The National Republican And Ohio Political Register

From the Trenton Emporium,

EDUCATION.

A little money is a good thing in the outset of life, if a person have wisdom to make a right and judicious use of it. But the head and the pockets must balance well—the scales must be equipoised—for if one or the other kicks the beam, a loss will in most cases ensue. If you have too little wit, the world will overreach you; if too much, you will out-wit yourself. In either case, ten chances to one, your purse, or rather the contents of it, will slip thro' your fingers. Among the dangers to which hereditary wealth subjects us are indolence, and extravagance; and the smaller the portion of our inheritance, the more danger is there. But what is more extraordinary is, that these very evils, are often nursed up in the same cradle with the child, cherished with his growth, and instilled into all his habits as he passes through the routine of his education, by parental care, and misjudging affection.

Cornelia was an heiress. That is, she was worth some thousands of dollars; I never knew exactly the sum; common report seldom speaks the whole truth in these matters, and it is rather unmannerly to enquire very particularly into a lady's fortune. She was indulged by her kind mama at home, and caressed by her friends abroad; sent to the most fashionable school; the mistress duly advised that she was a delicate little girl, with most exquisite sensibilities, and a rare genius; and was to be treated with all becoming tenderness and consideration. There she learned a few of the useful, and a great many of the ornamental branches, taught in such seminaries; and was finally despatched to a Boarding school, to finish her education—a polite, fashionable, elegant education; with which the adjective 'useful,' as usual, had very little, if any thing, to do.

She was now an accomplished lady: she understood French and painting; was versed in Belle Lettres; knew something of philosophy, natural and moral; had gone the round of the sciences; wrote poetry; kept an Album; understood music; and was finally fitted out at home with a fine parlour and a piano. What a fine lady, said the wondering villagers—'what a very fine lady; how perfectly genteel.'

It was even so; and the first difficulty which arose, was about the choice of that very vexatious, but still no less necessary evil—a husband. The pretty girl, who has the whole world of beaux to choose from, sometimes finds it difficult to make a perfectly unobjectionable choice. It was not there to be wondered at that Cornelia should be embarrassed in making a selection; for she was circumscribed in her sphere by the very small compass of perfectly genteel people like herself. Such an one, with a good substantial fortune too, was to be sought. Her stars favored her at last, however, and she was married—married to a young gentleman as accomplished as herself; one who had as many 'ologies at his finger ends as buttons on his coat—an A. B. and a profession; who drove tandem with one hand; winged a pigeon at every shot; and drank nothing but Madeira.

It was said the young gentleman and lady were each a little disappointed in the matter of the other's fortune; and that in the outset there was a trifling jar on the subject of finances; but Cornelia adhered to her piano, and Bob to his rifle and Madeira, and all went on quite musically again. Neither of them had ever suffered so unmannerly a thought, as that of how to get a living when their cash was gone, to enter their heads. But Fortune in all these cases, has a plain matter of fact way of dealing with even the most genteel people; and when they have spent their last dollar, just turns them out of house and home, as unceremoniously as if they were no better than common folks. She never works a miracle to sustain those who never learned or had the disposition to work anything themselves. And so it turned out in this case.

While the Piano was in tune in the parlour, and every thing was out of tune in the kitchen; while the master drank Madeira above stairs, and the servants were drunk with cognac below stairs; while in the midst of the best company, the best living, and dreaming of nothing but pleasure and amusement, one of Bob's creditors rapped his knuckles; the bailiffs are an ill bred set; they know just as much about gentility, and all that sort of thing, as a bear about a lady's toilet; and therefore, as might almost have been expected, the carpets, the plate, the side-board, and even the very piano were levied on.

Still, so far as physical ability was concerned, it was not too late perhaps to turn the current of affairs. There was a plain and ready remedy for the disease, even in its present state; an entire change of living and of habits; economy for extravagance, and industry for indolence. But how hard is it for those who have been thus educated to change: how often is the moral ability, the will, wanting? And here it proved to be the case.

They struggled awhile to keep up appearances; and only sunk deeper in the end. Ten years after, they were almost forgotten. I made many enquiries after them among the villagers, and finally discovered that Robert and his wife had separated; that he had exchanged his dogs and gun for a tar hat and a blue jacket; was a wanderer of the sea; and the elegant and accomplished Cornelia, instead of thumbing a piano, was gaining a scanty subsistence at the spinning wheel.

So much for the story. Industry and virtue are the best legacies parents can bequeath their offspring; the only sure defences against misfortune.—Let those who are charged with the education of children beware, lest through an over anxiety to make them accomplished, they fail to make them useful members of society; instead of making them respectable, make them proud; instead of cultivating their genius, lead them into indolence. I say beware.