On these the children's thoughts are fixed
with eager anticipating hopes, for, at least, to speak with
moderation, half of the time, and when they arrive they are spent in
total dissipation and beastly indulgence.
But, on the contrary, when they are brought up at home, though
they may pursue a plan of study in a more orderly manner than can be
adopted when near a fourth part of the year is actually spent in
idleness, and as much more in regret and anticipation; yet they
there acquire too high an opinion of their own importance, from
being allowed to tyrannize over servants, and from the anxiety
expressed by most mothers, on the score of manners, who, eager to
teach the accomplishments of a gentleman, stifle, in their birth,
the virtues of a man. Thus brought into company when they ought to
be seriously employed, and treated like men when they are still
boys, they become vain and effeminate.
The only way to avoid two extremes equally injurious to morality,
would be to contrive some way of combining a public and private
education. Thus to make men citizens two natural steps might be taken,
which seem directly to lead to the desired point; for the domestic
affections, that first open the heart to the various modifications
of humanity, would be cultivated, whilst the children were
nevertheless allowed to spend great part of their time, on terms of
equality, with other children.
I still recollect, with pleasure, the country day school; where a
boy trudged in the morning, wet or dry, carrying his books, and his
dinner, if it were at a considerable distance; a servant did not
then lead master by the hand, for, when he had once put on coat and
breeches, he was allowed to shift for himself, and return alone in the
evening to recount the feats of the day close at the parental knee.
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