Two works are now issued by the largest publishing house in the country, which, it is believed, will prove useful and interesting to every American woman. An account of these works and the terms of the contract will be found at the close of this volume.[4] It will be seen that these terms are very favourable, and involve no hazard of loss. These works will be put into the market and be sold at ordinary prices. Half the profits (after paying a moderate compensation to the author for the time and labour of preparing them, the amount to be decided by the above gentlemen) will be devoted to this object, and as the works are of a kind that will always be useful, a large sale would secure both a present and future income.
Any woman, then, who is desirous to aid in promoting this enterprise, can do so by requesting some bookseller in her vicinity to send for these works, and then purchasing them herself and using her influence to induce her friends to do the same. Still more will be effected by securing notices of these works in newspapers and other periodicals.
Should means be obtained sufficient, to secure the services of a suitable gentleman, the following measures are suggested as what might be attempted.
In the first place, an effort could be made to secure committees of ladies, of each denomination, in all our principal cities, who shall agree to act simultaneously, on some uniform plan, and, if need be, keep up a correspondence in order to secure this result. Such committees might exert themselves in one, or all of the following ways:
They could, firstly, aim to secure the aid and co-operation of the conductors of the periodical press, literary, political, and religious. The gentleman who engages in this enterprise, could write, or cause others to write, articles calculated to arouse the public mind in regard to popular education. These articles could be transmitted to all the affiliated committees in every part of our land, and by their influence, be inserted in most of the newspapers, or other periodicals within their reach. Thus a steady and most powerful influence would be brought to bear on the public mind. The people would be aroused, and through the people, the legislatures might be led to energetic and appropriate action. And then, as fast as schools are formed, female teachers will be in demand.
These committees, if it is deemed proper, might also address private letters to clergymen of their several denominations, asking aid and advice. Next to the press, the pulpit is the most effective engine of moral power, and, happily, the clergy of this nation have ever been among the most ardent and active friends of education, and the warm supporters of almost every benevolent enterprise. An appeal to them for aid must secure happy results.
Another method, which such committees could adopt, would be, to make personal appeals, both to ladies of large means and to those, also, of smaller ability, for subscriptions to aid in educating and locating female missionary teachers. Such subscriptions, however, cannot be successfully sought until some body is organized, consisting of gentlemen of various denominations, who possess public confidence, and who shall be properly authorized to receive and appropriate subscriptions.
Another and most important measure could be prosecuted by these committees. At the East, where there is a superabundance of teachers, and of women who could speedily be qualified to teach, such committees could act in selecting the most suitable women of their own denomination to receive the aid provided; and the number might be regulated by the relative amount of subscriptions in each denomination.
At the West, such committees could aid in providing schools for those sent out, a suitable escort, a proper home, and the advice, sympathy, and aid that would be needed by a stranger in a strange land.