Year: 1866

BY wALTER.


Does it ever occur to rejecting minds how much
10 expected from the unfortunate woman-chiid
destined to receive the the benefits of liberal ed
ucation in some high toned Seminary for Young
LADIES' So far as concerns the muitifar0us
details, dare say not. What an infinity of re
quirements. At sweet sixteen or eighteen she
bids adieu to the academy, her school mates and
books. makes her entree into the beau monde of
fashion and nonsense. supposed to understand its
conventionalities. and prepared to tolerate patient
iy set at defiance its most cutting and illnatured
criticisms. She discharge to the perfect salts
faction of all the incumbent duties of the home cir
Gle. She must be accomplished belle for has she
not graduated with honor at the fashionable board
ing school of Madam Fandango? She must be
excellent scholar for OF she has unraveled all
the mysteries of mathematics, history literature.
music. painting, French, Italian. embroidery and
avariety Of different appurtenan, extras Her
soi-dissnt critics will be exacting and captious,
and if she be fortunate to realize the expecta
tions of myriad of these undesirable bat neces-
fary members OF society, hers will be an excep
tional case in five hundred. For the one who es-
capes unscathed the iirely ordeal OF social censure
the proportion of those miserably fail is aston
ishingly great. The appetite of criticism, of what
ever nature, is Unsuitable, and the majority of
young ladies' iust making their debuts before the
scrutinizng gaze of the public eye. will scarcely
succeed. despite their most strenuous endeavOurs
in remaining untouched by the shaft of invidious
insnuation- But it is not of the introduction of
the young lady into society that wish TO speak
particularly. 1t is OF the most desirable method of
practical education that | desire to say few
words | do not want to girl forced up the
hill of science with load of books and states that
would discourage aspirant for literary distnc-
ton do not like to her confined to the class
room from early dawn to twilight. coming over
with weary bead and exhausted frame the tedious
task, knowledge OF which is indispensable in or
der to maintain her position in the class. OF what
benefit TO her is the glorious bracng life giving
spiritcheering country atmosphere? With no ex-
ercise except what she may take during brief
intermission She can have relish for he- meals
The immaculate muslin Of her dress is not whittier
than her cheeks. The hale rudy hue of health
Is stranger to her pale countenance. The excite
ment of emulation may occasionly give to her tea,
lures fevei>h flush, but it passes away with the
SASitSihch< WHICH Ndtstu H. IL sue uNSs uHl GS-
perience sickness and suffering If she does not via
her education at the sacrifice OF her constitution
will b. matter of perpetual wonder. am not
averse 10 girls romping;' every public and pri
vate scheol in the State ought to be provided with
regular "romping gymnasium" Let the girl,
be as wild tom-boys they viii; let them scream.
II may shock the sensitive ueives of prim people
but II will be good for the girls. Physical training
should he, II it is not, prominent and necessary
an object of public schools oral and inteliec
tua' training. The neglect of physical culture is
fully as pregnant with serious evils aS the omission
TO train the sentiment and faculties The latter can
scarcely be more productive of evil consequences
But SO much has been said, aud ably. on this
point by the State Superintendent of Public In
struction in his first Biennial Report under the
head OF Physical Training shat do not feel justi-
fed in dwelling longer on this important part OF
pnblc school education. do not want TO see y
young lady sent home finished to order"-as il
noIant of the duties aud responsibilities of every
day lite as the child unborn. hate to hear her
,pnocenty ask " which COW gives the butter mai" "
despse TO hear her play an area on the piano
when she is as ignorant of how to manufacture
tea biscuit, as lam of the mysteries of Revela
tion. would avoid entering into a hte partnership
with this paragon OF educational execlences if She
could not pend stocking, repair pair of diap
dated unmentionables, fashion shirt nor make Il
hsbys dress. In addition TO the hard earned
treasure OF an elaborate education. | want young
lady to be familiar with every home-like accom-
pashment, Tor this constitutes part. and Ye;y
prominent part, OF finished training. Ii the
young lady seriously meditates matrimeny As what
1uvenie feminine does not all extraneous ac-
comphshments will be superseded by the multitude
Of family and household cares Schools are gao d
but too much school and no home is very bad
To use the words ofone who viewed the question of
Female Education" under all its various aspects
and bearings. 'There can be no objection to A
high order of study for girls the more of the right
sort the better. and the study OF any branch of ed
ueat'on Is a cultGre and a discipline to the MUD
snd in that benefit. But as a wouan's especially
an American womans' life is always more or less
practical and homely in its detail it i, not well to
lose sight OF the necessary preliminary training for
these possibilities. Ny humble opinion on the
matter is. that the great point in education is in
learning that which i, is most desirable aud ex
pedient to know. How many useless regrets and
bitter have been wasted in deploring the long
years spent in Learning what in ene's extremity
proves Ct no earthly avai while the very know
ledge and information most needed have not been
acquired, through sheer negligence. Let American
parents exercise Some Of that prudence. foresight
and jndicious Discrimination in the education OF
their girls, which generally characterize their
hnsiness transactions, and the rising generation
Will not grow up in utter ignorance OF the most
ordinary and essential duties Of lite


NArIvs BoRAN AND SrlrHgS are being found to
considerable extent in California, aud after being
refined, are shipped to New York Like eur