REMARKS ON AN IMPORTANT BRANCH OF
FEMALE EDUCATION.

ALTHOUGH the following remarks connected with this topic of universal interest may contain nothing strikingly new, yet the person who states facts, and observations drawn from experience, adds to the common stock of data from which the man of wider intellectual views and greater faculty for generalization may deduce a leading principle.

It must be felt by all who have a share in educating girls that there is extreme difficulty in holding any intercourse with them on the subject of love, restricting the meaning of that word to affection between the sexes. It may excite a smile to see this topic gravely brought forward; but truly there is little to provoke mirth, and much to cause sorrow, in the contemplation of those bitter and unavailing regrets, the undermined health, and the impaired tranquillity, which are the lot of so many women, owing principally to the defects which prevail in this branch of education. Every one who approaches this subject feels instinctively that there is awkwardness and difficulty in treating it; and this very feeling gives a key to some of the prevailing errors that exist thereupon. Let us examine the cause from which this difficulty arises. Is it not that we have confounded right and wrong? that we have attached an idea of shame to that of which we need not be ashamed? that our zeal for delicacy has led us into a habit of mystification, which does not promote the interests of true modesty?

It must always be desirable to define the boundaries between right and wrong; the narrower the line is, the more it requires to have light thrown upon it, and it is a shallow and futile expedient to turn away from an inevitable difficulty, instead of facing it. Yet is not the former the course generally resorted to in the case of which I speak? Perhaps the best way of finding what would be right, is, to ascertain what is wrong. How then are girls trained? When their increasing perception and natural curiosity lead them to inquire concerning what they see and hear, the answer, in a multitude of instances, is "Never mind, my dear, it is no matter to you," or "You must never ask such questions, they are not proper;" or, worse, they are told some absurd falsehood, which, however, rarely deceives them. Any one who has been accustomed to hear girls read aloud will know that it is surprising at how early an age

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they will detect and omit the words and phrases which refer to any of these interdicted subjects. And how has this knowledge been obtained? Not through the legitimate means of a simple communication from the mother or teacher, but by some indirect, and often polluted, channel. Or should a girl escape this temptation, and in her simplicity ask the meaning of any expression she does not understand, instead of hailing and encouraging this frankness, the parent or instructor generally gives some evasive answer, or has recourse to the infallible sedative to all curiosity, "Never mind.”— Never mind! Can any woman be so utterly blind and forgetful as to suppose that a girl will "Never mind?" No; but, repulsed in her straight-forward inquiries, she will resort to other sources of information. Keep her out of the way of servants, she will converse with companions a little older than herself: separate her from these, still she will contrive some way of gratifying her curiosity. The partial information she acquires will excite further activity of mind; and thus will her thoughts restlessly dwell and remain awake upon topics which, had her first inquiries been rationally and judiciously answered, would have made comparatively little impression. Habits of concealment are generated, and a promising foundation is laid for future mischief.

Keep the girl as ignorant as you please, you cannot prevent her growing up; and love is a matter which she does and must hear discussed, and in which she is naturally interested. Still the system is pursued which seems invented to teach affectation and produce imprudent conduct. If she speak her thoughts to those who instruct her, she is generally chilled by ridicule; and finding that the natural expression of her sentiments is laughed at, she learns if she have any feeling, to conceal those sentiments from the people who sneer at them. But as the mind has naturally-particularly during youth-a restless craving for sympathy, and longing to utter what passes within it, she probably finds some one near her own age with whom to converse, and these two inexperienced girls build one another up in their crude and romantic ideas. Let it be remembered, too, that these conversations have all along the excitement of secrecy and concealment from their elders.

Now, is all this right? Is such treatment correct in its principle, or desirable in its results? I shall dwell a little on these two questions, and then suggest whether some better course be not practicable.

First. "Is it correct in its principle?" God has formed us intelligent and responsible beings; he has "created us male and fe

male," that we may the better subserve the purposes of his providence, and that our mutual happiness may be augmented. Such being the fact, it is manifestly his intention that we should find pleasure in each other's society. No system can counteract this spontaneous feeling. One which tries to substitute an affected indifference, cannot be in accordance with the will of our Creator. "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common," may, (without violating the spirit of the imagination), be said to those who endeavour to extirpate as wrong, or to quash as inexpedient, the natural sympathies of the heart.

Secondly. "Is it desirable in it's results?" How many a sorrowing voice and heart could reply to this question in the negative! No force of education can render a girl callous to the studied attentions of a man, or harden her against susceptibility to attachment. Nor can instruction so far supply the place of experience as to fit her for dispassionately considering what claims to her regard a man actually possesses. Further: constituted as society is, every young woman with even moderate attractions receives a certain share of attention; and the instances are rare indeed, where some one does not try to win her affection. Here, then, is a case which surely merits caution and observation; and a mother's fostering care was scarcely more needed when her daughter was a helpless baby, than it is at this period. But the way in which most mothers act, deprives the child of the advantages which Providence, by his wise arrangements, has placed within her reach. The girl, accustomed to have any expressions that relate to the affections received without apparent interest or sympathy by the parent, has learned to avoid the subject, and in nine cases out of ten the mother is the last confidante whom the daughter would choose. The natural result is, that imprudent attachments are formed, and a girl's affection and promise are often engaged, before the parents suspect anything of the kind. They then give a reluctant consent, or enforce a peremptory refusal; in either case the girl is the victim, and through years of ill-assorted married life, or of singleness resulting from disappointment, she has to bewail the capital error in her education.

The third consideration I proposed is, "Whether some better course be not practicable;" I confidently answer that it is. Here and there "a more excellent way" is followed, and with the happiest results. The daughter habituated to make the mother her most confidential friend, receives the benefit of maternal council and experience; and the mother, aware of what passes in her daughter's mind, knows how to time her cautions, and how, silently but

surely, to fence her child's path from the dangers that "most easily beset it." But to accomplish this the habit of unfettered confidence must be formed from infancy, and never checked by such rebuffs as I have alluded to. Of course, judgment and discretion are needed here, as in every other branch of education, nor can any rules be given as applicable to every instance; for this is not a case for rules, but for principles. As a principle, I would lay down the vast importance of cherishing habits of unreserved confidence from the child to the parent. No mother, however, need expect this who will not be confidential in turn; for cold does not produce frost more surely than distrust produces reserve. Very great exercise of prudence is requisite here; the judgment of each individual mother must determine the precise line of conduct suitable to her own case; and unfortunately some mothers shrink from the trouble of this, and excuse themselves by saying that "they let things take their natural course." But surely a question involving the mental purity and domestic peace of a daughter deserves to receive some attention.

Another principle may be mentioned, namely, that when a mother does converse with her daughter on any subject connected with the affections and with married life, she should carefully avoid levity and "foolish jesting, which is not convenient." Let her speak as to a rational being, on a rational subject, and she may rest assured that her girl will not be half so liable to have her head turned by the attentions of men, or to lay herself out to attract their regards, as if the common plan had been pursued. And while I urge upon the mother not to laugh with the daughter, I would also say "Do not laugh at her." It is to be expected that a young and inexperienced creature will hold many opinions not borne out by facts, and that she will entertain hopes and expectations which real life will never fulfil. She must be warned of this, and her mind must be trained to meet disappointment. But yet how pleasant and bright a flower is the unaffected romance of youth! To those who have lived to break the charm, how saddening is the thought that the being who now enters life so full of joyous anticipation will herself inherit the lot of suffering which is peculiar to over and above all that she shares with man! When a girl expresses the opinions natural to her age respecting first love, unchanging constancy, and disinterested attachment, do not laugh at her, but calmly point out how little probability there is that actual life will realize her expectations, and that a great fund of comfort and enjoyment exists independently of them. There is,

woman,

however, no occasion to recur to these subjects continually; to make any one idea unduly predominant is to destroy that well-adjusted proportion of mind which it ought to be the object of education to establish.

Whether the hints I have given be practicable or not, it is quite undeniable that the defects to which I have alluded do exist, and produce bitterly painful results. In conclusion, I would urge upon all who have a share in forming the minds of girls, (and who has not a share, directly or indirectly?) that to them is committed a stewardship for which they will one day give account; and if they would "do it with joy, and not with grief," they must conscientiously use every means in their power for the advantage of those over whom they have an influence. I shall rejoice if what I have said should draw to this interesting, but neglected subject the attention of any one better qualified than I am to suggest improve

ment.

Τιμη.

ON THE EFFECTS OF CERTAIN MENTAL AND BODILY STATES UPON THE IMAGINATION.

BY LANGSTON PARKER, ESQ.

IV. ON THE IMAGINATION OF THE INSANE.

THE ideas called up by the Imagination during sleep, being so much more vivid than those of the waking state, sometimes affect the mind in a permanent manner, by persuading it that the imaginations thus elicited are realities, leading the individual to act upon the fancies of his dream, and to continue to regard its delusions as facts. These instances of insanity from dreams are extremely rare, and produced only by those of the most extraordinary character, acting upon a mind predisposed to wander, where the dream bears a strict resemblance to the prevailing train of thought, wish, or apprehension. Thus, a dream of the day of judgment has produced insanity, where superstitious dread was the prevailing disposition of the mind. Extatic dreams during the night often form the prelude to acts of maniacal devotion. It is also sometimes from enchanting