LECTURE ON FEMALE EDUCATION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4356, 1 August 1871, Page 3

LECTURE ON FEMALE EDUCATION.

A lecture on "Female Education" was delivered in the City Hall last evening by Mrs. M. A. Colclough ("Polly Plum"). The attendance was not so large as we expected, but was composed nearly equally of ladies and gentlemen. Amongst thoae present we noticed the Kight. Her. Dr. Cowie, Bishop of Auckland ; the Ptev. B. J, Dudley, and other well-known gentlemen, The Rev. S. Edger occupied the chair, and introduced the lecturer in a few appropriate remarks. Mrs. Colclongh reviewed the present system of education as applied to girls, and pointed out its many evils. Referring to one of these she aaid : — "From (the earliest days until now, widowhood has been more sad from its helplessness. Which of us has not been called on to subscribe for some widow woman, young and strong enough, but utterly powerless lo keep herself aud her children, and maybe a great deal of energy and ability undeveloped? Trained to dependence, the loss of the one on whom she has been accustomed to lean leaves her without support, and,in spito of the powers that God has given her, she has no refuge but in paupeeistn. Who can look on her shaking hands, her moistened eye, quivering lip, and listen to the broken voice trying to utter thanks that scorch her throat, so dreadful is it to take alms— who can see this and not condemn the system that brings up women in a state of utter dependence and leaves them with such a fate and such a possibility? Oh ! ye men who hear me, you know not when it may please God to call you; many of you can make no certain provision for those whom you love and have sworn to protect ! Look on your wives, your helpless children, and say, can you approve of a system that leaves no fate open to penniless widows but that of yon poor pale creature whose rusty black is perhaps bestowed by charity — whose little childron ai*e struggling with work unsuitable to their age and strength; because their poor mother, whilst it wrings her heart to see them do it, cannot afford to lose the few poor shillings their labour will bring." The lecturer's views on the reformed system she desired to see introduced were clear and well denned. We have not space to give even an outline of the address, which lasted over an hour, but may make one or two extracts indicative of the system so earnestly advocated. "I think,", she said, "from 7to 16, girls should be at school. I think that whether taught at home or in private or public schools their teachers should all be obliged to have certificates of competency. Their education in domestic matters should go on simultaneously with instruction in book lore. Habits of industry and application cannot be learned too soon. If we leave these to be learned after school-days are over, the chances are they will never be learned properly. At a very early age a child can be taught to put away its toys, and by-and-by its clothes, and by little and little led on, till it can be entrusted with the principal charge of its ward* robe and be of some service to others. I don't think it kind or wise to tax a child beyond its strength, but still less would I allow it to gro wup in unchecked idleness. Let a girl daily during her school time take her share in the household business, of course her work increasing as her age increases. * * * j Sensible women have always held it to be wise to instruct young girls early in all domestic matters, but it is after this timv, when §the girl has left school, that my theory differs from theirs. Haying done so much wisely and well for their daughters they are content to stop at that. Sometimes the girl's abilities are utilised in the family ; and after leaving school she may become her mother's rig*ht hand aud prime minister. X * * But all girls cannot find sufficient useful employment in the home circle, and many fathers are really not in a position to keep the number of useless females that fashion and custom say they shall keep. * * * The girl who stays at home until her father dies, unless means are left for her, or there are relations to support her, must then hate the duty ; and, unused to steady work, take up with some employment, probably tuition, of which she knows as much as I know about flying I cannot say that I should like to see more girls self-helpful, however, unless more spheres of usefulness were opened to them, because the present occupations are overcrowded. The broad clear basis on which the British law with respect to men is based must also be the basis on which to legislate for women: That anything honest they want to do, and can do, and can get other people to pay them for doing, it is fair and right they should be permitted to do. * * As a 1 rule, you may trust to the instincts of good girls to decide their future course wisely. If you train them properly from early childhood, their training and their own innate delicacy of feeling will prevent their making an improper use of the freedom they ought to have, and no doubt will in time, obtain. " The lecturer advocated the throwing open various professions and trades to women, and educating them to engage in such occupations. She "was in favour of compulsory education ; the examination and licensing of teachers by the issue of certificates ; and of educating girls in a natural way, allowing their own tastes to guide them in their choice of life, uncontrolled by conventional usage. The lecture was throughout an interesting one, and at its close a cordial vote of thanks was returned to the speaker. We believe it is Mrs. Oolo'ough's intention to re-deliver the lecture at the Thames next week.

A country American editor, puffing a new shop, says in conclusion, "We get a prime pair of boots for putting this in." Dr. Griffin, when President of Williams College, convened the students at his room one evening, and told them that he had observed that they were all growing thin and dyspeptical from the neglect Of the duty of laughter, and he insisted upon it that they shbuld go through a company drill in it then and there. The Doctor was an immenseman — over six feet in height, with great amplitude of chest, and most magisterial manners. "Here,", said he to the first, "you must practise ; now hear me !" and bursting out in a sonorous laugh, he fairly obliged his pupils, one by one, to join, till the whole were almost convulsed. " That will do for ones," swd tl» doctor M and tt<w uancl you