12. No one can estimate the influence our school is exerting in favor of education, industry, economy, temperance, Sabbath observance, chastity, social order, and, in short, morality and religion. * * * * * WOMAN’S WORK FOR WOMAN. MISS LAURA A. PARMELEE, MEMPHIS, TENN. We give the closing portion of a paper read at the Woman’s Meeting, held in connection with the Annual Meeting at Chicago. In the opening portions of it, Miss Parmelee describes with frank truthfulness the perils which encircle the colored girls of the South by reason of the family habits, the laxity of the marriage relation, the ignorance of the laws of health, the late hours of their religious and social gatherings, &c. We print her statements and suggestions as to the remedy and protection. Of special agencies for training colored girls to better habits, boarding schools claim the first place. If there had been seventy, instead of seven homes of this kind, we could to-day report a fairer record of virtue and purity. Under the constant supervision of faithful teachers, who regulate the hours, walks and visits of those in their charge, there is opportunity to acquire a love for systematic ways and a pure home life. With the instinctive imitation of their race they adopt the manners and sentiments of the ladies living under the same roof and sitting at the same table. Yet with this help, there has been frequent occasion for teachers to ponder the story of the young crabs that went from the sea-side to a seminary among the mountains, where they became ashamed of their own gait and diligently tried to learn the new way of walking, succeeding to the entire satisfaction of their teachers as well as themselves, and seeming to have forgotten the old ways, but, upon returning to parents and friends at the shore, relinquished the accomplishment and walked backwards as in other days. In two or three schools—possibly more, but I speak only from personal knowledge—it is the duty of one of the lady teachers to give the girls instruction in dress, manners, morals and health, particularly in matters relating to their peculiar physical organization. Once a week the regular lessons are postponed or laid aside, that the pupils may have a half hour for listening to the lecture that has been thoughtfully prepared for their exclusive benefit. Commencing with points of etiquette, dress, sketches of lives of famous women, announcing the latest fashion items when they happen to be suitable, and so winning the confidence and arousing the interest of the class, it is comparatively easy to come to graver counsels concerning morals, health, danger of association with people of loose principles, the lowering of standards of personal honor, and finally the teaching properly due a daughter from her mother’s lips.