Essay: On Female Education (column 2)

Now we are on the subject of letters, we will give an extract from one lately received from a highly esteemed correspondent of ours, Mrs. Harrison Smith, of Washington City, a lady whose literary talents are the delight of her frends. She has been known to the public as a writer of much merit in her graphic work enti- tled, "A Winter in Washington;"—and pure morals and religious feelings were promoted by a subsequent publication, "What is Gentility?" Her views on Female Education are thus express ed in her letter alluded to.

"The culture of the moral faculties should form the basis of every plan of Female Education. It is from the culture of the soil that spring those fruits which constitute the essential nutriment of virtue and felicity.

"In the existing systems, generally, the moral is almost sacrificed to the intellectual cultiva tion, and this is done in so superficial a manner that but little benefit results either to mind or practice. No permanent habits of study are fix ed, no solid knowledge can be imparted by a system which carries a young girl, in the course

of two or three years, through the whole circle of sciences, besides languages and all the accom plishments! While crowded and fashionable boarding schools, (on the present system of pri vate and irresponsible establishments) continue to be the sole places of instruction, the evil can not be remedied. From two to three hundred pupils are consigned to the eare of one woman; wise, good and intelligent she may be, but is not such a charge beyond the ability of any woman? Experience has proved this to be the fact; and instead of being instructed by a woman, whose virtues and talents have conferred reputation on her school, the real instruction of the pupils is left to assistants, most usually young inexperi enced assistants, who, deriving only pecuniary rewards for their arduous labours, are left with out that responsibility, which is such a powerful incentive to the performanes of duty—without that reputation which is one of its great rewards.

If such are the difficulties and disadvantages attending intellectual improvement under this system of boarding-school education, how are those attending moral culture enhanced! The thing is impossible. Before females are educa ted as they ought to be, a complete revolution must take place. An entirely new system must be formed. The work you are now editing will be a most excellent medium for the transmission of ideas on this subject, and I rejoice that you design making it the principal object of your at tention. You place woman in her proper sphere, without any of that exaggeration, or deficiency of practical utility, or feminine delicacy, which too often characterize schemes for the improve ment of the sex. Go on as you have begun and you must prosper; and ultimately your views will succeed, for they are true; and the truth must, in the end, prevail!"

Ah, it is very pleasant to receive an encourag ing word and kind wishes when we are labouring in the strong hope of doing good. That a great change is being effected in public opinion re specting the estimation in which the influence of woman should be held, no one who reads and ob serves the signs of the times can doubt. The vast moral power of the sex, and the advantages which society will gain by having this power used wisely, is rapidly attracting the attention of philosophers, as well as christians—and states men and legislators cannot long neglect to make special provision for the education of females. And when woman enjoys the advantages of edu cation, in the manner appropriate to her charac ter and duties, proportionally with man, she will no longer deserve or incur from him the epithet of "romantic animal."

Editor.