north america-1-第65章
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ew York； though I might say the same of Boston； or of all New England。 I do not know any contrast that would be more surprising to an Englishman； up to that moment ignorant of the matter； than that which he would find by visiting first of all a free school in London； and then a free school in New York。 If he would also learn the number of children that are educated gratuitously in each of the two cities； and also the number in each which altogether lack education； he would； if susceptible of statistics； be surprised also at that。 But seeing and hearing are always more effective than mere figures。 The female pupil at a free school in London is； as a rule； either a ragged pauper or a charity girl； if not degraded； at least stigmatized by the badges and dress of the charity。 We Englishmen know well the type of each； and have a fairly correct idea of the amount of education which is imparted to them。 We see the result afterward when the same girls become our servants； and the wives of our grooms and porters。 The female pupil at a free school in New York is neither a pauper nor a charity girl。 She is dressed with the utmost decency。 She is perfectly cleanly。 In speaking to her； you cannot in any degree guess whether her father has a dollar a day； or three thousand dollars a year。 Nor will you be enabled to guess by the manner in which her associates treat her。 As regards her own manner to you； it is always the same as though her father were in all respects your equal。 As to the amount of her knowledge； I fairly confess that it is terrific。 When in the first room which I visited； a slight； slim creature was had up before me to explain to me the properties of the hypothenuse； I fairly confess that； as regards education； I backed down； and that I resolved to confine my criticisms to manner； dress； and general behavior。 In the next room I was more at my ease； finding that ancient Roman history was on the tapis。 〃Why did the Romans run away with the Sabine women asked the mistress； herself a young woman of about three and twenty。 〃Because they were pretty；〃 simpered out a little girl with a cherry mouth。 The answer did not give complete satisfaction； and then followed a somewhat abstruse explanation on the subject of population。 It was all done with good faith and a serious intent； and showed what it was intended to showthat the girls there educated had in truth reached the consideration of important subjects； and that they were leagues beyond that terrible repetition of A B C； to which； I fear； that most of our free metropolitan schools are still necessarily confined。 You and I； reader； were we called on to superintend the education of girls of sixteen； might not select； as favorite points either the hypothenuse or the ancient methods of populating young colonies。 There may be； and to us on the European side of the Atlantic there will be； a certain amount of absurdity in the Transatlantic idea that all knowledge is knowledge； and that it should be imparted if it be not knowledge of evil。 But as to the general result； no fair…minded man or woman can have a doubt。 That the lads and girls in these schools are excellently educated； comes home as a fact to the mind of any one who will look into the subject。 That girl could not have got as fair at the hypothenuse without a competent and abiding knowledge of much that is very far beyond the outside limits of what such girls know with us。 It was at least manifest in the other examination that the girls knew as well as I did who were the Romans； and who were the Sabine women。 That all this is of use； was shown in the very gestures and bearings of the girl。 Emollit mores； as Colonel Newcombe used to say。 That young woman whom I had watched while she cooked her husband's dinner upon the banks of the Mississippi had doubtless learned all about the Sabine women； and I feel assured that she cooked her husband's dinner all the better for that knowledgeand faced the hardships of the world with a better front than she would have done had she been ignorant on the subject。 In order to make a comparison between the schools of London and those of New York； I have called them both free schools。 They are； in fact； more free in New York than they are in London； because in New York every boy and girl； let his parentage be what it may； can attend these schools without any payment。 Thus an education as good as the American mind can compass； prepared with every care； carried on by highly…paid tutors； under ample surveillance； provided with all that is most excellent in the way of rooms； desks； books； charts； maps； and implements； is brought actually within the reach of everybody。 I need not point out to Englishmen how different is the nature of schools in London。 It must not； however； be supposed that these are charity schools。 Such is not their nature。 Let us say what we may as to the beauty of charity as a virtue； the recipient of charity in its customary sense among us is ever more or less degraded by the position。 In the States that has been fully understood； and the schools to which I allude are carefully preserved from any such taint。 Throughout the States a separate tax is levied for the maintenance of these schools； and as the taxpayer supports them； he is； of course； entitled to the advantage which they confer。 The child of the non…taxpayer is also entitled； and to him the boon； if strictly analyzed； will come in the shape of a charity。 But under the system as it is arranged； this is not analyzed。 It is understood that the school is open to all in the ward to which it belongs； and no inquiry is made whether the pupil's parent has or has not paid anything toward the school's support。 I found this theory carried out so far that at the deaf and dumb school； where some of the poorer children are wholly provided by the institution； care is taken to clothe them in dresses of different colors and different make； in order that nothing may attach to them which has the appearance of a badge。 Political economists will see something of evil in this。 But philanthropists will see very much that is good。 It is not without a purpose that I have given this somewhat glowing account of a girls' school in New York so soon after my little picture of New York women； as they behave themselves in the streets and street cars。 It will； of course； be said that those women of whom I have spoken； by no means in terms of admiration； are the very girls whose education has been so excellent。 This of course is so； but I beg to remark that I have by no means said that an excellent school education will produce all female excellencies。 The fact； I take it； is this： that seeing how high in the scale these girls have been raised； one is anxious that they should be raised higher。 One is surprised at their pert vulgarity and hideous airs； not because they are so low in our general estimation； but because they are so high。 Women of the same class in London are humble enough； and therefore rarely offend us who are squeamish。 They show by their gestures that they hardly think themselves good enough to sit by us； they apologize for their presence； they conceive it to be their duty to be lowly in their gesture。 The question is which is best； the crouching and crawling； or the impudent； unattractive self…composure。 Not； my reader； which action on her part may the better conduce to my comfort or to yours。 That is by no means the question。 Which is the better for the woman herself？ That； I take it； is the point to be decided。 That there is something better than either； we shall all agreebut to my thinking the crouching and crawling is the lowest type of all。 At that school I saw some five or six hundred girls collected in one room； and heard them sing。 The singing was very pretty； and it was all very nice； but I own that I was rather startled； and to tell the truth somewhat abashed； when I was invited to 〃say a few words to them。〃 No idea of such a suggestion had dawned upon me； and I felt myself quite at a loss。 To be called up before five hundred men is bad enough； but how much worse before that number of girls！ What could I say but that they were all very pretty？ As far as I can remember； I did say th
