al practice of thoſe inferiour ones which form the man.
In this plan of education the conſtitution of boys would not be ruined by the early debaucheries, which now makes men ſo ſelfiſh, nor girls rendered weak and vain, by indolence, and frivolous purſuits. But, I preſuppoſe, that ſuch a degree of equality ſhould be eſtabliſhed between the ſexes as would ſhut out gallantry and coquetry, yet allow friendſhip and love to temper the heart for the diſcharge of higher duties.
Theſe would be ſchools of morality—and the happineſs of man, allowed to flow from the pure ſprings of duty and affection, what advances might not the human mind make? Society can only be happy and free in proportion as it is virtuous; but the preſent diſtinctions, eſtabliſhed in ſociety, corrode all private, and blaſt all public virtue.
I have already inveighed againſt the cuſtom of confining girls to their needle, and ſhutting them out from all political and civil employments; for by thus narrowing their minds they are rendered unfit to fulfil the peculiar duties which nature has aſſigned them.
Only employed about the little incidents of the day, they neceſſarily grow up cunning. My very ſoul has often ſickened at obſerving the ſly tricks practiſed by women to gain ſome fooliſh thing on which their ſilly hearts were ſet. Not allowed to diſpoſe of money, or call any thing their own, they learn to turn the market penny; or, ſhould a huſband offend, by ſtaying from home, or give riſe to ſome emotions of jealouſy—a new gown, or any pretty bawble, ſmooths Juno's angry brow.
