St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-03-05

boys were largely away. This Bos-
ton notion soon touched with its in
fuence the outlying towns in New
England. In the Connecticut valley,
the paradise of female education to.
day, girls might have been seen sitting
on the doorsteps OF the schoohouse
hearing the boys recite. The public
schools failing to keep step in their
growth with the enthusiasm for good
learning there began to appear those
institutions which have been indeed
one of the chief glories of New Eng
land history-the Christian academy
not dependent on local support. The
first of these was at Byfeld; the sec
ond was Leicester academy begun in
1884; and the third was Westfeld
in 1893. These all admitted girls
and were the real pioneers in the
work of CO. education. But this same
period marks the real beginning of
the grand work which we think of
today-schools for women only.
And so among the other notable
things that characterized the Ameri-
can Renaissance we begin to see the
germs of the woman's college, fore
shadowings of Holyoke, Wellesley
and Smith. Some of you will recall
Catherine Beecher's school in Con-
necticut founded in 1922; and the
school of Rev. Jas. Emerson at By
field and Saugus between 181S-1924.
And so the work grew until we have
arrived where that sublime enter
prize was to begin which should work
out woman's complete intellectual
emancipation.
OfMiss Lyon, herself, may say,
regard her as the most beautiful
character of her time, and do not
think it exaggeration to say that
she is every way the grea test woman
that has yet appeared in American
history. She was one of those grand
spirits whom God raises up to meet
some great emergency in the pro
gress of his kingdom. The time and
place of her appearance be6tted such
character. Her home was hill
, side farm in auckland "the Alpine
region of Massachusetts" as some
one has called it. There were small
school privileges at hand and books
were rare. Her father and mother
, were people of the most ardent
piety. Three or four generations Of
q sainthood were behind her putting
their resistless impulse into hel
t young blood. Her lullabys were
y Christian hym her story book thu
p Bible. In the meager school room o
4 her day she was without peer OF
a competitor. She began her life as {
q teacher on rs cents week anC
e boarded round, everywhere drop
. ping blessing into the lives of Others
l.. We see her securing New England
q begging money from the churches
!. receiving subscriptions from 81,
cents to ST. 900. We see the risini
n walls of the building in 1886 ant
n the opening OF the school in 1888
u with this queenly woman at it
O head, and more pupils than could b
# accommodated. One hardly know
If what most to admire in her
Ie Whether her masterful scholarship
- and her enthusiasm for the highe
% things of learning or her perfec
It grasp OF the things OF faith and he
Of zeal Tor spiritual things. She led he
b pupils to the fountains of knowledg
" and inspired them with the enthusi
> asm OF scholars. But better, she LEI
them to Christ, the fountain of life
'r and filled them with the enthusiasm
Is of Christian service. Nearly all he
20 pupils were converted to Christ. No
i we're her plans narrow, but broad a
- the earth. The American Boar,
Is movement won her love. Her pupil
ID under her influence have gone to tn
,e ends of the earth. She lived but 1.
- short years. The stress OF her match
less work for education had shat
IL tered the fabric OF her life. And NOR
IT hearts followed her into her gray
id and more high and just words Z
or eulogy were spoken than were eve
given to woman under thes
- American skies.
IN There are three practical lessons t.
ne be drawn from this life. (D TIL
m veal of human society demand
n educated women. This was tn
- primeval thought that stirred tn
OF heart OF Mary Lyon. Women mus
d. be educated. The school OF CHILDHOOD
is should be presided over by INTEL
II. gence, and, therefore, women mus
:, be educated. (2) This educatio
~ must be practical, touching the dali
IN interests of life. Let the useful art
he to some extent be a matter Of educs
a. ton. Let there be something in tn
h. curriculum that shall help tn
~ mechanic. carpenter, merchant