Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-14

tons. IN the nunu6 Oh u really CieSoi
woman this Is tact; In those pf the In,
ept and ignorant. deceit and subter-
fuge. II Is only ostentatious clever
ness. not cieverness at all In fact.
which is a deterrent to the exercise OF
any charm or talent. There Is never
an hour In the life Of woman when
the best education her powers will
perni, OF Is not an advantage. In the
heyday OF youth control Of emotions
and clearness Of insight have directed
rlsny ship pennanted with beauty
and vitality which would have been
driven on the rocks. And what shall
he said ~ the years which follow.
crowded with opportunities-na ne
cesSt,ies-for reasonable dealing
With the questions Of life? No woman
can BE- her husbands friend and help
or without logic to which he may ap-
peal and an Intelligence which COM
pltGes and supplements his own. And
this education OF character. as OF mind.
Is not taught in a school which sradu-
ntes 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
aud citizen. which every advanced
civilization demands This is the ed
ucatlOn which is developed by seri.
otis. adequate curriculum and by
none other The special training is
another matter. equally important. as
IL prepares woman to meet the re-
sistless law which links happy useful
ness with occupation. The choice ci
study should of course be adapted to
the individual learning of the stu.
dent, and II 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 II right
fully understood should entirely re-
move the popular prejudice that col
legiate education. per Sc. fills a 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
its curriculum and its lack Of system.
Parent and teacher are alike respon-
sible for this. neither demanding. as
a rule. anything approaching q 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
wonders what results can he expect
ell from such lax attention to a SUI
premely important matter. Can a few
weeks OF science" skimmtng OF
philosophy. dig the channels OF train
ed and habitual thought" Can a germ
Of talent. literary. mathematical or
plastic. be taught to grow by brief
planting and a briefer tending? Can
an occasional ''composition. even a
certain fiuency in the attractive and
harmless" literature of the modern
languages. give correct and elegant
forms of expression or teach the his
tory Of the words We use? The IN
differentiated adjective Of sweet 10
may pass amid Its ripping laughter
and its maiden grace. but how about
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 Z
fairer chance OF getting husband Il
her charm is not endangered by an
awkward reputation Il Cleyerness. but
the married woman needs every bit
II Intelligence she possesses.
The women Of America are enfran-
chiscd b. TIE c"stcms Of IT," country.
IL not by the prejudices Of the So
called upper and better classes. Lib
crty and responsibility are ours and
sooner or later We shall be called
upon to fit ourselves for them. The
worSarg women know this and are
risin:.io the demands of both necessity
and opportunity. But. first and fore
most. il our daughters are to be given
the dangerous draugat OF knowledge,
they must learn to subordinate II to
charm There is no impossibilHy
abou, ,his-oniv the most vague ann
illogical prejudice against ii Every
woman shoald uc taught. first aud
foremost. that in all social relations
know ieise must be subordinate &c
sympathy. merged int" the charm
which listens first and then espresso
All yreatncss Is simple and. above
all. hostcntstioIs as all STcngth.
IL naisnccd and serene. - sweet. Trnc
cdursfiun tcachcS this a. II develops