But theſe littleneſſes would not degrade their character, if women were led to reſpect themſelves, if political and moral ſubjects were opened to them; and, I will venture to affirm, that this is the only way to make them properly attentive to their domeſtic duties.—An active mind embraces the whole circle of its duties, and finds time enough for all. It is not, I aſſert, a bold attempt to emulate maſculine virtues; it is not the enchantment of literary purſuits, or the ſteady inveſtigation of ſcientific ſubjects, that lead women aſtray from duty. No, it is indolence and vanity—the love of pleaſure and the love of ſway, that will rain paramount in an empty mind. I ſay empty emphatically, becauſe the education which women now receive ſcarcely deſerves the name. For the little knowledge that they are led to acquire, during the important years of youth, is merely relative to accompliſhments; and accompliſhments without a bottom, for unleſs the underſtanding be cultivated, ſuperficial and monotonous is every grace. Like the charms of a made up face, they only ſtrike the ſenſes in a crowd; but at home, wanting mind, they want variety. The conſequence is obvious; in gay ſcenes of diſſipation we meet the artificial mind and face, for thoſe who fly from ſolitude dread, next to ſolitude, the domeſtic circle; not having it in their power to amuſe or intereſt, they feel their own inſignificance, or find nothing to amuſe or intereſt themſelves.
Beſides, what can be more indelicate than a girl's coming out in the faſhionable world? Which, in other words, is to bring to market a marriage-
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