The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 9, August, 1836Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 9, August, 1836
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
There are many such to whom even a moderate
compensation would be wealth, and would stimulate to unwearied
exertion.
But above all, women should be at the head of establishments for the
education of their own sex. If it be found necessary, let gentlemen be
employed as teachers and lecturers occasionally,—but a lady should
always preside as directress. This is invariably practised in every
country, save America; and such a preposterous fashion, as that of
committing the scientific education of young girls, mostly to men,
cannot much longer continue here. Women will feel what is due to their
own character and dignity, sufficiently to rouse themselves to the
education, at least, of their own sex. The example of Mrs. Willard,
Principal of the Troy Female Seminary, and that of Miss Catharine
Beecher, not to mention others, demonstrate that ladies are capable of
understanding the philosophy of the human mind, and of preparing works
which facilitate the acquisition of knowledge. And then a lady, with
talents and energy, unites those feminine accomplishments which men
cannot know or teach.
In short, though there should be no encroachment on the prerogative or
duties of the men, yet women should remember that they too have
duties,—which they ought not, which they cannot, consistently with
duty and delicacy, surrender. One of these duties, is the
superintending the education of their own sex. This must not be
abandoned. Then, should men commit to their care the tuition of boys,
till the age of ten, twelve, or even later, they would probably find
the effect very beneficial. The influence of a sensible, intelligent
and pious woman, has a tendency to soften the turbulent dispositions,
and foster the kindly affections of boys—to instil the love of virtue,
and a horror of vice. Remember, the culture of the _heart_, as well as
the _head_, is essentially necessary to make men good citizens of a
Republic. A strong argument in favor of employing ladies as
instructors of children, may be found in their purity of principles
and feelings. A female advocating infidelity, or endeavoring to weaken
the bonds of moral and social order, is a phenomenon. Can the same be
said of the other sex?
Swift's “Liliputian Ode” is an imitation from Scarron. The French poet
concludes a long tri-syllabic poetical epistle to Sarrazin, who had
failed to pay him a visit, in the following words.
Mais pourtant
Repentant
Si tu viens
Et te tiens
Seulement
Un moment
Avec nous,
Mon corroux
Finira
Et cætera.
{573}
_Editorial._
RIGHT OF INSTRUCTION.
In the article published by us this month, on the _Right of
Instruction_, Judge Hopkinson has alluded to some opinions of Edmund
Burke. It may perhaps be as well to copy here one or two of the
paragraphs to which we suppose allusion is made.
In his speech in 1780, at the Guildhall in Bristol, _upon certain
points relative to his parliamentary conduct_, we have what follows.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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