spinning represent the houskeeP-
ing of the present DAY, the skill to make
home happy, and you have the founda-
ton stone Of a girls education, upon
which TO erect a beautiful accomplished,
womanly character. Having this, the
superstructure may be as imposing, as
magnificent as you please; without it, it
is splendid piece Of folly, covered with
veneering, which, ike beauty, is "only
skin Deep"
Samuel Smiles says at IS not too
much to assert that the happiness or
misery, the enlightment or Ignorance
the civilization or barbarism Of nation,
depends in very high degree upon the
exercise Of woman's power within the
special kingdom Of home" Many Of the
greatest men Of the world have acknOwl-
edged with grateful tenderness that they
have owed ali 70 their mothers. Then
how necessary It is to educate the daugh-
ters, for they will be the mothers Of the
rising generation. Truly, 'the strength
of a nation is in its homes" and no.
where is the progress Of our country
toward true greatness SO marked as in
the improvement in our homes.
Fifty years ago the kitchen was the
sitting-room as well as dining-room. and
the smoking, Aickering light Of the tai-
low candle made reading almost an i'm
possibility. There was a parloi, but it
was a cold, stiff apartment, to enter
which would send a chill over anyone,
and was reserved for state occasions. Go
into one Of our representative Somerset
county houses Of to-day, and mark the
air of comfort, even refinement, which
characterizes il. The room is warm and
earpeted and comfortably furnished,
books and papers lie scattered upon a
table lighted by well trimmed lamp.
There is a piano, perhaps, or an organ,
and music lends the charm Of its appear
ance.
The influence Of a good woman is as
wide as that Of great one, and though
you name may never be known beyond
the limits Of your oEn neighboEhood,
your influence, the influence which no
bility Of character and devotion to duty