The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-02-06

weapon is in the hands of women.
weapon forged by centuries of subordi-
nation-the faculty of meeting condi-
tons. In the hands of really clever
woman this is tact in those of the in
ept and ignorant, deceit and subter-
fuge. 1t is only ostentatious clever
ness, not cleVerneSs at all in fact,
which is deterrent to the exercise of
any charm or talent There is never
an hour in the life of a woman when
the best education her powers will
permit Of is not an advantage In the
heyday of youth control of emotions
and clearness of insight have directed
many ship pennanted with beauty
and vitality which would have been
driven on the rocks. And what shall
be said of the years which follow,
crowded with opportunitles-nay ne
cessities-for a reasonable dealing
with the questions of life? No woman
can be her husbands friend and help.
er without logic to which he may ap.
peal and an intelligence which COM
pletes and supplements his own. And
this education of character, as OF mind,
is not taught in a school which gradu-
ates girls in white muslin at II and
sends them out without either mental
resource or control
Geometry teaches the logic of life
and over blackboard problems Rosy
Cheek learns to be the mother, wife
and citizen, which every advanced
civilization demands. This is the ed
ucation which is developed by seri-
Gus, adequate curriculum and by
none other. The special training is
another matter, equally important, as
it prepares a woman to meet the re-
sistless law which links happy useful
ness with occupation. The choice of
study should of course be adapted to
the individual learning of the stu
dent, and if indeed there is a mental
constitution differing from that of
man, this fact should be recognized in
fitting her for her probable duties and
her possible use of talent or ability.
The increasing number of eclectic
courses of study gives an added free.
dom and breadth of opportunity most
desirable and necessary and If right.
fully understood should entirely re
move the popular prejudice that col
legiate education, per Sc, fills wo-
mans mind with useless knowledge
A college education should mean the
best education possible, and its vari
ETY. should only be equaled by its
thoroughness. The ordinary finishing
school for girls cannot train the mind
adequately because of the briefness OF
it's curriculum and it's lack of system
Parent and teacher are alike respon-
sible for this, neither demanding, as
rule, anything approaching rigor.
Gus standard of education.
1t is sometimes fairly astonishing
to note with what shallow and care
less consideration the whole subject
of a girls education is dismissed. One
! ed from such lax attention to su
premely important matter. Can few
weeks of science" skimming o.
philosophy, dig the channels of train
of talent literary, mathematical Oh
plastic, be taught to grow by brieI
planting and briefer tending? Car
an occasional composition, even {
certain fluency in the attractive ant
harmless" literature of the modern
languages, give correct and elegan
forms of expression or teach the his
tory of the words we use? The un
differentiated adjective of sweet l,
may pass amid its ripping Laughter
and it's maiden grace, but how abou
the woman whose vocabulary is still
confined to exclamation points pune
tuating the eternal reiteration OF
awful" wonderful" fascinating,
and the like?
A young girl may, indeed, run
fairer chance of getting a husband !.
her charm is not endangered by al
awkward reputation CT cleverness, bu
the married woman needs every bi
Of Intelligence she possesses.
The women of America are enfran
chised by the customs of the country
If not by the prejudices of the SO
called upper and better classes. Lib
erty and responsibility are ours ant
sooner or later we shall be calleC
upon to fit ourselves for them. Tit
working women know this and arr
rising to the demands of both necessit,
and opportunity. But, first and fore
most, if our daughters are to be glvel
the dangerous draught of knowledge
they must learn to subordinate 1t
charm. There Is no impossiblllt.
about this-only the most vague an
illogical prejudice against 1t. Ever,
woman should be taught, first ant
foremost. that in all social relation
knowledge must be subordinate t.
sympathy, merged into the charm
which listens first and then expresses
All greatness is simple and abov'
all. transformations, as all strength
if balanced and serene, is sweet. Tru'
education teaches this, as it develops
harmony with law, which is tn
word" of the world, both spiritua