Myobservationsonnationaleducationareobviouslyhints;butI
principallywishtoenforcethenecessityofeducatingthesexestogethertoperfectboth,andofmakingchildrensleepathome,thattheymaylearntolovehome;yettomakeprivatesupportinsteadofsmotheringpublicaffections,theyshouldbesenttoschooltomixwithanumberofequals,foronlybythejostlingsofequalitycanweformajustopinionofourselves。
Torendermankindmorevirtuous,andhappierofcourse,bothsexesmustactfromthesameprinciple;buthowcanthatbeexpectedwhenonlyoneisallowedtoseethereasonablenessofit？Torenderalsothesocialcompacttrulyequitable,andinordertospreadthoseenlighteningprinciples,whichalonecanmelioratethefateofman,womenmustbeallowedtofoundtheirvirtueonknowledge,whichisscarcelypossibleunlesstheybeeducatedbythesamepursuitsasmen。Fortheyarenowmadesoinferiourbyignoranceandlowdesires,asnottodeservetoberankedwiththem;or,bytheserpentinewrigglingsofcunningtheymountthetreeofknowledgeandonlyacquiresufficienttoleadmenastray。
Itisplainfromthehistoryofallnations,thatwomencannotbeconfinedtomerelydomesticpursuits,fortheywillnotfulfilfamilyduties,unlesstheirmindstakeawiderrange,andwhilsttheyarekeptinignorance,theybecomeinthesameproportion,theslavesofpleasureastheyaretheslavesofman。Norcantheybeshutoutofgreatenterprises,thoughthenarrownessoftheirmindsoftenmakethemmarwhattheyareunabletocomprehend。
Thelibertinism,andeventhevirtuesofsuperiormen,willalwaysgivewomen,ofsomedescription,greatpoweroverthem;andtheseweakwomen,undertheinfluenceofchildishpassionsandselfishvanity,willthrowafalselightovertheobjectswhichtheverymenviewwiththeireyes,whooughttoenlightentheirjudgment。
Menoffancy,andthosesanguinecharacterswhomostlyholdthehelmofhumanaffairs,ingeneral,relaxinthesocietyofwomen;
andsurelyIneednotcitetothemostsuperficialreaderofhistory,thenumerousexamplesofviceandoppressionwhichtheprivateintriguesoffemalefavouriteshaveproduced;nottodwellonthemischiefthatnaturallyarisesfromtheblunderinginterpositionofwell—meaningfolly。Forinthetransactionsofbusinessitismuchbettertohavetodealwithaknavethanafool,becauseaknaveadherestosomeplan;andanyplanofreasonmaybeseenthroughmuchsoonerthanasuddenflightoffolly。Thepowerwhichvileandfoolishwomenhavehadoverwisemen,whopossessedsensibility,isnotorious;Ishallonlymentiononeinstance。
WhoeverdrewamoreexaltedfemalecharacterthanRousseau？thoughinthelumpheconstantlyendeavouredtodegradethesex。Andwhywashethusanxious？TrulytojustifytohimselftheaffectionwhichweaknessandvirtuehadmadehimcherishforthatfoolTheresa。Hecouldnotraisehertothecommonlevelofhersex;
andthereforehelabouredtobringwomandowntoher\'s。Hefoundheraconvenienthumblecompanion,andpridemadehimdeterminetofindsomesuperiorvirtuesinthebeingwhomhechosetolivewith;
butdidnotherconductduringhislife,andafterhisdeath,clearlyshowhowgrosslyhewasmistakenwhocalledheracelestialinnocent。Nay,inthebitternessofhisheart,hehimselflaments,thatwhenhisbodilyinfirmitiesmadehimnolongertreatherlikeawoman,sheceasedtohaveanaffectionforhim。Anditwasverynaturalthatsheshould,forhavingsofewsentimentsincommon,whenthesexualtiewasbroken,whatwastoholdher？Toholdheraffectionwhosesensibilitywasconfinedtoonesex,nay,tooneman,itrequiressensetoturnsensibilityintothebroadchannelofhumanity:manywomenhavenotmindenoughtohaveanaffectionforawoman,orafriendshipforaman。Butthesexualweaknessthatmakeswomandependonmanforasubsistence,producesakindofcattishaffection,whichleadsawifetopurraboutherhusband,asshewouldaboutanymanwhofedandcaressedher。
Men,arehowever,oftengratifiedbythiskindoffondnesswhichisconfinedinabeastlymannertothemselves,butshouldtheyeverbecomemorevirtuous,theywillwishtoconverseattheirfire—sidewithafriend,aftertheyceasetoplaywithamistress。Besides,understandingisnecessarytogivevarietyandinteresttosensualenjoyments,forlow,indeed,intheintellectualscale,isthemindthatcancontinuetolovewhenneithervirtuenorsensegiveahumanappearancetoananimalappetite。Butsensewillalwayspreponderate;andifwomenarenot,ingeneral,broughtmoreonalevelwithmen,somesuperiorwomen,liketheGreekcourtezanswillassemblethemenofabilitiesaroundthem,anddrawfromtheirfamiliesmanycitizens,whowouldhavestayedathome,hadtheirwiveshadmoresense,orthegraceswhichresultfromtheexerciseoftheunderstandingandfancy,thelegitimateparentsoftaste。A
womanoftalents,ifshebenotabsolutelyugly,willalwaysobtaingreatpower,raisedbytheweaknessofhersex;andinproportionasmenacquirevirtueanddelicacy:bytheexertionofreason,theywilllookforbothinwomen,buttheycanonlyacquiretheminthesamewaythatmendo。
InFranceorItalyhavethewomenconfinedthemselvestodomesticlife？thoughtheyhavenothithertohadapoliticalexistence,yet,havetheynotillicitlyhadgreatsway？corruptingthemselvesandthemenwithwhosepassionstheyplayed？Inshort,inwhateverlightIviewthesubject,reasonandexperienceconvinceme,thattheonlymethodofleadingwomentofulfiltheirpeculiarduties,istofreethemfromallrestraintbyallowingthemtoparticipatetheinherentrightsofmankind。
Makethemfree,andtheywillquicklybecomewiseandvirtuous,asmenbecomemoreso;fortheimprovementmustbemutual,orthejusticewhichonehalfofthehumanraceareobligedtosubmitto,retortingontheiroppressors,thevirtueofmanwillbeworm—eatenbytheinsectwhomhekeepsunderhisfeet。
Letmentaketheirchoice,manandwomanweremadeforeachother,thoughnottobecomeonebeing;andiftheywillnotimprovewomen,theywilldepravethem！
Ispeakoftheimprovementandemancipationofthewholesex,forI
knowthatthebehaviourofafewwomen,whobyaccident,orfollowingastrongbentofnature,haveacquiredaportionofknowledgesuperiortothatoftherestoftheirsex,hasoftenbeenover—bearing;buttherehavebeeninstancesofwomenwho,attainingknowledge,havenotdiscardedmodesty,norhavetheyalwayspedanticallyappearedtodespisetheignorancewhichtheylabouredtodisperseintheirownminds。Theexclamationsthenwhichanyadvicerespectingfemalelearning,commonlyproduces,especiallyfromprettywomen,oftenarisefromenvy。Whentheychancetoseethateventhelustreoftheireyes,andtheflippantsportivenessofrefinedcoquetrywillnotalwayssecurethemattention,duringawholeevening,shouldawomanofamorecultivatedunderstandingendeavourtogivearationalturntotheconversation,thecommonsourceofconsolationis,thatsuchwomenseldomgethusbands。
WhatartshaveInotseensillywomenusetointerruptbyFLIRTATION,（averysignificantwordtodescribesuchamanoeuvre）
arationalconversation,whichmadethemenforgetthattheywereprettywomen。
But,allowingwhatisverynaturaltoman——thatthepossessionofrareabilitiesisreallycalculatedtoexciteover—weeningpride,disgustinginbothmenandwomen——inwhatastateofinferioritymustthefemalefacultieshaverustedwhensuchasmallportionofknowledgeasthosewomenattained,whohavesneeringlybeentermedlearnedwomen,couldbesingular？Sufficientlysotopuffupthepossessor,andexciteenvyinhercontemporaries,andsomeoftheothersex。Nay,hasnotalittlerationalityexposedmanywomentotheseverestcensure？Iadverttowellknown—facts,forIhavefrequentlyheardwomenridiculed,andeverylittleweaknessexposed,onlybecausetheyadoptedtheadviceofsomemedicalmen,anddeviatedfromthebeatentrackintheirmodeoftreatingtheirinfants。Ihaveactuallyheardthisbarbarousaversiontoinnovationcarriedstillfurther,andasensiblewomanstigmatizedasanunnaturalmother,whohasthusbeenwiselysolicitoustopreservethehealthofherchildren,wheninthemidstofhercareshehaslostonebysomeofthecasualtiesofinfancywhichnoprudencecanwardoff。Heracquaintancehaveobserved,thatthiswastheconsequenceofnew—fanglednotions——thenew—fanglednotionsofeaseandcleanliness。Andthosewho,pretendingtoexperience,thoughtheyhavelongadheredtoprejudicesthathave,accordingtotheopinionofthemostsagaciousphysicians,thinnedthehumanrace,almostrejoicedatthedisasterthatgaveakindofsanctiontoprescription。
Indeed,ifitwereonlyonthisaccount,thenationaleducationofwomenisoftheutmostconsequence;forwhatanumberofhumansacrificesaremadetothatmoloch,prejudice！Andinhowmanywaysarechildrendestroyedbythelasciviousnessofman？Thewantofnaturalaffectioninmanywomen,whoaredrawnfromtheirdutybytheadmirationofmen,andtheignoranceofothers,rendertheinfancyofmanamuchmoreperilousstatethanthatofbrutes;yetmenareunwillingtoplacewomeninsituationspropertoenablethemtoacquiresufficientunderstandingtoknowhoweventonursetheirbabes。
Soforciblydoesthistruthstrikeme,thatIwouldrestthewholetendencyofmyreasoninguponit;forwhatevertendstoincapacitatethematernalcharacter,takeswomanoutofhersphere。
Butitisvaintoexpectthepresentraceofweakmotherseithertotakethatreasonablecareofachild\'sbody,whichisnecessarytolaythefoundationofagoodconstitution,supposingthatitdonotsufferforthesinsofitsfathers;ortomanageitstempersojudiciouslythatthechildwillnothave,asitgrowsup,tothrowoffallthatitsmother,itsfirstinstructor,directlyorindirectlytaught,andunlessthemindhaveuncommonvigour,womanishfollieswillsticktothecharacterthroughoutlife。Theweaknessofthemotherwillbevisitedonthechildren！Andwhilstwomenareeducatedtorelyontheirhusbandsforjudgment,thismusteverbetheconsequence,forthereisnoimprovinganunderstandingbyhalves,norcananybeingactwiselyfromimitation,becauseineverycircumstanceoflifethereisakindofindividuality,whichrequiresanexertionofjudgmenttomodifygeneralrules。Thebeingwhocanthinkjustlyinonetrack,willsoonextenditsintellectualempire;andshewhohassufficientjudgmenttomanageherchildren,willnotsubmitrightorwrong,toherhusband,orpatientlytothesociallawswhichmakesanonentityofawife。
Inpublicschoolswomen,toguardagainsttheerrorsofignorance,shouldbetaughttheelementsofanatomyandmedicine,notonlytoenablethemtotakepropercareoftheirownhealth,buttomakethemrationalnursesoftheirinfants,parents,andhusbands;forthebillsofmortalityareswelledbytheblundersofself—willedoldwomen,whogivenostrumsoftheirown,withoutknowinganythingofthehumanframe。Itislikewiseproper,onlyinadomesticview,tomakewomen,acquaintedwiththeanatomyofthemind,byallowingthesexestoassociatetogetherineverypursuit;
andbyleadingthemtoobservetheprogressofthehumanunderstandingintheimprovementofthesciencesandarts;neverforgettingthescienceofmorality,northestudyofthepoliticalhistoryofmankind。
Amanhasbeentermedamicrocosm;andeveryfamilymightalsobecalledastate。States,itistrue,havemostlybeengovernedbyartsthatdisgracethecharacterofman;andthewantofajustconstitution,andequallaws,havesoperplexedthenotionsoftheworldlywise,thattheymorethanquestionthereasonablenessofcontendingfortherightsofhumanity。Thusmorality,pollutedinthenationalreservoir,sendsoffstreamsofvicetocorrupttheconstituentpartsofthebodypolitic;butshouldmorenoble,orrathermorejustprinciplesregulatethelaws,whichoughttobethegovernmentofsociety,andnotthosewhoexecutethem,dutymightbecometheruleofprivateconduct。
Besides,bytheexerciseoftheirbodiesandminds,womenwouldacquirethatmentalactivitysonecessaryinthematernalcharacter,unitedwiththefortitudethatdistinguishessteadinessofconductfromtheobstinateperversenessofweakness。Foritisdangeroustoadvisetheindolenttobesteady,becausetheyinstantlybecomerigorous,andtosavethemselvestrouble,punishwithseverityfaultsthatthepatientfortitudeofreasonmighthaveprevented。
Butfortitudepresupposesstrengthofmind,andisstrengthofmindtobeacquiredbyindolentacquiescence？Byaskingadviceinsteadofexertingthejudgment？Byobeyingthroughfear,insteadofpractisingtheforbearance,whichweallstandinneedofourselves？TheconclusionwhichIwishtodrawisobvious;makewomenrationalcreaturesandfreecitizens,andtheywillquicklybecomegoodwives,andmothers;thatis——ifmendonotneglectthedutiesofhusbandsandfathers。
Discussingtheadvantageswhichapublicandprivateeducationcombined,asIhavesketched,mightrationallybeexpectedtoproduce,Ihavedweltmostonsuchasareparticularlyrelativetothefemaleworld,becauseIthinkthefemaleworldoppressed;yetthegangrenewhichthevices,engenderedbyoppressionhaveproduced,isnotconfinedtothemorbidpart,butpervadessocietyatlarge;sothatwhenIwishtoseemysexbecomemorelikemoralagents,myheartboundswiththeanticipationofthegeneraldiffusionofthatsublimecontentmentwhichonlymoralitycandiffuse。
CHAPTER13。
SOMEINSTANCESOFTHEFOLLYWHICHTHEIGNORANCEOFWOMENGENERATES;
WITHCONCLUDINGREFLECTIONSONTHEMORALIMPROVEMENTTHATA
REVOLUTIONINFEMALEMANNERSMIGHTNATURALLYBEEXPECTEDTO
PRODUCE。
Therearemanyfollies,insomedegree,peculiartowomen:sinsagainstreason,ofcommission,aswellasofomission;butallflowingfromignoranceorprejudice,Ishallonlypointoutsuchasappeartobeinjurioustotheirmoralcharacter。Andinanimadvertingonthem,Iwishespeciallytoprove,thattheweaknessofmindandbody,whichmenhaveendeavouredbyvariousmotivestoperpetuate,preventstheirdischargingthepeculiardutyoftheirsex:forwhenweaknessofbodywillnotpermitthemtosuckletheirchildren,andweaknessofmindmakesthemspoiltheirtempers——iswomaninanaturalstate？
SECTION13。1。
Oneglaringinstanceoftheweaknesswhichproceedsfromignorance,firstclaimsattention,andcallsforseverereproof。
Inthismetropolisanumberoflurkingleechesinfamouslygainasubsistencebypractisingonthecredulityofwomen,pretendingtocastnativities,tousethetechnicalphrase;andmanyfemaleswho,proudoftheirrankandfortune,lookdownonthevulgarwithsovereigncontempt,showbythiscredulity,thatthedistinctionisarbitrary,andthattheyhavenotsufficientlycultivatedtheirmindstoriseabovevulgarprejudices。Women,becausetheyhavenotbeenledtoconsidertheknowledgeoftheirdutyastheonethingnecessarytoknow,or,toliveinthepresentmomentbythedischargeofit,areveryanxioustopeepintofuturity,tolearnwhattheyhavetoexpecttorenderlifeinteresting,andtobreakthevacuumofignorance。Imustbeallowedtoexpostulateseriouslywiththeladies,whofollowtheseidleinventions;forladies,mistressesoffamilies,arenotashamedtodriveintheirowncarriagestothedoorofthecunningman。Andifanyofthemshouldperusethiswork,Ientreatthemtoanswertotheirownheartsthefollowingquestions,notforgettingthattheyareinthepresenceofGod。
DoyoubelievethatthereisbutoneGod,andthatheispowerful,wise,andgood？
Doyoubelievethatallthingswerecreatedbyhim,andthatallbeingsaredependentonhim？
Doyourelyonhiswisdom,soconspicuousinhisworks,andinyourownframe,andareyouconvinced,thathehasorderedallthingswhichdonotcomeunderthecognizanceofyoursenses,inthesameperfectharmony,tofulfilhisdesigns？
Doyouacknowledgethatthepoweroflookingintofuturityandseeingthingsthatarenot,asiftheywere,isanattributeoftheCreator？Andshouldhe,byanimpressiononthemindsofhiscreatures,thinkfittoimparttothemsomeeventhidintheshadesoftime,yetunborn,towhomwouldthesecretberevealedbyimmediateinspiration？Theopinionofageswillanswerthisquestion——toreverendoldmen,topeopledistinguishedforeminentpiety。
TheoraclesofoldwerethusdeliveredbypriestsdedicatedtotheserviceoftheGod,whowassupposedtoinspirethem。Theglareofworldlypompwhichsurroundedtheseimpostors,andtherespectpaidtothembyartfulpoliticians,whoknewhowtoavailthemselvesofthisusefulenginetobendthenecksofthestrongunderthedominionofthecunning,spreadasacredmysteriousveilofsanctityovertheirliesandabominations。Impressedbysuchsolemndevotionalparade,aGreekorRomanladymightbeexcused,ifsheinquiredoftheoracle,whenshewasanxioustopryintofuturity,orinquireaboutsomedubiousevent:andherinquiries,howevercontrarytoreason,couldnotbereckonedimpious。But,cantheprofessorsofChristianitywardoffthatimputation？CanaChristiansuppose,thatthefavouritesofthemostHigh,thehighlyfavouredwouldbeobligedtolurkindisguise,andpractisethemostdishonesttrickstocheatsillywomenoutofthemoney,whichthepoorcryforinvain？
Saynotthatsuchquestionsareaninsulttocommonsenseforitisyourownconduct,Oyefoolishwomen！whichthrowsanodiumonyoursex！Andthesereflectionsshouldmakeyoushudderatyourthoughtlessness,andirrationaldevotion,forIdonotsupposethatallofyoulaidasideyourreligion,suchasitis,whenyouenteredthosemysteriousdwellings。Yet,asIhavethroughoutsupposedmyselftalkingtoignorantwomen,forignorantyeareinthemostemphaticalsenseoftheword,itwouldbeabsurdtoreasonwithyouontheegregiousfollyofdesiringtoknowwhattheSupremeWisdomhasconcealed。
Probablyyouwouldnotunderstandme,wereItoattempttoshowyouthatitwouldbeabsolutelyinconsistentwiththegrandpurposeoflife,thatofrenderinghumancreatureswiseandvirtuous:andthat,wereitsanctionedbyGod,itwoulddisturbtheorderestablishedincreation;andifitbenotsanctionedbyGod,doyouexpecttoheartruth？Caneventsbeforetold,eventswhichhavenotyetassumedabodytobecomesubjecttomortalinspection,cantheybeforeseenbyaviciousworldling,whopampershisappetitesbypreyingonthefoolishones？
Perhaps,however,youdevoutlybelieveinthedevil,andimagine,toshiftthequestion,thathemayassisthisvotaries？butifreallyrespectingthepowerofsuchabeing,anenemytogoodnessandtoGod,canyougotochurchafterhavingbeenundersuchanobligationtohim。Fromthesedelusionstothosestillmorefashionabledeceptions,practisedbythewholetribeofmagnetisers,thetransitionisverynatural。Withrespecttothem,itisequallypropertoaskwomenafewquestions。
Doyouknowanythingoftheconstructionofthehumanframe？Ifnot,itisproperthatyoushouldbetold,whateverychildoughttoknow,thatwhenitsadmirableeconomyhasbeendisturbedbyintemperanceorindolence,Ispeaknotofviolentdisorders,butofchronicaldiseases,itmustbebroughtintoahealthystateagainbyslowdegrees,andifthefunctionsoflifehavenotbeenmateriallyinjured,regimen,anotherwordfortemperance,air,exercise,andafewmedicinesprescribedbypersonswhohavestudiedthehumanbody,aretheonlyhumanmeans,yetdiscovered,ofrecoveringthatinestimableblessinghealth,thatwillbearinvestigation。
Doyouthenbelieve,thatthesemagnetisers,who,byhocuspocustricks,pretend,toworkamiracle,aredelegatedbyGod,orassistedbythesolverofallthesekindofdifficulties——thedevil。
Dothey,whentheyputtoflight,asitissaid,disordersthathavebaffledthepowersofmedicine,workinconformitytothelightofreason？Ordotheyeffectthesewonderfulcuresbysupernaturalaid？
Byacommunication,anadeptmayanswer,withtheworldofspirits。
Anobleprivilege,itmustbeallowed。Someoftheancientsmentionfamiliardemons,whoguardedthemfromdanger,bykindlyintimating（wecannotguessinwhatmanner,）whenanydangerwasnigh;orpointedoutwhattheyoughttoundertake。Yetthemenwholaidclaimtothisprivilege,outoftheorderofnature,insisted,thatitwastherewardorconsequenceofsuperiortemperanceandpiety。Butthepresentworkersofwondersarenotraisedabovetheirfellowsbysuperiortemperanceorsanctity。TheydonotcurefortheloveofGod,butmoney。Thesearethepriestsofquackery,thoughitbetruetheyhavenottheconvenientexpedientofsellingmassesforsoulsinpurgatory,norchurches,wheretheycandisplaycrutches,andmodelsoflimbsmadesoundbyatouchoraword。
Iamnotconversantwiththetechnicalterms,norinitiatedintothearcana,thereforeImayspeakimproperly;butitisclear,thatmenwhowillnotconformtothelawofreason,andearnasubsistenceinanhonestway,bydegrees,areveryfortunateinbecomingacquaintedwithsuchobligingspirits。Wecannot,indeed,givethemcreditforeithergreatsagacityorgoodness,elsetheywouldhavechosenmorenobleinstruments,whentheywishedtoshowthemselvesthebenevolentfriendsofman。
Itis,however,littleshortofblasphemytopretendtosuchpower。
>FromthewholetenorofthedispensationsofProvidence,itappearsevidenttosoberreason,thatcertainvicesproducecertaineffects:andcananyonesogrosslyinsultthewisdomofGod,astosuppose,thatamiraclewillbeallowedtodisturbhisgenerallaws,torestoretohealththeintemperateandvicious,merelytoenablethemtopursuethesamecoursewithimpunity？Bewhole,andsinnomore,saidJesus。Andaregreatermiraclestobeperformedbythosewhodonotfollowhisfootsteps,whohealedthebodytoreachthemind？
ThementioningofthenameofChrist,aftersuchvileimpostorsmaydispleasesomeofmyreaders——Irespecttheirwarmth;butletthemnotforget,thatthefollowersofthesedelusionsbearhisname,andprofesstobethedisciplesofhim,whosaid,bytheirworksweshouldknowwhowerethechildrenofGodortheservantsofsin。I
allowthatitiseasiertotouchthebodyofasaint,ortobemagnetised,thantorestrainourappetitesorgovernourpassions;
buthealthofbodyormindcanonlyberecoveredbythesemeans,orwemaketheSupremeJudgepartialandrevengeful。
Isheaman,thatheshouldchange,orpunishoutofresentment？
He——thecommonfather,woundsbuttoheal,saysreason,andourirregularitiesproducingcertainconsequences,weareforciblyshownthenatureofvice;thatthuslearningtoknowgoodfromevil,byexperience,wemayhateoneandlovetheother,inproportiontothewisdomwhichweattain。Thepoisoncontainstheantidote;andweeitherreformourevilhabits,andceasetosinagainstourownbodies,tousetheforciblelanguageofscripture,oraprematuredeath,thepunishmentofsin,snapsthethreadoflife。
Hereanawfulstopisputtoourinquiries。But,whyshouldI
concealmysentiments？ConsideringtheattributesofGod,I
believe,thatwhateverpunishmentmayfollow,willtend,liketheanguishofdisease,toshowthemalignityofvice,forthepurposeofreformation。PositivepunishmentappearssocontrarytothenatureofGod,discoverableinallhisworks,andinourownreason,thatIcouldsoonerbelievethattheDeitypaidnoattentiontotheconductofmen,thanthathepunishedwithoutthebenevolentdesignofreforming。
Tosupposeonly,thatanall—wiseandpowerfulBeing,asgoodasheisgreat,shouldcreateabeing,foreseeing,thatafterfiftyorsixtyyearsoffeverishexistence,itwouldbeplungedintoneverendingwoe——isblasphemy。Onwhatwillthewormfeedthatisnevertodie？Onfolly,onignorance,sayye——Ishouldblushindignantlyatdrawingthenaturalconclusion,couldIinsertit,andwishtowithdrawmyselffromthewingofmyGod！Onsuchasupposition,I
speakwithreverence,hewouldbeaconsumingfire。Weshouldwish,thoughvainly,toflyfromhispresencewhenfearabsorbedlove,anddarknessinvolvedallhiscounsels。
IknowthatmanydevoutpeopleboastofsubmittingtotheWillofGodblindly,astoanarbitrarysceptreorrod,onthesameprincipleastheIndiansworshipthedevil。Inotherwords,likepeopleinthecommonconcernsoflife,theydohomagetopower,andcringeunderthefootthatcancrushthem。Rationalreligion,onthecontrary,isasubmissiontothewillofabeingsoperfectlywise,thatallhewillsmustbedirectedbythepropermotive——mustbereasonable。
And,ifthuswerespectGod,canwegivecredittothemysteriousinsinuationswhichinsulthislaws？Canwebelieve,thoughitshouldstareusintheface,thathewouldworkamiracletoauthorizeconfusionbysanctioninganerror？Yetwemusteitherallowtheseimpiousconclusions,ortreatwithcontempteverypromisetorestorehealthtoadiseasedbodybysupernaturalmeans,ortoforetell,theincidentsthatcanonlybeforeseenbyGod。
SECTION13。2。
Anotherinstanceofthatfeminineweaknessofcharacter,oftenproducedbyaconfinededucation,isaromantictwistofthemind,whichhasbeenveryproperlytermedSENTIMENTAL。
Women,subjectedbyignorancetotheirsensations,andonlytaughttolookforhappinessinlove,refineonsensualfeelings,andadoptmetaphysicalnotionsrespectingthatpassion,whichleadthemshamefullytoneglectthedutiesoflife,andfrequentlyinthemidstofthesesublimerefinementstheyplungeintoactualvice。
Thesearethewomenwhoareamusedbythereveriesofthestupidnovelists,who,knowinglittleofhumannature,workupstaletales,anddescribemeretriciousscenes,allretailedinasentimentaljargon,whichequallytendtocorruptthetaste,anddrawtheheartasidefromitsdailyduties。Idonotmentiontheunderstanding,becauseneverhavingbeenexercised,itsslumberingenergiesrestinactive,likethelurkingparticlesoffirewhicharesupposeduniversallytopervadematter。
Females,infact,deniedallpoliticalprivileges,andnotallowed,asmarriedwomen,exceptingincriminalcases,acivilexistence,havetheirattentionnaturallydrawnfromtheinterestofthewholecommunitytothatoftheminuteparts,thoughtheprivatedutyofanymemberofsocietymustbeveryimperfectlyperformed,whennotconnectedwiththegeneralgood。Themightybusinessoffemalelifeistoplease,and,restrainedfromenteringintomoreimportantconcernsbypoliticalandciviloppression,sentimentsbecomeevents,andreflectiondeepenswhatitshould,andwouldhaveeffaced,iftheunderstandinghadbeenallowedtotakeawiderrange。
But,confinedtotriflingemployments,theynaturallyimbibeopinionswhichtheonlykindofreadingcalculatedtointerestaninnocentfrivolousmind,inspires。Unabletograspanythinggreat,isitsurprisingthattheyfindthereadingofhistoryaverydrytask,anddisquisitionsaddressedtotheunderstanding,intolerablytedious,andalmostunintelligible？Thusaretheynecessarilydependentonthenovelistforamusement。Yet,whenI
exclaimagainstnovels,Imeanwhencontrastedwiththoseworkswhichexercisetheunderstandingandregulatetheimagination。ForanykindofreadingIthinkbetterthanleavingablankstillablank,becausethemindmustreceiveadegreeofenlargement,andobtainalittlestrengthbyaslightexertionofitsthinkingpowers;besides,eventheproductionsthatareonlyaddressedtotheimagination,raisethereaderalittleabovethegrossgratificationofappetites,towhichthemindhasnotgivenashadeofdelicacy。
Thisobservationistheresultofexperience;forIhaveknownseveralnotablewomen,andoneinparticular,whowasaverygoodwoman——asgoodassuchanarrowmindwouldallowhertobe,whotookcarethatherdaughters（threeinnumber）shouldneverseeanovel。Asshewasawomanoffortuneandfashion,theyhadvariousmasterstoattendthem,andasortofmenialgovernesstowatchtheirfootsteps。Fromtheirmasterstheylearnedhowtables,chairs,etc。werecalledinFrenchandItalian;butasthefewbooksthrownintheirwaywerefarabovetheircapacities,ordevotional,theyneitheracquiredideasnorsentiments,andpassedtheirtime,whennotcompelledtorepeatWORDS,indressing,quarrellingwitheachother,orconversingwiththeirmaidsbystealth,tilltheywerebroughtintocompanyasmarriageable。
Theirmother,awidow,wasbusyinthemeantimeinkeepingupherconnexions,asshetermedanumerousacquaintancelesthergirlsshouldwantaproperintroductionintothegreatworld。Andtheseyoungladies,withmindsvulgarineverysenseoftheword,andspoiledtempers,enteredlifepuffedupwithnotionsoftheirownconsequence,andlookingdownwithcontemptonthosewhocouldnotviewiththemindressandparade。
Withrespecttolove,nature,ortheirnurses,hadtakencaretoteachthemthephysicalmeaningoftheword;and,astheyhadfewtopicsofconversation,andfewerrefinementsofsentiment,theyexpressedtheirgrosswishesnotinverydelicatephrases,whentheyspokefreely,talkingofmatrimony。
Couldthesegirlshavebeeninjuredbytheperusalofnovels？I
almostforgotashadeinthecharacterofoneofthem;sheaffectedasimplicityborderingonfolly,andwithasimperwouldutterthemostimmodestremarksandquestions,thefullmeaningofwhichshehadlearnedwhilstsecludedfromtheworld,andafraidtospeakinhermother\'spresence,whogovernedwithahighhand;theywerealleducated,asshepridedherself,inamostexemplarymanner;
andreadtheirchaptersandpsalmsbeforebreakfast,nevertouchingasillynovel。
Thisisonlyoneinstance;butIrecollectmanyotherwomenwho,notledbydegreestoproperstudies,andnotpermittedtochooseforthemselves,haveindeedbeenovergrownchildren;orhaveobtained,bymixingintheworld,alittleofwhatistermedcommonsense;thatis,adistinctmannerofseeingcommonoccurrences,astheystanddetached:butwhatdeservesthenameofintellect,thepowerofgaininggeneralorabstractideas,orevenintermediateones,wasoutofthequestion。Theirmindswerequiescent,andwhentheywerenotrousedbysensibleobjectsandemploymentsofthatkind,theywerelow—spirited,wouldcry,orgotosleep。
When,therefore,Iadvisemysexnottoreadsuchflimsyworks,itistoinducethemtoreadsomethingsuperior;forIcoincideinopinionwithasagaciousman,who,havingadaughterandnieceunderhiscare,pursuedaverydifferentplanwitheach。
Theniece,whohadconsiderableabilities,had,beforeshewaslefttohisguardianship,beenindulgedindesultoryreading。Herheendeavouredtolead,anddidlead,tohistoryandmoralessays;buthisdaughterwhomafondweakmotherhadindulged,andwhoconsequentlywasaversetoeverythinglikeapplication,heallowedtoreadnovels;andusedtojustifyhisconductbysaying,thatifsheeverattainedarelishforreadingthem,heshouldhavesomefoundationtoworkupon;andthaterroneousopinionswerebetterthannoneatall。
