A man of sense can only love such a woman on account of her sex, and
respect her, because she is a trusty servant. He lets her, to preserve
his own peace, scold the servants, and go to church in clothes made of
the very best materials. A man of her own size of understanding would,
probably, not agree so well with her; for he might wish to encroach on
her prerogative, and manage some domestic concerns himself. Yet women,
whose minds are not enlarged by cultivation, or the natural
selfishness of sensibility expanded by reflection, are very unfit to
manage a family; for, by an undue stretch of power, they are always
tyrannizing to support a superiority that only rests on the
arbitrary distinction of fortune. The evil is sometimes more
serious, and domestics are deprived of innocent indulgences, and
made to work beyond their strength, in order to enable the notable
woman to keep a better table, and outshine her neighbours in finery
and parade. If she attend to her children, it is, in general, to dress
them in a costly manner- and, whether this attention arise from vanity
or fondness, it is equally pernicious.
Besides, how many women of this description pass their days; or,
at least, their evenings, discontentedly. Their husbands acknowledge
that they are good managers, and chaste wives; but leave home to
seek for more agreeable, may I be allowed to use a significant
French word, piquant society; and the patient drudge, who fulfils
her task, like a blind horse in a mill, is defrauded of her just
reward; for the wages due to her are the caresses of her husband;
and women who have so few resources in themselves, do not very
patiently bear this privation of a natural right.
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