How ſtrangely muſt the mind be ſophiſticated when this ſort of ſtate impreſſes it! But, till theſe monuments of folly are levelled by virtue, ſimilar follies will leaven the whole maſs. For the ſame character, in ſome degree, will prevail in the aggregate of ſociety: and the refinements of luxury, or the vicious repinings of envious poverty, will equally baniſh virtue from ſociety, conſidered as the characteriſtic of that ſociety, or only allow it to appear as one of the ſtripes of the harlequin coat, worn by the civilized man.
In the ſuperiour ranks of life, every duty is done by deputies, as if duties could ever be waved, and the vain pleaſures which conſequent idleneſs forces the rich to purſue, appear ſo enticing to the next rank, that the numerous ſcramblers for wealth ſacrifice every thing to tread on their heels. The moſt ſacred truſts are then conſidered as ſinecures, becauſe they were procured by intereſt, and only ſought to enable a man to keep good company. Women, in particular, all want to be ladies. Which is ſimply to have nothing to do, but liſtleſsly to go they ſcarcely care where, for they cannot tell what.
But what have women to do in ſociety? I may be aſked, but to loiter with eaſy grace; ſurely you would not condemn them all to ſuckle fools and chronicle ſmall beer! No. Women might certainly ſtudy the art of healing, and be phyſicians as well as nurſes. And midwifery, decency ſeems to allot to them, though I am afraid the word midwife, in our dictionaries, will ſoon give place to accoucheur, and one proof of the former delicacy of the ſex be effaced from the language.
