very early to inflame their imaginations and ſet their little minds to work, reſpecting ſubjects, which nature never intended they ſhould think of till the body arrived at ſome degree of maturity; then the paſſions naturally begin to take place of the ſenſes, as inſtruments to unfold the underſtanding, and form the moral character.
In nurſeries, and boarding-ſchools, I fear, girls are firſt ſpoiled; particularly in the latter. A number of girls ſleep in the ſame room, and waſh together. And, though I ſhould be ſorry to contaminate an innocent creature's mind by inſtilling falſe delicacy, or thoſe indecent prudiſh notions, which early cautions reſpecting the other ſex naturally engender, I ſhould be very anxious to prevent their acquiring indelicate, or immodeſt habits; and as many girls have learned very indelicate tricks, from ignorant ſervants, the mixing them thus indiſcriminately together, is very improper.
To ſay the truth women are, in general, too familiar with each other, which leads to that groſs degree of familiarity that ſo frequently renders the marriage ſtate unhappy. Why in the name of decency are ſiſters, female intimates, or ladies and their waiting-women, to be ſo groſsly familiar as to forget the reſpect which one human creature owes to another? That ſqueamiſh delicacy which ſhrinks from the moſt diſguſting offices when affection[1] or humanity lead us to watch at a ſick pillow, is deſpicable. But, why
- ↑ Affection would rather make one chooſe to perform theſe offices, to ſpare the delicacy of a friend, by ſtill keeping a veil over them, for the perſonal helpleſſneſs, produced by ſickneſs, is of an humbling nature.
