Lectures to Young Women (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880. Excerpt: ... LECTURE V. FOLLIES. "Whose adorning, let it be that of a meek and quiet spirit, which is m the sight of God of great price."--1 Peter UL 3, 4. If my remarks last Sunday evening were at all correct, the most important part of a woman's education is that which she must accomplish for herself. Not only during her school days, but after they are passed, the work of self-improvement should steadily go on. Her aim should be, not only to become ladylike and agreeable, but a thoughtful, wellinformed, and useful woman. In other words, the education of her character and the just development of her mind is the object to be obtained. To this end her teachers may help her more or less, according to the manner in which she is taught to read, to study, and to think. The parents, and particularly the mother, may do still more by judicious instruction, and by the example of a Christian life. But after all, and above all, she must lay hold of the work herself. She must perceive its necessity, and resolve that nothing shall divert her mind from it. It is a slow work, requiring years for its faithful performance, and is in fact never completed wh'ile life continues. Humanly speaking, self-improvement is the great business of life, and is only another expression for making the best of all our faculties, for the glory of God and by his nelp. The young lady, therefore, instead of losing sight of it when she leaves her schoolbooks, should feel that the work is just begun. As the carpenter, during his apprenticeship, has done little more than learn the use of his tools, and has his life's work of building and designing before him; so ought she to feel that her school education has only unlocked the door through which she must go in the further acquisition of knowledge, in the exe...