The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-18

Protestant schools conducted in the man
ner of convent schools. Some of the most
tho bost educated have been taught in con-
vents. There is greater surveillance over
the pupils and greater system and more
th0rOughn0ss than 10 to be found in most
boarding schools. And yet a convent edu-
Gated lady to whom l once made this re-
mark assured me that she learned more
mischief in the convent than she ever rad
in the world. The girls were either very
stupid or very bad" she said, 'and the bad
girls delighted in bringing pernicious books
into the convent secretly and distributing
them about. These books were hidden
under mattresses and rugs. and tho good,
watchfel-eyed sisters never discovered
them. The very piety of these sisters was
a dare to thu vicious-nindea girls to do
shocking things"
One young girl entered tho sonvent when
a mere child. She graduated at II. and was
ma three months afterwarG, bat eloped
with a ut, anger whom she met on her bridal
nicious books which had been smuggled
into the convent were the cause Of her dis
ordered mind and hnal disastrous conduct,
We are all familiar with tho sad case of
tho boarding school bride h died of NOR
phine poisoning last year.
1t strikes me that too many Of our board
ing school mist, esses take it for granted
that their pupils must be- perfect ladies'
because they belong to families of wealth
and standing.
The more Z woman knows of the world
tho better fitted she seems to me for a
teacher.
The trouble with our boarding schools ia
frequently in the extreme unworldlinsss OF
the instructors. Hal l a daughter l would
rather place her under the care OF u veteran
coqustte, who knew human nature and the
world thoroughly. than to trust her to some
woman whose brain has been eduoatsd to
the exclusion of syos, heart and under.
standing Of her kind.
Many of the excellent women who pre-
side ovor our boarding schools are Az ignor-
ant Of human nature as babes. They never
cared for anything in life 10 much NJ books,
and they do not realize the dangers which
menace tho average nornnal natu,ed girl.
Teachers are the next Iuost stupid beings
to parents in this rSSasct.
As for these parents, l grow every year
and day more amazed and indignant with
their stupidity and blind ignorance regard
ing their daughters. l sometimes think
tho parents of young girls of this genera
in their own youth. They could have had
no emotions and no temptations them
selves. or they would nsvcr allow their
daughters to walk in such ~psrilous paths.
a. soos2s of them do walk, unwarned IA
uninstfucted.
few years ago l knew parents who were
preparing to send Il beautiful young girl Of
IL away to school.
Tho girl WAS prematurely developed in
heart and boiy. aud Of the voluptuous type
40 attractive to men. asked her mother
II she felt perfectly secure regarding tho as
soointes of her daughter ut school.
"Oh. Mary IL such IN innocent minded
creature l can trust her anywhere" the
mother replied, proudly. "She is really
the most innocent child | ever saw for II
girl of her age. | think she will devotion
very late. l want TO keep her Il little girl
~ long as possible, so l have not disturbed
her mind with any premature condolences. y
Now. to my absolute knowledge, gained
by accident, l know this young girl to be n
wonan in her emotions; and already had
she passed through embryo adventures
with the opposite sex which had aroused