Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 June 1874 — Accomplishments. [ARTICLE]

Accomplishments.

So called accomplishments are a sort of Mansard roof clapped on the sounder structure of the average English education. Why they are thus denominated when in the possession of them so little is really accomplished, it is difficult to determine. Their material is generally as unsubstantial as that of the thing to which they have been compared, and, subjected to the fiery tests of life and experience, they are almost as readily destroyed. The acquirement of a little knowledge of music, certain rules of drawing, the process of mixing colors, and a few foreign phrases are oftenest the result of much misapplied industry. If music, drawing and painting were studied and cultivated as arts, with the intent of becoming thoroughly proficient in them, that they might stand if need be in good, practical stead, then the time devoted to them would not be wasted. Instead of being mental folfols in which to deck their ill-clothed minds in public, these attainments would be of deep and lasting satisfaction to their possessors, even though not put to any severer trial. Few girls care enough for music and drawing to pursue them after being freed from the restraint of masters, and many would never begin such study were it not for the ambition of parents, guided by a society that demands all girls to be molded after one model. This idea is so obviously impossible as to be absurd. Countless good gardeners, milliners, dressmakers, housekeepers have been spoiled in poor piano-players, simply because knowledge of the piano was considered an elegant acquisition; while an understanding of the other things was regarded as something, shat only .necessity should require. The hours of strumming on unresponsive instruments (unresponsive 1 because touched by no sympathetic fingers) which, otherwise employed, might have made capital cooks are incalculable. The original design was good—to enable women to impart pleasure and improvement to themselves and others; but it signally fails. Seldom are girls willing to play or exhibit she work of their pencil to critical ears and eyes; and when good nature impels them to, what have they to offer ? Ordinarily the merest smatteringmore repellant to ripe judgment than total ignorance would be. Yt is evident that an acquaintance with the alphabet of many branches is not so great an aid to intellectual improvement as being thoroughly versed in one. In this short life it is much to know even one thing well. If thoroughly understood, everything, from steak-broiling to oratoriocomposing, should be considered an accomplishment. Pupils apt at figures should be taught book keeping in place of minims and semi-breves; and natural nurses given an insight into bottles and bandages, in lieu of curved lines and neutral tint. Thus the training of the mind in a direction at once natural and useful contributes to its healthiest growth, and redounds to individual advancement and general advantage.—“ Some and Society," in Scribner's for June.