17 



In what has been said so far, I have spoken chiefly of a 

 boy's education. The general principle will be found true 

 in that of the other sex, with such changes in the details 

 as are appropriate to physical and other conditions. 



A large number of the girls of our land are forced to 

 earn their own living. Let them be educated with a view 

 to that object, even though many of them may not be call- 

 ed upon to go outside of their own homes. I will not en- 

 ter here upon the vexed question of woman's sphere. But 

 I know no reason why industrial training in such branches 

 as women can profitably undertake should not be apart of 

 her school life. The manner of training girls in the kit- 

 chen garden system, as invented by a lady in New York 

 and described in this paper, needs but to be once seen to 

 convince any one of its practicability and value. Could 

 such a system be introduced into our common schools we 

 should soon behold better homes, more cheerful surround- 

 ings, a wiser economy in household expenses, a healthier 

 class of women, and a higher moral standard among our 

 poorer classes than is seen to-day. For what is needed to 

 elevate both man and woman is a thorough, well balanced 

 and harmonious education, which developes equally body, 

 soul and spirit ; that will banish ignorance, vice and pov- 

 erty to the limbo of the dark ages, and restore man to his 

 God-like nobility of true manhood and womanhood. 



Since writing the above my attention has been called to 

 a proposed plan of annexing a Textile Laboratory and 

 Museum to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 

 the chief features of which it may be interesting to notice 

 here. The design of this new department is to give a 

 thorough scientific instruction combined with experiment- 

 al practice in all matters relating to the treatment of the 

 raw material used in the manufacture of textile fabrics. 

 In the first place would come a study of physical geogra- 



