The physical part of the art of pleasing lies in dress;
and this is all which children are capacitated to cultivate of that
art.'
'Here then we see a primary propensity firmly established, which you
need only to pursue and regulate. The little creature will doubtless
be very desirous to know how to dress up her doll, to make its
sleeve-knots, its flounces, its head-dress, &c. she is obliged to have
so much recourse to the people about her, for their assistance in
these articles, that it would be much more agreeable to her to owe
them all to her own industry. Hence we have a good reason for the
first lessons that are usually taught these young females: in which we
do not appear to be setting them a task, but obliging them, by
instructing them in what is immediately useful to themselves. And,
in fact, almost all of them learn with reluctance to read and write;
but very readily apply themselves to the use of their needles. They
imagine themselves already grown up, and think with pleasure that such
qualifications will enable them to decorate themselves.'
This is certainly only an education of the body; but Rousseau is not
the only man who has indirectly said that merely the person of a young
woman, without any mind, unless animal spirits come under that
description, is very pleasing. To render it weak, and what some may
call beautiful, the understanding is neglected, and girls forced to
sit still, play with dolls and listen to foolish conversations;- the
effect of habit is insisted upon as an undoubted indication of nature.
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