So forcibly does this truth ſtrike me, that I would reſt the whole tendency of my reaſoning upon it, for whatever tends to incapacitate the maternal character, takes woman out of her ſphere.
But it is vain to expect the preſent race of weak mothers either to take that reaſonable care of a child's body, which is neceſſary to lay the foundation of a good conſtitution, ſuppoſing that it do not ſuffer for the ſins of its father; or, to manage its temper ſo judiciouſly that the child will not have, as it grows up, to throw off all that its mother, its firſt inſtructor, directly or indirectly taught; and unleſs the mind has uncommon vigour, womaniſh follies will ſtick to the character throughout life. The weakneſs of the mother will be viſited on the children! And whilſt women are educated to rely on their huſbands for judgment, this muſt ever be the conſequence, for there is no improving an underſtanding by halves, nor can any being act wiſely from imitation, becauſe in every circumſtance of life there is a kind of individuality, which requires an exertion of judgment to modify general rules. The being who can think juſtly in one track, will ſoon extend its intellectual empire; and ſhe who has ſufficient judgment to manage her children, will not ſubmit, right or wrong, to her huſband, or patiently to the ſocial laws which make a nonentity of a wife.
In public ſchools women, to guard againſt the errors of ignorance, ſhould be taught the elements of anatomy and medicine, not only to enable them to take proper care of their own health, but to make them rational nurſes of their infants, par-
