New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-03
HOME LEE II SCHOOLS.

An officer OF n college for young women Is
quoted as saying that the "home-llfc idear' OF
which some educators talk does not appeal TO
her: she thinks college life ought to be differ
ent from home life, especially In being more
independent" 1t Is scarcely to be believed
that she meant what she said, at the face value
of her words. II she did. it Is probable that
n large proportion OF the most thoughtful edu-
Gators of both young women and young men
will be found to dissent strongly from her opin-
ions.
For It IS not too much to say that the home
life IDEAL Is one Of the ideals of all life that
Is worthy. and perhaps the supreme ideal OF
the life that Is worthcst. 1t is a trite saying
and one often cynically sncered at. but it Is
exactly true, that the home and the domestic
virtues are the foundation Of civilized society
The history OF civilization and the present state
of the world amply bear out the statement
Given anything like equality In other respects
the progress and the standing of nation may
be accurately gagged by It's regard for the home
That Is, indeed, almost automatic For not
only progress but the very existence OF the
race depends upon the home and the exercise
OF the domestic functions. And the woman
who voluntarily cvades the duties Of wife
proper care. support and guardianship OF the
home In which he has placed his wife and chill
dren, are both violating the primal law Of hui
mainly.
The difference between college life and home
life, then. instead Of being one of the advan-
tages Of the former, as the person quoted de-
clares. Is really one Of its disadvantages. 1t
is often complained OF as such. Probably the
most common most serious and bcstfounded
criticism OF the collegiate culture OF young
women Is that II units them for dOmesticlty.
II gives them n dissemination toward house
keeping and an inclination toward other
spheres" Or, If II does not do that II Mt
least removes them from all opportunity Of
learning by observation and practice the duties
Of domestic life during the very time when
they should be learning them and sends them
back TO deal with them as novIces when they
should he almos. experts We do not mean to
say that all collegiate culture does so. 1t Is
unhappily undenlable that some Of II does.
And in so far as it does So IT IS doing not
good, but harm.
What Is wanted then, Is not negation OF but
chershing Of home life ideals In school and
college. We do not mean molly coddlinz The
Independence" should be granted But In
what respect Is the girl in college to be more
"indepcndent than at homer She Is to learn
to take care OF herself, rely upon herself. man
age her own money affairs? Certainly; and
size will learn all that at home II her home be
a proper one and her parents sensible FOLK. IN
dependence Of parental restraint, authority, adj
vice? Surely she should not grow into that
one whit more rapidly ut college than nj nome,
seeing that she IS at college dependent upon her
parents for maintenance and subject TO their
Will Just as much as ut home. Or does 1t mean
Independence Of proprlcty and those social laws
that have their necesstous origin in sound
morals? That Is unthlnkable
II has been and Is the bane Of some countries
that the students in colleges form class apart
from the rest Of the people. That Is so IN
China: hence the multitudinous evils OF Man
darlnism in public life. 1t Is so In Germany
md Austria: hence the student riots that now
yex the latter and have disturbed the former.
The trle ideal is for students to be at all times
inst ordinary BOYS and girls, young men and
voung women. subject to the same moral and
social laws in school and college and at home.
Once let that prevail and there will be an end
of the home scorning young woman and OF the
rowdyish. hazlng young man, and the sister
and daughter will develop naturally and easily
into the wife and mother, and the brother ana
son will similarly develop into the husband
and father When our schools and colleges
shall do that, and the most highly educated
woman shall! he the best housewife, and the
most highly educated man the best husband,
THAN cores the statelier Eden back 10 men:
Then springs the browning race OF human kino'
"N.w-york's Street Cleaning Omissoner" Is