One ſtriking inſtance of the folly of women muſt not be omitted.—The manner in which they treat ſervants in the preſence of children, permitting them to ſuppoſe that they ought to wait on them, and bear their humours. A child ſhould always be made to receive aſſiſtance from a man or woman as a favour; and, as the firſt leſſon of independence, they ſhould practically be taught, by the example of their mother, not to require that perſonal attendance, which it is an inſult to humanity to require, when in health; and inſtead of being led to aſſume airs of conſequence, a ſenſe of their own weakneſs ſhould firſt make them feel the natural equality of man. Yet, how frequently have I indignantly heard ſervants imperiouſly called to put children to bed, and ſent away again and again, becauſe maſter or miſs hung about mamma, to ſtay a little longer. Thus made ſlaviſhly to attend the little idol, all thoſe moſt diſguſting humours were exhibited which characterize a ſpoiled child.
In ſhort, ſpeaking of the majority of mothers, they leave their children entirely to the care of ſervants; or, becauſe they are their children treat them as if they were little demi-gods, though I have always obſerved, that the women who thus idolize their children, ſeldom ſhew common humanity to ſervants, or feel the leaſt tenderneſs for any children but their own.
It is, however, theſe excluſive affections, and an individual manner of ſeeing things produced by ignorance, which keep women for ever at a ſtand, with reſpect to improvement, and make many of them dedicate their lives to their chil-
