374

GIRLS AND THEIR TRAINING.

subordination, the back-sets to study, the derangement || and with the lights of science and of heaven full upon

them to disregard both. History is not usually tasteful to children, yet should it be insisted upon in all its relations and bearings. Botany is in good odor. Chemistry, as engrossed in culinary purposes, is very interesting. Mythology, with its wondrous fables, is too well liked, and calls for our discretion. Natural phi

of classes, and all the unsettling influences of the whole matter, as seen in the re-union. But will the child be content? Will not "all work and no play make Jane a dull girl?" No! if there is no prescribing of tastes. Self-approval, conformed to the self-love of nature, and the valued approbation of superiors, of teachers, and the endeared gratification of parents, and the impe-losophy, in its varieties, and also moral teachings, are tus of study itself, shall altogether be enough and lively enough, with the anticipation and the conscious ability of taking a part in coming life, to fill of desire and of hope.

The student's life is not a sluggish pool-it is a tide which has no present for discontents to linger with. Youth has enough of aspiration to be so satisfied; and all the little devices suggested to the child, apart from her education, are impertinences and hindrances to her happiness, as well as to her progress-this if she have been well kept from the beginning.

We have as yet not specified much about the ladies themselves. I do feel that the technicalities of school are indeed but the inferior part of education, and that the influences, the habits, the ideas derived, and the modes of thinking make up a sum that far outvalues the mere amount of information acquired-this yet being our immediate object.

readily got through with, as rendered in the school editions of each; and Biblical expoundings are taking that high place in school which by their own teachings they in reverence claim. These branches, and some others, perhaps, together with the usual ornamental course of taste, if well done, would, with the practical moralities, with deportment and manners, with courtesies and kindnesses, with truth and goodness, constitute a young lady, educated, and all as extending into mature life, with its better apprehensions and its usefulness.

Have we said nothing for industry? We give it a chapter to itself. We would have our pupil instructed in all necessary performances-especially should she be an accomplished needle woman. What is a woman without industry? Has she character? Yet by sloth she lacks half her ability and almost the whole of her efficiency. Let the man, conscious of a sense of order, eschew such an one for his wife-let the woman, The best merit of performance is not the how much, conscious of this defection, eschew a sensitive or a reas the how well; and even the initiatory rudiments fined man as her husband. Such an one, so united, should be well conned-the distinctive sounds of the may have a fortune, a house, a hearth, a table, a comvowels should be practiced and rested upon until panion, a friend; yet has he only half a home. Let known, even should we receive a note from mamma or- me not make this too strong, nor weaken that bond of dering that "our daughter be put into 'baker' immedi- sufferance which already abides in charity. However ately." In penmanship we should be kept to straight young we receive our pupil, we confide that she has marks until we can make one; and our trammels and already found from her mother some initiation and pot-hooks should be subject to the same law. Also some teachings from the Bible. This is our greatest should we write large hand until we acquire that scope hold upon her. In our requirements of truth let us and steadiness, which will insure a mastery of the pen afford her some basis of reality. This should be inculfor life. Our reading must not be correct only-it cated in all things-"here a little and there a little "— must be elegant—it must be eloquent-it must be and she shall unconsciously have accumulated what charming. In figures the young lady claims some ex-will defend her against the world. And this reminds emption over the boy; but for all the processes of sim- me of a late school innovation of very bad effect—it is ple arithmetic we insist, and that thoroughly. The the method of composition, as now permitted in many time required for more than this were better appropri- schools, namely, the affording of the whole matter, narated to some more diffusive branch of study. Follow-rative, or story, and requiring of the pupil only the aring grammar, the best attention to rhetoric, as applied and illustrated in large readings of belles lettres, will tend to reach a facility in colloquial intercourse, and render the lady companionable to the well informed. Geography is generally agreeable to children, and easily managed; yet should it be so thorough that the learner could no more mistake any of its names than she could her own. Its astronomical relations should also be well understood. Astronomy, at large, a school girl could not hope to attain; but the grounding should be commenced the terms, the names, the handling, as it were, acquired-enough that the map, nightly spread to the vision of all, may be conned in its rudiments-draw from either head or heart. And what is the advanits places, its statistics known, and a small exemption tage gained? Truly, at present, there is some more faclaimed from that barbaric ignorance which knows noth-cility to the pupil; but say not that she has afforded a ing, or from a stupidity that is willing to know nothing, theme-she has only arranged the mechanical part of

rangement. This, strictly speaking, is composition; but it is only the body without the soul. This is a facility granted, or I would say, imposed on the child, leaving the culture of invention at nought. One would think that that were accorded to infants which was denied to kings, namely, a "royal road to science." Why is not the young composer required to invent simultaneously, whilst she composes and writes? This will be her method in after life, unless the pernicious habit shall stick to her; and this it will do if she is either of an indolent temper or a dull mind, and some "complete letter writer" shall afford her that aid which she cannot

one.

TEMPERANCE.

The worst consequence, and almost a direct one, is that a habit of plagiarism (which, at present, she is not aware is such) may become familiar to her. Many do now, for these transcribings, assume as their own, treatises, so very superior to their best ability, that they have not even the judgment to apprehend the impossibility of the case; yet do they say, "my composition," "my letter," "my essay." This ought not so to be. It is an entanglement of truth, which may involve the issues of life.

Original.
TEMPERANCE.

375

EXTRACT FROM A TEMPERANCE ADDRESS BY DR. J. S. WILSON.

In the elucidation of the features of this theme, and its adaptation to the different classes of community, will the gentler sex deem it uncourteous should I specially solicit their co-operation?

Your own characteristic modesty, my fair friends, must concede, that, in the present enlightened state of society, especially in our own country, there exists no earthly incentive to virtuous action, on our part, like that of female influence. To you, then, who, in the endearing relation of mother, wife, and sister, have so entwined yourselves around our wayward hearts that they must cease to pulsate, ere they refuse to respond to your cherished claims, allow me to urge, that much, very much depends on your exertions in this holy cause. To you, therefore, I earnestly appeal for the influence of your powerful example. I entreat you to blend your efforts with ours for the suppression of this bewildering vice, whose deadliest evils often light upon you and your families.

One thing more. The form of school, as now common in the Atlantic states, we think a great reform upon the old arrangement, namely, the limitation plan as to numbers. The impossible numbers received into many schools is in itself a body of objection to such schools. With two, or perhaps three teachers, we see a school of an hundred, perhaps an hundred and fifty pupils. Any school girl who shall have advanced as far as the Rule of Three, has arithmetic enough to make out the insufficiency of teachers for the prescribed exercises within the prescribed time. Another form of the problem, namely, her own disadvantage, is not so manifest to her apprehensions. One teacher to fifty pupils gives, in three hours, just three and a half min- You who grace the walks of single life, have assoutes of the teacher's time to each. But they "are ciates and friends among us, who would hazard life to classed" you say. Yet many of each class shall abso-insure your approving smiles. Will they not then lutely require verbal explanations and separate teach- banish a habit which they are assured has the stamp ings, calling for three times their regular quota of in- of your unyielding reprobation? You have brothers, struction. Deduct, also, for the forming and disband-who love you with fraternal fondness. By your ening of classes-for the various exercises, and the time is really and greatly insufficient for its purpose; yet are these "large schools" often preferred even by the parent over "small schools" of equal ability in the teacher, and by computation of double, treble, and quadruple advantage in the quantum of instruction received.

dearing and timely persuasions, decoy them from the resorts of the idle and dissipated, and encourage them to unfurl the banner of temperance, and mantle themselves in its folds. You have fathers, who contemplate your expanding loveliness with parental fondness. Cooperate with your mothers in rendering home so delight

side circle in search of the fatal enticements of the cup.

It is time I should close-which, recommending a ful, as to exclude all propensity to leave their own firefew axioms, defensive of the craft, I will do. Firstly,|| that no itinerant pretender shall claim equal suffrage. with tried and approved teachers; secondly, that no extraordinary methods shall be accredited before ordinary ones; thirdly, that the mountebank system of science in "ten lessons" shall be valued at only what it is worth; and, fourthly, that no young lady consent to become learned in so short a time.

"IT is not so difficult a task to plant new truths as to root out old errors; for there is this paradox in men, they run after that which is new, but are prejudiced in favor of that which is old. Horne Tooke obtained a double triumph over the Hermes of Mr. Harris, for he not only extirpated old errors, but planted new truths in their place. He came to the Terra Incognita' as the settler to an uncultivated tract. He found the soil as dark with error, and as stubborn with prejudice, as that of the forest with trees and with roots; he had to clear before he could cultivate, and to smooth before he could sow."Lacon.

With a conciliating firmness of purpose entice all within the sphere of your influence to flee the haunts of dissipation-teach them that in the embryo bud lurks the envenomed poison; that MODERATE drinking is the germ of inebriety-the poisoned fountain whence all the bitter waters of intemperance have issued. Teach them that there is no sure panoply but entire abstinence, and that, if once launched in the frail bark of dissipation, though they fancy themselves secure in their own firmness, and proudly say to the waves of temptation, "thus far shalt thou come and no farther;" yet experience proves that while thus tampering, sooner or later, they will be overwhelmed in the vortex of destruction; that though the pride of intellect induce the belief that they shall never yield, yet that the most towering genius is oft obscured by the withering influence that lurks in the bowl; or that though secure in the possession of health, they venture the subtle poison mingled in every libation, yet health is not eternal

"For more than once I've seen life's noon-tide ray

Pass'd with life's conqueror on the pale-fac'd steed→→→
I've seen the morn that spoke a cloudless day,
Waft to the tomb from health's empurpled mead !"

Exert your persuasive eloquence to impress on your young associates that if they would be respected by community, or maintain an equality with their fellow citizens-if they would not obscure the setting sun of their parents, or forfeit the love of friends-if they would not repay with ingratitude the tender care which sustained their infancy, and watched with unceasing vigilance their careless childhood-if they would not blight the hopes with which their parents now look up to them as the props of their declining years—if they would not mingle the "gall of bitterness" with the last dregs of their own earthly cup, they must obey the injunction—“touch not, taste not, handle not" the poisoned chalice!

In the choice of your future companions, slight not these insinuations. Flatter not yourselves, that though the favored one now mingles with the dissipated, yet he will "reform after marriage”-solace not yourselves with the delusive hope that he is "only a moderate drinker." Ask any besotted votary of Bacchus to describe the ladder by which he descended to the gulf of intemperance, and he will tell you that moderate drinking formed its topmost round!

I entreat you, then, to discountenance, by your marked and signal disapprobation, the initial step in this pathway, whose termination is too often the maelstroom of disgrace and death.

him as they would the bug-a-boo of their infant imaginations, and tremblingly cling for protection around the form of their agonized mother.

This picture is not drawn by the creative pencil of fancy. O, no! There is scarcely a town or village in our Union that will not afford at least one instance to prove that my pen sketches truth.

As mothers, to whom is necessarily intrusted the early culture of the immortal mind, O be it your fondest care, as it is your blest prerogative, while the infant intellect is expanding, to impress upon it a deep abhorrence of this destructive practice. Remember that the first sentiments, the original and permanent impressions of the rising generation, are to be by you instilled. And it is to you that we confidently look to urge on that happy reformation, which we fondly anticipate will be radical and universal. To accomplish this object, I repeat, we look to the all-prevailing influence— the persevering efforts of woman. And, believe me, if you will resolutely, yet gently-firmly, yet with characteristic softness, stem the tide of fashionable intemperance, you will be richly repaid for your generous exertions by seeing this deprecated evil (which has caused many a sigh of hopeless anguish to heave the female bosom) gradually, yet for ever disappear from the haunts of domestic bliss; and you would feel the happiness arising from the reflection that your frowns have effectually assisted to repel the invader who was making your homes desolate, and insnaring, by his magic influence, those very beings, upon whom your own gentle natures should rely for protection.

Let us, for a moment, step behind the curtain, and take a glance at that home, the head of which is a confirmed inebriate! Do we there find domestic happiness, "that only bliss of paradise that has survived the fall?" No! that, with all its lovely train of home-bred sweets, Look around on your sons. Their cheeks are now is exiled from the fireside of the drunkard! Do we find glowing with the hue of unimpaired health—their eyes its gentle mistress, in peace and serenity, gliding about sparkling with the fire of undimmed intellect. Their in her domestic avocations, and awaiting, with the glow steps are buoyant with the joyousness of unsullied inof happy expectancy, the return of him who should nocence, and their voices utter the notes of filial affechave been the soother of all her cares-the sympathi- tion, to gladden your homes and your hearts. Would zing reciprocater of all her affection? Alas, no! sadly you see those beaming eyes emit no brilliancy save the she moves around her lonely habitation, the shadow of last gleam of expiring genius? Will you cherish her former self. The rose which once bloomed on her the agent that may in future years convert their steps cheek, has been dimmed by days of anguish and nights of buoyancy into the stagger of the debased inebriate? of ceaseless sorrow; for he in whom she garnered up Would you render it probable that those tones of modall the deep affections of woman's priceless heart, has est love may, ere long, give place to exclamations of made her to drink deeply of the "wormwood and the profanity? If this picture be revolting to you, then I gall"-he, for whom she left all the nameless endear-entreat you not to shrink from aiding in this great morments, which were associated with the home of her al reformation, but reflect that influence is a powerful childhood, has strewed her connubial path with pierc-engine, given you by the God of nature, for benevolent ing thorns, instead of the bright flowers of enjoyment, purposes. Strive, then, to expunge from the usages of which the day-dreams of fancy had whispered her confi-society the use of spirituous liquors-that seductive ding heart bloomed sweetly there! And can she await habit which has numbered amongst its victims the his return from the haunts of iniquity with pleasure? | brightest ornaments of human nature. No! she starts at every sound, lest it may prove the Then, the united voices of myriads yet unborn shall herald of his dreaded approach. bless you, as being instrumental in rescuing them from Has Providence bestowed upon her children? How the chains of that tyrant, who, in his march to domindo they behave on the approach of their degraded fath-ion, stalks over the ruins of genius, and the crushed er? Do they fondly vie with each other to be the first hopes of domestic life. Thus shall he no more move to hail the desired return of this cherished being, and on in his conquering car, while hoary age and lisping climb his knee to share the envied kiss? Do they infancy hang on his chariot wheels, and cryraise their cherub voices of infantile love to welcome his return to their happy home? No, no! they avoid |

"O, give us back our blooming sons

Restore the guardians of our helpless childhood!"

THERE'S A HOME IN THE SKIES.

378

NOTICES.

NOTICES.

THE YOUNG WIFE; or, Duties of Woman in the Marriage Relation. By Wm. A. Alcott. Boston: Geo. W. Light.-The stereotype edition of this work was issued from the press in 1837. We notice it not as a new work, but to inform those of our readers who have not seen it, that there is such a work. It embraces general remarks concerning the objects of marriage, duties of a wife, and her importance as an educator; concerning prevalent errors, the submission of a wife, and her physical inferiority; concerning cheerfulness and the want of it, the treatment of bad husbands, and a wife's secrets; concerning friends, religion, the cooling of affection after marriage, modesty in matrimony, "gadding," and love of home, self-respect, simplicity, neatness, order and method; concerning punctuality, early rising, industry, domestic economy, sobriety, discretion,

scolding, dress, intellectual improvement, etc.

ted States, there is a strong inclination of the great body of the
Church to simplicity in the forms of worship. Men are seeking
for "the old paths," and desire to walk therein. Unscriptural
ceremonies for the most part are not attractive. And those
branches of the Church which adopt and contend for them, do
not by their means draw great crowds to their communion, nor
are the small number of adherents which they gain remarka-
ble for their theological knowledge or their ardent piety; though
some among them we cheerfully confess to be devout in tem-
per, and well informed on many points.
Christian ritual. It opposes the unscriptural practice of formal
and almost sacramental confirmation. The question made is,

The "Inquiry" before us vindicates the simplicity of the

as it should be, "Is confirmation a divinely instituted ordinance

of religion?" This is what its advocates claim, and Mr. Lee shows conclusively that no passage or precedent can be addu

ced from the New Testament to support the claim.

The following extract from the chapter on intellectual imThat our readers may understand what estimate our brethren provement, may be read in connection with the article on who practice confirmation set upon it and the sacraments, we "Girls and their Training," which, though it is written with introduce the following remarks from the "Inquiry." consummate ability, and we are gratified above measure to pre. "Though it (confirmation) is now denied to be a sacrament, sent it to our readers in the Repository, may not pass without question and close examination. We are assured that its gifted it is nevertheless made to usurp the place of a sacrament, and author will gladly see it subjected to sober and honest criticism: elevated above it, in rank and importance, and in utility and "It is said that the new relations and new duties which mar-spiritual efficiency. These positions as they are involved in riage imposes consume our time, and we have fewer opportuni- the opinions and practice of the Episcopal Church, may be ties for making progress than before. Yes, they do, if we must easily established. The following arguments will determine follow all the fashions--if we must make as many unmeaning the soundness and correctness of the position:—calls, and receive as much trifling or useless company, as the customs of high life, in modern times, demand, and if our system of house-keeping must conform to an arbitrary standardone which, instead of being based on the love of God and man, has for its support-its very pillars the whim and caprice of fools.

"But is there any necessity for this? Are we not bound, on the contrary, as Christians, to set our faces, by our practice, against such customs? Are we not bound, in the fear of God, to make such arrangements in regard to our houses, our help, our furniture, our every thing, as will give time for all necessary improvement of the mind? Is it not an obvious wrong--a serious one-to pursue a course, as multitudes do, which shall effectually exclude it?

·

"First. In the Gospel, as constituted by Christ, and carried out in the practice of the apostles, baptism is, as a sacrament, or ceremony, the only appointed pre-requisite to the reception of the holy communion, Acts ii, 41, 47. But in the Episcopal Church this arrangement is laid aside, and confirmation is made indispensable to admission to the sacrament of the Lord's supper. On this subject the position of the Church leaves no room for doubt or dispute. At the close of the confirmation service the following direction is given to all who minister at her altars; and they are bound in conscience to obey the rubrick: And there shall none be admitted to the holy communion, until such time as he be confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be confirmed.' It will not lessen the force of our position to say that the Church does not require the candidate for "When I allude to unmeaning calls and useless company, I the holy communion to be actually confirmed, as her object am far from intending to intimate that all our calls-all social will be secured by the desire to be confirmed. For, although, intercourse- should be banished. On the contrary, I consider in some instances, from the absence of the bishop, and other social intercourse as indispensable as our daily bodily food; be able to do so, and, therefore, would not be rejected from the causes, persons desirous to partake of the ceremony might not and on this point, I shall say something in a future chapter. But I do say, with the utmost confidence, that a kind of social communion; yet, in the sense of the rubrick, unwillingness to be confirmed, would, as effectually, exclude them from the saintercourse which excludes individual study-which, in short, prevents married life from being a school for mutual improve-vorable to its reception. So that confirmation, either actually crament, as would a refusal to submit under circumstances fament, even in science is not to be encouraged by those who call themselves Christians, nor even by those who lay claim to an ordinary share of sound common sense."

Much valuable information may be gathered from the pages of this book, albeit certain portions of it should be read with discrimination, and its principles embraced with caution.

received, or earnestly desired, is indispensable to admission to

the holy sacrament.' And it would be a departure from Church firmation as a Christian institute and a moral duty; for the principles to admit any one to the sacrament who rejected conadoption of both of these principles is required of all who seek to be admitted to her fellowship. Nor can this conclusion be AN INQUIRY into the Authority of the Rite of Confirmation, evaded by the argument sometimes resorted to, that this is a as held and practiced by the Protestant Episcopal Church. private arrangement intended to operate upon the internal By the Rev. Leroy M. Lee.--There is a struggle on one part of economy of the Church, and not designed to influence her with the Church to reform abuses, and bring the disciples of Christ respect to those not of her fold. This is only concealing the back to the simple forms of primitive Christianity; while on objection without changing its nature, or shifting its position. the other part there is an equal degree of zeal to impose on For the question still recurs, and with redoubled force, what Christians the unauthorized ceremonies, however chilling to authority has the Episcopal Church to change the terms of comthe spirit of devotion, which took their growth in apostate pe- munion as established by Christ, or to make a difference, with riods of the Church. For proof, we may refer to the Roman respect to the sacrament, between her own members and the Catholics and the Oxford divines, on the one side; and on the rest of the body of Christ? But, having put asunder the two other, to the great body of evangelical Christians. In Great sacraments of Christ's institution, by thrusting a mere ceremo Britain, a strong current sets in favor of unscriptural and anti-ny between them, and thereby disuniting what was perpetually scriptural ceremonies-of the opus operatum which during the to be joined together,' the reasons for the divorce ought at least last century has been so little thought or talked of. Yet a portion of the "Establishment," and a strong body of dissenters are arrayed on the opposite side. How the conflict will finally end is not doubtful; but when or how the favorable issue shall be brought about, is known only to the living God. In the Uni

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to be given.
"Second. From the practice respecting the celebration of the
two ceremonies. That baptism, although declared to be a sa-
crament, is held to be inferior to confirmation is demonstrable
from the fict, that while any ordained minister is considered