The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-09-12
An EDUCATIONAL EXPERIMENT.

Importance as to Justify az experiment
which some will regard with as mucl
horror as they do v~ivlsectiOn. MI
Mr.. Smith says:
The college will teach yOun,
women nature. l believe every yOun!
woman should know as much abou.
herself as a man does about himself
Not only domestic science, but The
study Of the body, morals, the soul
ETC., will come in the curriculum Of
study. The girl will be taught right
living and to realize her possibilities
What better does she need for a faiI
start than health, intelligence, spir.
ituality. The proper aud practical
arts of housekeeping, maternity and
training Of pure womanhood is the
aim OF the college. The maiden,
innocent but no longer ignorant, will
then know how to select her mate
aud her culture will aid her 10 the
training Of children"
The rooted belief that ignorance
and Innocence are allied by the rela-
tion Of cause and effect and that the
tree OF the mere knowledge Of good
and evil has power to expell from the
bliss OF EdeD, will not be easily
overthrow. The Importance of the
truth in this matter is, however, such
as to warrant al expensive inductive
investigation. But the other parts
OF Mr.. Smith s plan recommend them
selves to general acceptance without
proof. There is no more reason for
considering a young woman 10 any
proper sense educated who knows
nothing Of domestic chemistry, house
hold sanitation and the care Of the
sick than for considering a young
nan educated who does not know
enough Of arithmetic to cast up
accounts. Exclusive devotion to Gull
ture studies is a survival Of medieval
ism to which nc quarter need De
shown. 1t is a matter Of easy dem.
onstration that they lend themselves
equally to vice and to virtue, to
happiness aud to discomfort, and that
In the crises Of real life they may
mock our devotion like a siren turned
a fury. The world with more or less
justice despises a man who cannot
make a living. Why should it not
despise a woman, whatever her other
accomplishments, If she is ignorant Of
the care Of the sick?
1t is sometimes urged that such
matters are not the proper subjects OF
school instruction. Why not? 1t
might just as we'll be said that music,
art, and literature are within the
exclusive domain OF home training.
In fact, it is generally the case that
the home is better qualified to furnish
the latter instruction than the former.
Home training in these matters Is
empirical aud therefore Of no culture
value; school training in the same
subjects may be thoroughly scientific
aud therefore Of the highest culture
A few years ago the writer Of
this article enjoyed a few weeks
Tacation with one Of the most success
'ul missionaries in tie mountains OF
Eastern Kentucky. Iuquiring the
secret Of her notable successes, he
received the astonishing reply: II
them to cook, keep house and
'are for the sick. The feuds of the
mountains are due to sodden corn
bread, salt pork and dyspepsia l
never successfully aud permanently
Interested anybody in religious things
l had taught them something
improved physical conditions and
the JOY of living, 1t matters very
little to me whether spiritual or
material blessings are nationally
antecedent; l have found by trial
That the latter are chronologically
antecedent IN order Of development in
experience. The culture value
practical things has been amazing
" overlooked and If the experiment
Of the New York philanthropist
prove his theories, it may lead
TO a reform 10 the education of women
as radical as any in the history of
The race.