Jeffersonian Republican

Education of Girls.

"In the first place, females, from their earliest years should be allowed those sports and amusements in the open air, so necessary to a proper development of their bodies, and which are now confined entirely to boys.—Instead of being compelled to walk demurely with measured steps, like so many matrons, they should be encouraged in running and romping even, at suitable times; and that the motions of their limbs may be unconstrained, their dress should be always loose and easy.

"Until girls are fourteen or fifteen years old, they should be allowed to play in the open air at least six hours every day, when the weather and season will permit. They should be allowed to run, leap, throw the ball, and play at battledore, as they please. All these exercises call the different muscles into action, strengthen the limbs, and impart a healthy tone to the different organs; the blood circulates freely, the nervous system is invigorated, and the redundant fluids are driven off by perspiration. The most suitable dress is unquestionably that which is called Turkish, consisting of, pantaletts or trowsers, and a short frock (the latter to be brought up sufficiently high on the bosom to prevent the exposure of the shoulders,) and the covering for the head should be light and cool—a straw hat answers the purpose very well.

"They should never be confined to their tasks more than six hours a day, and I am confident they will learn more in that time, if properly managed, than they will in twelve, without sufficient exercise. Make it your own case; can you spend even eight hours in a day to any profit? I think not. The mind becomes weary, and then nothing is retained. How then can you suppose that the expanded faculties of children can be constantly exercised for that length of time to advantage? Depend upon it, too much attention is paid to the culture of the minds of children, and too little to their bodies. Do not misunderstand me, or suspect me of undervaluing the former, or over-rating the latter. Certainly the first can never make us happy in this world without the second, I mean simply. that parents are too fond of forcing genius at an early age, and thus ruining the health. I wish to show that neither should be neglected. and that the perfect development of the one is not inconsistent with that of the other.

And I would go one step further: inasmuch as the chief enjoyments of this life. and even the full force of mind and moral energy depend upon the health of the body: it would be safer to direct the principal attention to the latter childhood. than to. run the risk of its being neglected by undue attention to the former.—Rev. Dr. Burnap."