But take away natural rights, and duties become
null.
Women then must be considered as only the wanton solace of men, when
they become so weak in mind and body, that they cannot exert
themselves, unless to pursue some frothy pleasure, or to invent some
frivolous fashion. What can be a more melancholy sight to a thinking
mind, than to look into the numerous carriages that drive
helter-skelter about this metropolis in a morning full of pale-faced
creatures who are flying from themselves. I have often wished, with
Dr. Johnson, to place some of them in a little shop with half a
dozen children looking up to their languid countenances for support. I
am much mistaken, if some latent vigour would not soon give health and
spirit to their eyes, and some lines drawn by the exercise of reason
on the blank cheeks, which before were only undulated by dimples,
might restore lost dignity to the character, or rather enable it to
attain the true dignity of its nature. Virtue is not to be acquired
even by speculation, much less by the negative supineness that
wealth naturally generates.
Besides, when poverty is more disgraceful than even vice, is not
morality cut to the quick? Still to avoid misconstruction, though I
consider that women in the common walks of life are called to fulfil
the duties of wives and mothers, by religion and reason, I cannot help
lamenting that women of a superiour cast have not a road open by which
they can pursue more extensive plans of usefulness and independence.
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