The wife, mother,
and human creature, were all swallowed up by the factitious
character which an improper education and the selfish vanity of beauty
had produced.
I do not like to make a distinction without a difference, and I
own that I have been as much disgusted by the fine lady who took her
lap-dog to her bosom instead of her child; as by the ferocity of a
man, who, beating his horse, declared, that he knew as well when he
did wrong, as a Christian.
This brood of folly shews how mistaken they are who, if they allow
women to leave their harams, do not cultivate their understandings, in
order to plant virtues in their hearts. For had they sense, they might
acquire that domestic taste which would lead them to love with
reasonable subordination their whole family, from their husband to the
house-dog; nor would they ever insult humanity in the person of the
most menial servant by paying more attention to the comfort of a
brute, than to that of a fellow-creature.
My observations on national education are obviously hints; but I
principally wish to enforce the necessity of educating the sexes
together to perfect both, and of making children sleep at home that
they may learn to love home; yet to make private support, instead of
smothering, public affections, they should be sent to school to mix
with a number of equals, for only by the jostlings of equality can
we form a just opinion of ourselves.
To render mankind more virtuous, and happier of course, both sexes
must act from the same principle; but how can that be expected when
only one is allowed to see the reasonableness of it? To render also
the social compact truly equitable, and in order to spread those
enlightening principles, which alone can meliorate the fate of man,
women must be allowed to found their virtue on knowledge, which is
scarcely possible unless they be educated by the same pursuits as men.
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