The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-08-08
NapOleOn's School at Ecouen.

| From an old manuscript recently brought
to light, the Paris Figaro gives the first
| Napoleon's views as to the proper training
of young ladies', with directions for con-
Quoting the school established at Ecouen
Following is translation from the original
1.-THE establishment of Ecouen must be
| beautiful in all that is monumental and
simple in everything that belongs to edu-
cation. Take good care not to follow the
example of the old house of st. Cyr, where
| considerable sums of money were spent
and where young ladies were badly trained.
1.-The employment and the distribution
| of the employment of time should form
the principal objects of your attention.
What will be taught to the young ladies
who will be educated at EcouenY You
must first begin with religion In oil its Sc
| verify. Admit of no modification on this
| point. Religion is an important affair in
public institution for young girls. What
ever may be said to the contrary, it re
mains the surest guarantee for mothers
and for husbands. Teach the girls to be-
| love and not TO reason.
1.-The weakness of the brains of women,
the mobility of their ideas, their destiny
| In the social order, the necessity of con
slant and perpetual resignation, and of
sort of indulgent and easily moved charity
can only be reached through a religion
charitable and gentle 1 have attached
only rather small importance to the re-
ligious institutions of Fontainebleau, and
| / have only prescribed what was absolute
ly necessary for the pupils. But it is just
the reverse in the case of the institution
| at Ecouen. Almost all the instruction to
be taught there should be that of the BIZ
| BILE. 1t is my desire that there should
| come out of this establishment not very
accomplished women, but very virtuous
| women.
II want their attractions TO be in their
| conduct and in their goodness and not in
| brilliancy of amusement. Consequently
| there must be at Ecouen director, u man
of intelligence, of ripe years and of good
morals. Each day the pupils should say
their regular prayers, should hear mass
and receive lessons in their catechism.
| This should be the most important portion
of their education. In addition, they should
be taught to cipher and to write. And
| they should learn the principles of their
language, so that they can know some
thing of photography They should be
taught a little geography and history, but
no Greek or Latin or any foreign language
A little botany might be taught to the
older pupils, with light course in natural
| philosophy. In physics they should be
confined to just what is strictly necessary
to prevent gross ignorance or stupid super
sttion, and they should be kept to facts
without arguments, which point directly
or indirectly to first causes.
whether those who shall have arrived
at q certain point of advancement should
receive u stock for their clothing is a qucs-
ton for future consideration. They should
| be made to accustom themselves to econ
omy and to calculate the value of things
But, in general, they should all be occu-
| pied during three-quarters of the day with
needlework. They should know how to
make stockings, Undertaking and work
embroidery In word, they should learn
all the work that belongs to "a woman.
Zone should look upon these young girls
as if they belonged to families which in
our provinces have from 100 to 1,SOO
livres income and as if they could only
| give to their future husbands a dowry of
about 1,200 or / 500 francs and treat them
accordingly. In this light it will be seen
| that the household labor cannot be indif-
ferent.
II don't know that it would be possible
to teach them little medicine and phar-
macy-at least as much of medicine as
constitutes the knowledge of nurse. 1t
would certainly be well for them to learn
little of that portion of cookery which Is
called l'otlice. A young woman, in com
ing out of Ecouen to take her place at the
head of a little household, should know
how to make her dresses, mend the clothes
of her husband, make the baby linen of
her children, procure dainties for her little
family by means of the pantry portion of
her household duties, care for her husband
| nd eio nd
know how to do 1t like trained nurse.
All that is so simple and so trivial that it
does not require much reflection
GAS for clothing that ought to be uni
form. 1t will be necessary to select COM
mon materials and give them symmetrical
forms. Upon this point 1 imagine that
the present dress of women leaves nothing
to be desired. OF course the arms should
be covered, and notifications looking to
ward health and modesty should be adopt
cd.
"As for diet 1t cannot be too simple
soup, boiled beef, little entree and moth
ing more.
II shall not, as at Fontainebleau, pre-
scribe cookery for the pupils-I would
have too many people against me-but
they might be taught to prepare their des
sert and whatever may be given to them
LOT unelr repaSUS OF on unelr days OF recre-
alton. will dispense with cookery, but
not with the making of their own bread.
The advantage of this Is that they will be
trained in everything that they will be
called upon in after years to do and be
able to employ their time usefully and
we'll.
Their apartments should be furnished
with the work of their own hands. They
should make their own underclothing,
their stockings, their dresses, and their
coiffures All that Is a great affair In my
opinion. ] want to make these young
girls useful women because l am certain
that in this way shall make them charm
ing. They will know how to dress them
selves when they make their own clothes,
and consequently they will dress them
selves with taste.
Dancing Is necessary for the health Of
the pupils, but the dance should be lively
and not q danse d'opera. grant music
also, but vocal music only.
If the objection is made that the es-
Establishments win not be much in yOp1le