The age-herald., 1897-08-15
HE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN.

That the south Is making rapid strides in this field there is nc room fer question; still, why are we not further advanced along these lines? Why do not all the women of our southland feel that they must be armed. ap-a-pied that they may be able to enter the lists and hold their own? ..s..-...
 Have they shut heir eyes to the signs of the times? Have they closed their ears to the voice of progress? Oh, no, assuredly notii Let ruso hope npti
 But the south is conservative, and we ask must we fall@wea new-fangled mo- tion, forsooth, and fill our heads with ologies, and isms2g. Now. pause----.s this a ''new-fangledp notion? Let us look honestly into the past, faithfully ex- amins the tseming pages of social and secular history, and we must answer: No" this higher education of women is no new thing, but grandsaremlnic- ence."
 Another trouble is that many women do not really scare for intellectual ad- vancement, they prefer not to become. scholars, they use their weakness and ignorance as weapons and glory in their use Their idea of adornment is simply the outward adorning;s they have never realized the truth of sRickerts. words: When the rose adorns o'herself, she adorns the garden too." ~
 1 am here reminded-of qa case which came under my own personal observa- tion certain MtsfW., oh being urged to allow her daughters to-take advant- age of an opportunity afforded them to obtain some small degree of education, replied: T doh't@see no use in educa- tion; my sisters all had some heok learn ing. they could read andewrite I can't read and l can't write my name, and l married the best of any, Her reason ing perfectly satisfied---herself.
 Again am reminded of an illustration of this point q beautfuli girl, endowed with uncommon mental gifts was heard t. say; 'Woman's mission in life is to attract the other sex and my opinion is that men are repelled by learned wo- men. therefore much education is d real l drawback to successful life, and for my part I studiously endeavor to conceal the little learning that have acquired"
 In viewing women such as these. one is almost tempted rtoo embrace the Ma hommedan doctrine. l. e.. that women have no souls exceptby a special dispen- satiQn. For. cam A. soul exist without intellect? If women have souls. they also have intelleets. The mind and the spirit are inseparable. What is, the prin- cple of life? What is our immortal part? The body dies, the soul lives with which is the intellect indisselubly bound? Does it die with the body or live with the soul? This education of women iss4a serious question. The women of this generation are to be the mothers of the next. Does the nation want men with high souls mad intellectual strength? Then educate the mothers, that the rulers of the nation may have their fightful' inheritance. But leave aside the question of hercdity if you will, into whose hands fall the training of the boy2 In the early years of life when the character is forming when the mind is receiving it's base for time and eternity. the mother is the guide, the connsellagq the model What stronger argument could there be for the education of the women? Then in marriage there is. no real union outside of spiritual and intellectual com- panionship. a..,.,
 Now to take up the very smallest mo- 'i'N "ii'SA oi Q ILLS plNi VI euu- cation It is an undeniabe fact that many women must earn their, own bread, then why should they handicap them selves at the very, beginning Of the,race |, by insufficient preparation by the want of knowledge requisite to make them competent bread winners? How long will it be before sontharni women claim their own? s~--, ss
 MARY S., w. TALIAFERRO.
 Pollock-Stephens Institute Birining ham, Ala.