"' Mr.
Day's Sandford and Merton, Vol. III.
But should it be proved that woman is naturally weaker than man,
whence does it follow that it is natural for her to labour to become
still weaker than nature intended her to be? Arguments of this cast
are an insult to common sense, and savour of passion. The divine right
of husbands, like the divine right of kings, may, it is to be hoped,
in this enlightened age, be contested without danger, and, though
conviction may not silence many boisterous disputants, yet, when
any, prevailing prejudice is attacked, the wise will consider, and
leave the narrow-minded to rail with thoughtless vehemence at
innovation.
The mother, who wishes to give true dignity of character to her
daughter, must, regardless of the sneers of ignorance, proceed on a
plan diametrically opposite to that which Rousseau has recommended
with all the deluding charms of eloquence and philosophical sophistry:
for his eloquence renders absurdities plausible, and his dogmatic
conclusions puzzle, without convincing, those who have not ability
to refute them.
Throughout the whole animal kingdom every young creature requires
almost continual exercise, and the infancy of children, conformable to
this intimation, should be passed in harmless gambols, that exercise
the feet and hands, without requiring very minute direction from the
head, or the constant attention of a nurse. In fact, the care
necessary for self-preservation is the first natural exercise of the
understanding, as little inventions to amuse the present moment unfold
the imagination.
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