Alexandria Advertiser And Commercial Intelligencer

FROM THE BALANCE

ON EDUCATION

No. XX.

[Concluded.]

An ardent wish for personal beauty is inherent in female nature. Milton, copying nature, represents fair Eve, as fondly gazing on a clear fountain of water, which, like a mirror, reflected her own form. This natural desire of beauty, becoming inordinate, leads to affectation and folly: therefore the female pupil should be taught, that beauty is not only fading, but is a circumstance in which there is no kind of real merit; and that the most beautiful women often become disgusting, by their affectation, pride and indolence; while some, who are destitute of personal attractions, by a due cultivation of their minds, by a suavity of disposition and by a proper discharge of the duties of their stations, render themselves exceedingly amiable. Women of every grade, whether they marry or live single, have some peculiar trials, which often are neither few, nor small; and while Religion is their only solid Support, its benign influence renders them doubly amiable, in scenes of trouble and adversity. For their own, as well as for the social interest, they should learn, in childhood and youth, to govern their passions and to eradicate from their minds all moroseness and bitterness of temper and disposition. A turbulent passionate woman, while she renders herself disgusting to all around her, is usually the wretched victim of her own impotent restlessness and rage: but a sedate and quiet mind possesses peace and conciliates favor. No ornament is so beautiful in a woman, as that of a truly "meek and quiet spirit." The music of no female tongue is so sweet, especially in the marriage state, as of that, which is prompted and governed by "the law of kindness."

The ancient Romans entertained so high an opinion of a diffident, taciturn behaviour in youth, especially of the female sex, that they deified silence, & adored it as a goddess, which they represented by the image of a woman, placing a finger upon her mouth: and, however superstitious and offensive this old heathen custom of "bridling the tongue" and barring the mouth, may seem to our christian women, there is one particular, in which silence must be considered by them as an inviolable duty. It should be among the first lessons of their youth that they never (unless urged by duty, in particular cases) should betray the confidence of friendship, by revealing confidential secrets. This species of infidelity, with which the whole sex has been very unjustly reproached, and of which too many have been guilty, has been owing, partly to a thoughtless vivacity of mind; but more to a faulty education.

The divine hand, that pencilled the female form and spread over it a superior degree of gracefulness, planted in the sex an instinctive fondness for the embellishments of dress: and it is the business of education to regulate, rather than eradicate this innate propensity. While, on one hand, women would become much less amiable than they are, if they were to be totally regardless of the manner of their being attired; on the other, they are too frequently led into hurtful and fatal errors, by an inordinate fondness for fashionable and expensive attire. Prudence, in this particular, should be reasonably inculcated, as a matter of serious importance. Girls, nurtured in the school of vanity, who are led to think that life is a continual holy-day, and that their great business in the world is to dress and to whirl in the routine of fashion, seldom become either happy or useful women; and their thoughtless extravagance not unfrequently proves ruinous to the circumstances of their fathers and husbands. The different governesses will teach her pupils, that amusements are to be indulged only occasionally, as short relaxation from the serious duties and useful business of life: that it is the extreme of folly to value themselves or others on the adventitious circumstance of dress; and that it is not gorgeous apparel, which makes a really valuable and respectable woman; but sound sense duly cultivated, prudence, fidelity, suavity of disposition and behaviour, composure, kindness and beneficence. These are more ornamental than the costliest pearls: they impress on the female features an unfading beauty.

On family circumstances and various prudential considerations it depends, to say, how much of the time and attention of girls may be devoted to those branches of learning which are merely ornamental.-- As life is short & time precious, it is imprudent for them to spend much time in learning those arts, which their probable circumstances in life will not permit them to practice, when they shall become women. The amiable female writer, afore quoted, very justly says. "Though the arts which merely embellish life must claim admiration; yet when a man of sense comes to marry, it is a companion whom he wants, and not an artist. It is not merely a creature who can paint, and play, and dress, and dance; it is a being who can comfort and counsel him; one who can reason and reflect, and feel, and judge, and act, and discourse, and discriminate; one who can assist him in his affairs, lighten his cares, soothe his sorrows, purify his joys, strengthen his principles, and educate his children."

It is for the fair daughters of Columbia to co-operate in supporting and perpetuating the national independence, which her sons have achieved by their valour and with their blood. On the purity of their morals and the prudence of their conduct, the weal and permanence of this infant republic and the hopes of generations to come are essentially depending.

SENEX.