Itisamelancholytruth;yetsuchistheblessedeffectsofcivilization！themostrespectablewomenarethemostoppressed;
and,unlesstheyhaveunderstandingsfarsuperiourtothecommonrunofunderstandings,takinginbothsexes,theymust,frombeingtreatedlikecontemptiblebeings,becomecontemptible。Howmanywomenthuswastelifeaway,thepreyofdiscontent,whomighthavepractisedasphysicians,regulatedafarm,managedashop,andstooderect,supportedbytheirownindustry,insteadofhangingtheirheadssurchargedwiththedewofsensibility,thatconsumesthebeautytowhichitatfirstgavelustre;nay,Idoubtwhetherpityandlovearesoneara—kinaspoetsfeign,forIhaveseldomseenmuchcompassionexcitedbythehelplessnessoffemales,unlesstheywerefair;then,perhaps,pitywasthesofthandmaidoflove,ortheharbingeroflust。
Howmuchmorerespectableisthewomanwhoearnsherownbreadbyfulfillinganyduty,thanthemostaccomplishedbeauty！beautydidIsay？sosensibleamIofthebeautyofmoralloveliness,ortheharmoniousproprietythatattunesthepassionsofawell—regulatedmind,thatIblushatmakingthecomparison;yetIsightothinkhowfewwomenaimatattainingthisrespectability,bywithdrawingfromthegiddywhirlofpleasure,ortheindolentcalmthatstupifiesthegoodsortofwomenitsucksin。
Proudoftheirweakness,however,theymustalwaysbeprotected,guardedfromcare,andalltheroughtoilsthatdignifythemind。
Ifthisbethefiatoffate,iftheywillmakethemselvesinsignificantandcontemptible,sweetlytowaste\"lifeaway,\"letthemnotexpecttobevaluedwhentheirbeautyfades,foritisthefateofthefairestflowerstobeadmiredandpulledtopiecesbythecarelesshandthatpluckedthem。InhowmanywaysdoIwish,fromthepurestbenevolence,toimpressthistruthonmysex;yetI
fearthattheywillnotlistentoatruth,thatdear—boughtexperiencehasbroughthometomanyanagitatedbosom,norwillinglyresigntheprivilegesofrankandsexfortheprivilegesofhumanity,towhichthosehavenoclaimwhodonotdischargeitsduties。
Thosewritersareparticularlyuseful,inmyopinion,whomakemanfeelforman,independentofthestationhefills,orthedraperyoffactitioussentiments。Ithenwouldfainconvincereasonablemenoftheimportanceofsomeofmyremarksandprevailonthemtoweighdispassionatelythewholetenorofmyobservations。Iappealtotheirunderstandings;and,asafellow—creatureclaim,inthenameofmysex,someinterestintheirhearts。Ientreatthemtoassisttoemancipatetheircompaniontomakeherahelpmeetforthem！
Wouldmenbutgenerouslysnapourchains,andbecontentwithrationalfellowship,insteadofslavishobedience,theywouldfindusmoreobservantdaughters,moreaffectionatesisters,morefaithfulwives,morereasonablemothers——inaword,bettercitizens。Weshouldthenlovethemwithtrueaffection,becauseweshouldlearntorespectourselves;andthepeaceofmindofaworthymanwouldnotbeinterruptedbytheidlevanityofhiswife,norhisbabessenttonestleinastrangebosom,havingneverfoundahomeintheirmother\'s。
CHAPTER10。
PARENTALAFFECTION。
Parentalaffectionis,perhaps,theblindestmodificationofperverseself—love;forwehavenot,liketheFrenchtwoterms（L\'amourpropre,L\'amourdesoimeme）todistinguishthepursuitofanaturalandreasonabledesire,fromtheignorantcalculationsofweakness。Parentsoftenlovetheirchildreninthemostbrutalmanner,andsacrificeeveryrelativedutytopromotetheiradvancementintheworld。Topromote,suchistheperversityofunprincipledprejudices,thefuturewelfareoftheverybeingswhosepresentexistencetheyimbitterbythemostdespoticstretchofpower。Power,infact,isevertruetoitsvitalprinciple,forineveryshapeitwouldreignwithoutcontroulorinquiry。Itsthroneisbuiltacrossadarkabyss,whichnoeyemustdaretoexplore,lestthebaselessfabricshouldtotterunderinvestigation。Obedience,unconditionalobedience,isthecatch—wordoftyrantsofeverydescription,andtorender\"assurancedoublysure,\"onekindofdespotismsupportsanother。
Tyrantswouldhavecausetotrembleifreasonweretobecometheruleofdutyinanyoftherelationsoflife,forthelightmightspreadtillperfectdayappeared。Andwhenitdidappear,howwouldmensmileatthesightofthebugbearsatwhichtheystartedduringthenightofignorance,orthetwilightoftimidinquiry。
Parentalaffection,indeed,inmanyminds,isbutapretexttotyrannizewhereitcanbedonewithimpunity,foronlygoodandwisemenarecontentwiththerespectthatwillbeardiscussion。
Convincedthattheyhavearighttowhattheyinsiston,theydonotfearreason,ordreadthesiftingofsubjectsthatrecurtonaturaljustice:becausetheyfirmlybelieve,thatthemoreenlightenedthehumanmindbecomes,thedeeperrootwilljustandsimpleprinciplestake。Theydonotrestinexpedients,orgrantthatwhatismetaphysicallytruecanbepracticallyfalse;butdisdainingtheshiftsofthemomenttheycalmlywaittilltime,sanctioninginnovation,silencesthehissofselfishnessorenvy。
Ifthepowerofreflectingonthepast,anddartingthekeeneyeofcontemplationintofuturity,bethegrandprivilegeofman,itmustbegrantedthatsomepeopleenjoythisprerogativeinaverylimiteddegree。Everythingnowappearstothemwrong;andnotabletodistinguishthepossiblefromthemonstrous,theyfearwherenofearshouldfindaplace,runningfromthelightofreasonasifitwereafirebrand;yetthelimitsofthepossiblehaveneverbeendefinedtostopthesturdyinnovator\'shand。
Woman,however,aslaveineverysituationtoprejudiceseldomexertsenlightenedmaternalaffection;forsheeitherneglectsherchildren,orspoilsthembyimproperindulgence。Besides,theaffectionofsomewomenfortheirchildrenis,asIhavebeforetermedit,frequentlyverybrutish;foriteradicateseverysparkofhumanity。Justice,truth,everythingissacrificedbytheseRebekahs,andforthesakeoftheirownchildrentheyviolatethemostsacredduties,forgettingthecommonrelationshipthatbindsthewholefamilyonearthtogether。Yet,reasonseemstosay,thattheywhosufferoneduty,oraffectiontoswallowuptherest,havenotsufficientheartormindtofulfilthatoneconscientiously。
Itthenlosesthevenerableaspectofaduty,andassumesthefantasticformofawhim。
Asthecareofchildrenintheirinfancyisoneofthegranddutiesannexedtothefemalecharacterbynature,thisdutywouldaffordmanyforcibleargumentsforstrengtheningthefemaleunderstanding,ifitwereproperlyconsidered。
Theformationofthemindmustbebegunveryearly,andthetemper,inparticular,requiresthemostjudiciousattention——anattentionwhichwomencannotpaywhoonlylovetheirchildrenbecausetheyaretheirchildren,andseeknofurtherforthefoundationoftheirduty,thaninthefeelingsofthemoment。Itisthiswantofreasonintheiraffectionswhichmakeswomensooftenrunintoextremes,andeitherbethemostfond,ormostcarelessandunnaturalmothers。
Tobeagoodmother——awomanmusthavesense,andthatindependenceofmindwhichfewwomenpossesswhoaretaughttodependentirelyontheirhusbands。Meekwivesare,ingeneral,foolishmothers;
wantingtheirchildrentolovethembest,andtaketheirpart,insecret,againstthefather,whoisheldupasascarecrow。Iftheyaretobepunished,thoughtheyhaveoffendedthemother,thefathermustinflictthepunishment;hemustbethejudgeinalldisputes:butIshallmorefullydiscussthissubjectwhenItreatofprivateeducation,Inowonlymeantoinsist,thatunlesstheunderstandingofwomanbeenlarged,andhercharacterrenderedmorefirm,bybeingallowedtogovernherownconduct,shewillneverhavesufficientsenseorcommandoftempertomanageherchildrenproperly。Herparentalaffection,indeed,scarcelydeservesthename,whenitdoesnotleadhertosuckleherchildren,becausethedischargeofthisdutyisequallycalculatedtoinspirematernalandfilialaffection;anditistheindispensabledutyofmenandwomentofulfilthedutieswhichgivebirthtoaffectionsthatarethesurestpreservativesagainstvice。Naturalaffection,asitistermed,Ibelievetobeaveryweaktie,affectionsmustgrowoutofthehabitualexerciseofamutualsympathy;andwhatsympathydoesamotherexercisewhosendsherbabetoanurse,andonlytakesitfromanursetosendittoaschool？
Intheexerciseoftheirnaturalfeelings,providencehasfurnishedwomenwithanaturalsubstituteforlove,whentheloverbecomesonlyafriendandmutualconfidencetakesplaceofoverstrainedadmiration——achildthengentlytwiststherelaxingcord,andamutualcareproducesanewmutualsympathy。Butachild,thoughapledgeofaffection,willnotenlivenit,ifbothfatherandmotherarecontenttotransferthechargetohirelings;fortheywhodotheirdutybyproxyshouldnotmurmuriftheymisstherewardofduty——parentalaffectionproducesfilialduty。
CHAPTER11。
DUTYTOPARENTS。
Thereseemstobeanindolentpropensityinmantomakeprescriptionalwaystakeplaceofreason,andtoplaceeverydutyonanarbitraryfoundation。TherightsofkingsarededucedinadirectlinefromtheKingofkings;andthatofparentsfromourfirstparent。
Whydowethusgobackforprinciplesthatshouldalwaysrestonthesamebase,andhavethesameweightto—daythattheyhadathousandyearsago——andnotajotmore？Ifparentsdischargetheirdutytheyhaveastrongholdandsacredclaimonthegratitudeoftheirchildren;butfewparentsarewillingtoreceivetherespectfulaffectionoftheiroffspringonsuchterms。Theydemandblindobedience,becausetheydonotmeritareasonableservice:
andtorenderthesedemandsofweaknessandignorancemorebinding,amysterioussanctityisspreadroundthemostarbitraryprinciple;
forwhatothernamecanbegiventotheblinddutyofobeyingviciousorweakbeings,merelybecausetheyobeyedapowerfulinstinct？Thesimpledefinitionofthereciprocalduty,whichnaturallysubsistsbetweenparentandchild,maybegiveninafewwords:Theparentwhopaysproperattentiontohelplessinfancyhasarighttorequirethesameattentionwhenthefeeblenessofagecomesuponhim。Buttosubjugatearationalbeingtothemerewillofanother,afterheisofagetoanswertosocietyforhisownconduct,isamostcruelandunduestretchofpower;andperhapsasinjurioustomorality,asthosereligioussystemswhichdonotallowrightandwrongtohaveanyexistence,butintheDivinewill。
Ineverknewaparentwhohadpaidmorethancommonattentiontohischildren,disregarded（Dr。Johnsonmakesthesameobservation。）;onthecontrary,theearlyhabitofrelyingalmostimplicitlyontheopinionofarespectedparentisnoteasilyshaken,evenwhenmaturedreasonconvincesthechildthathisfatherisnotthewisestmanintheworld。Thisweakness,foraweaknessitis,thoughtheepithetAMIABLEmaybetackedtoit,areasonablemanmuststeelhimselfagainst;fortheabsurdduty,tooofteninculcated,ofobeyingaparentonlyonaccountofhisbeingaparent,shacklesthemind,andpreparesitforaslavishsubmissiontoanypowerbutreason。
Idistinguishbetweenthenaturalandaccidentaldutyduetoparents。
Theparentwhosedulouslyendeavourstoformtheheartandenlargetheunderstandingofhischild,hasgiventhatdignitytothedischargeofaduty,commontothewholeanimalworld,thatonlyreasoncangive。Thisistheparentalaffectionofhumanity,andleavesinstinctivenaturalaffectionfarbehind。Suchaparentacquiresalltherightsofthemostsacredfriendship,andhisadvice,evenwhenhischildisadvancedinlife,demandsseriousconsideration。
Withrespecttomarriage,thoughafteroneandtwentyaparentseemstohavenorighttowithholdhisconsentonanyaccount;yettwentyyearsofsolicitudecallforareturn,andthesonought,atleast,topromisenottomarryfortwoorthreeyears,shouldtheobjectofhischoicenotentirelymeetwiththeapprobationofhisfirstfriend。
But,respectforparentsis,generallyspeaking,amuchmoredebasingprinciple;itisonlyaselfishrespectforproperty。Thefatherwhoisblindlyobeyed,isobeyedfromsheerweakness,orfrommotivesthatdegradethehumancharacter。
Agreatproportionofthemiserythatwanders,inhideousformsaroundtheworld,isallowedtorisefromthenegligenceofparents;andstillthesearethepeoplewhoaremosttenaciousofwhattheytermanaturalright,thoughitbesubversiveofthebirthrightofman,therightofactingaccordingtothedirectionofhisownreason。
Ihavealreadyveryfrequentlyhadoccasiontoobserve,thatviciousorindolentpeoplearealwayseagertoprofitbyenforcingarbitraryprivileges;andgenerallyinthesameproportionastheyneglectthedischargeofthedutieswhichalonerendertheprivilegesreasonable。Thisisatthebottom,adictateofcommonsense,ortheinstinctofself—defence,peculiartoignorantweakness;resemblingthatinstinct,whichmakesafishmuddythewateritswimsintoeludeitsenemy,insteadofboldlyfacingitintheclearstream。
>Fromtheclearstreamofargument,indeed,thesupportersofprescription,ofeverydenomination,fly:andtakingrefugeinthedarkness,which,inthelanguageofsublimepoetry,hasbeensupposedtosurroundthethroneofOmnipotence,theydaretodemandthatimplicitrespectwhichisonlyduetoHisunsearchableways。
But,letmenotbethoughtpresumptuous,thedarknesswhichhidesourGodfromus,onlyrespectsspeculativetruths——itneverobscuresmoralones,theyshineclearly,forGodislight,andnever,bytheconstitutionofournature,requiresthedischargeofaduty,thereasonablenessofwhichdoesnotbeamonuswhenweopenoureyes。
Theindolentparentofhighrankmay,itistrue,extortashowofrespectfromhischild,andfemalesonthecontinentareparticularlysubjecttotheviewsoftheirfamilies,whoneverthinkofconsultingtheirinclination,orprovidingforthecomfortofthepoorvictimsoftheirpride。Theconsequenceisnotorious;
thesedutifuldaughtersbecomeadulteresses,andneglecttheeducationoftheirchildren,fromwhomthey,intheirturn,exactthesamekindofobedience。
Females,itistrue,inallcountries,aretoomuchunderthedominionoftheirparents;andfewparentsthinkofaddressingtheirchildreninthefollowingmanner,thoughitisinthisreasonablewaythatHeavenseemstocommandthewholehumanrace。
Itisyourinteresttoobeymetillyoucanjudgeforyourself;andtheAlmightyFatherofallhasimplantedanaffectioninmetoserveasaguardtoyouwhilstyourreasonisunfolding;butwhenyourmindarrivesatmaturity,youmustonlyobeyme,orratherrespectmyopinions,sofarastheycoincidewiththelightthatisbreakinginonyourownmind。
Aslavishbondagetoparentscrampseveryfacultyofthemind;andMr。Lockeveryjudiciouslyobserves,that\"ifthemindbecurbedandhumbledtoomuchinchildren;iftheirspiritsbeabasedandbrokenmuchbytoostrictanhandoverthem;theylosealltheirvigourandindustry。\"Thisstricthandmay,insomedegree,accountfortheweaknessofwomen;forgirls,fromvariouscauses,aremorekeptdownbytheirparents,ineverysenseoftheword,thanboys。Thedutyexpectedfromthemis,likeallthedutiesarbitrarilyimposedonwomen,morefromasenseofpropriety,moreoutofrespectfordecorum,thanreason;andthustaughtslavishlytosubmittotheirparents,theyarepreparedfortheslaveryofmarriage。Imaybetoldthatanumberofwomenarenotslavesinthemarriagestate。True,buttheythenbecometyrants;foritisnotrationalfreedom,butalawlesskindofpower,resemblingtheauthorityexercisedbythefavouritesofabsolutemonarchs,whichtheyobtainbydebasingmeans。Idonot,likewise,dreamofinsinuatingthateitherboysorgirlsarealwaysslaves,Ionlyinsist,thatwhentheyareobligedtosubmittoauthorityblindly,theirfacultiesareweakened,andtheirtempersrenderedimperiousorabject。Ialsolament,thatparents,indolentlyavailingthemselvesofasupposedprivilege,dampthefirstfaintglimmeringofreasonrenderingatthesametimetheduty,whichtheyaresoanxioustoenforce,anemptyname;becausetheywillnotletitrestontheonlybasisonwhichadutycanrestsecurely:for,unlessitbefoundedonknowledge,itcannotgainsufficientstrengthtoresistthesquallsofpassion,orthesilentsappingofself—love。Butitisnottheparentswhohavegiventhesurestproofoftheiraffectionfortheirchildren,（or,tospeakmoreproperly,whobyfulfillingtheirduty,haveallowedanaturalparentalaffectiontotakerootintheirhearts,thechildofexercisedsympathyandreason,andnottheover—weeningoffspringofselfishpride,）whomostvehementlyinsistontheirchildrensubmittingtotheirwill,merelybecauseitistheirwill。Onthecontrary,theparentwhosetsagoodexample,patientlyletsthatexamplework;anditseldomfailstoproduceitsnaturaleffect——filialrespect。
Childrencannotbetaughttooearlytosubmittoreason,thetruedefinitionofthatnecessity,whichRousseauinsistedon,withoutdefiningit;fortosubmittoreason,istosubmittothenatureofthings,andtothatGodwhoformedthemso,topromoteourrealinterest。
Whyshouldthemindsofchildrenbewarpedastheyjustbegintoexpand,onlytofavourtheindolenceofparents,whoinsistonaprivilegewithoutbeingwillingtopaythepricefixedbynature？
Ihavebeforehadoccasiontoobserve,thatarightalwaysincludesaduty,andIthinkitmay,likewisefairlybeinferred,thattheyforfeittheright,whodonotfulfiltheduty。
Itiseasier,Igrant,tocommandthanreason;butitdoesnotfollowfromhence,thatchildrencannotcomprehendthereasonwhytheyaremadetodocertainthingshabitually;for,fromasteadyadherencetoafewsimpleprinciplesofconductflowsthatsalutarypower,whichajudiciousparentgraduallygainsoverachild\'smind。Andthispowerbecomesstrongindeed,iftemperedbyanevendisplayofaffectionbroughthometothechild\'sheart。For,I
believe,asageneralrule,itmustbeallowed,thattheaffectionwhichweinspirealwaysresemblesthatwecultivate;sothatnaturalaffections,whichhavebeensupposedalmostdistinctfromreason,maybefoundmorenearlyconnectedwithjudgmentthaniscommonlyallowed。Nay,asanotherproofofthenecessityofcultivatingthefemaleunderstanding,itisbutjusttoobserve,thattheaffectionsseemtohaveakindofanimalcapriciousnesswhentheymerelyresideintheheart。
Itistheirregularexerciseofparentalauthoritythatfirstinjuresthemind,andtotheseirregularitiesgirlsaremoresubjectthanboys。Thewillofthosewhoneverallowtheirwilltobedisputed,unlesstheyhappentobeinagoodhumour,whentheyrelaxproportionally,isalmostalwaysunreasonable。Toeludethisarbitraryauthority,girlsveryearlylearnthelessonswhichtheyafterwardspractiseontheirhusbands;forIhavefrequentlyseenalittlesharp—facedmissruleawholefamily,exceptingthatnowandthenmamma\'sangerwillburstoutofsomeaccidentalcloud——eitherherhairwasill—dressed,*orshehadlostmoremoneyatcards,thenightbefore,thanshewaswillingtoowntoherhusband;orsomesuchmoralcauseofanger。
（*Footnote。Imyselfheardalittlegirloncesaytoaservant,\"Mymammahasbeenscoldingmefinelythismorning,becauseherhairwasnotdressedtopleaseher。\"Thoughthisremarkwaspert,itwasjust。Andwhatrespectcouldagirlacquireforsuchaparent,withoutdoingviolencetoreason？）
Afterobservingsalliesofthiskind,Ihavebeenledintoamelancholytrainofreflectionrespectingfemales,concludingthatwhentheirfirstaffectionmustleadthemastray,ormaketheirdutiesclashtilltheyrestonmerewhimsandcustoms,littlecanbeexpectedfromthemastheyadvanceinlife。How,indeed,cananinstructorremedythisevil？fortoteachthemvirtueonanysolidprincipleistoteachthemtodespisetheirparents。Childrencannot,oughtnottobetaughttomakeallowanceforthefaultsoftheirparents,becauseeverysuchallowanceweakenstheforceofreasonintheirminds,andmakesthemstillmoreindulgenttotheirown。Itisoneofthemostsublimevirtuesofmaturitythatleadsustobeseverewithrespecttoourselves,andforbearingtoothers;butchildrenshouldonlybetaughtthesimplevirtues,foriftheybegintooearlytomakeallowanceforhumanpassionsandmanners,theywearoffthefineedgeofthecriterionbywhichtheyshouldregulatetheirown,andbecomeunjustinthesameproportionastheygrowindulgent。
Theaffectionsofchildren,andweakpeople,arealwaysselfish;
theyloveothers,becauseotherslovethem,andnotonaccountoftheirvirtues。Yet,tillesteemandloveareblendedtogetherinthefirstaffection,andreasonmadethefoundationofthefirstduty,moralitywillstumbleatthethreshold。But,tillsocietyisverydifferentlyconstituted,parents,Ifear,willstillinsistonbeingobeyed,becausetheywillbeobeyed,andconstantlyendeavourtosettlethatpoweronaDivineright,whichwillnotbeartheinvestigationofreason。
CHAPTER12。
ONNATIONALEDUCATION。
Thegoodeffectsresultingfromattentiontoprivateeducationwilleverbeveryconfined,andtheparentwhoreallyputshisownhandtotheplow,willalways,insomedegreebedisappointed,tilleducationbecomesagrandnationalconcern。Amancannotretireintoadesertwithhischild,andifhedid,hecouldnotbringhimselfbacktochildhood,andbecometheproperfriendandplay—fellowofaninfantoryouth。Andwhenchildrenareconfinedtothesocietyofmenandwomen,theyverysoonacquirethatkindofprematuremanhoodwhichstopsthegrowthofeveryvigorouspowerofmindorbody。Inordertoopentheirfacultiestheyshouldbeexcitedtothinkforthemselves;andthiscanonlybedonebymixinganumberofchildrentogether,andmakingthemjointlypursuethesameobjects。
Achildverysooncontractsabenumbingindolenceofmind,whichhehasseldomsufficientvigourtoshakeoff,whenheonlyasksaquestioninsteadofseekingforinformation,andthenreliesimplicitlyontheanswerhereceives。Withhisequalsinagethiscouldneverbethecase,andthesubjectsofinquiry,thoughtheymightbeinfluenced,wouldnotbeentirelyunderthedirectionofmen,whofrequentlydamp,ifnotdestroyabilities,bybringingthemforwardtoohastily:andtoohastilytheywillinfalliblybebroughtforward,ifthechildcouldbeconfinedtothesocietyofaman,howeversagaciousthatmanmaybe。
Besides,inyouththeseedsofeveryaffectionshouldbesown,andtherespectfulregard,whichisfeltforaparent,isverydifferentfromthesocialaffectionsthataretoconstitutethehappinessoflifeasitadvances。Ofthese,equalityisthebasis,andanintercourseofsentimentsuncloggedbythatobservantseriousnesswhichpreventsdisputation,thoughitmaynotinforcesubmission。Letachildhaveeversuchanaffectionforhisparent,hewillalwayslanguishtoplayandchatwithchildren;andtheveryrespectheentertains,forfilialesteemalwayshasadashoffearmixedwithit,will,ifitdonotteachhimcunning,atleastpreventhimfrompouringoutthelittlesecretswhichfirstopenthehearttofriendshipandconfidence,graduallyleadingtomoreexpansivebenevolence。Addedtothis,hewillneveracquirethatfrankingenuousnessofbehaviour,whichyoungpeoplecanonlyattainbybeingfrequentlyinsociety,wheretheydaretospeakwhattheythink;neitherafraidofbeingreprovedfortheirpresumption,norlaughedatfortheirfolly。
Forciblyimpressedbythereflectionswhichthesightofschools,astheyareatpresentconducted,naturallysuggested,Ihaveformerlydeliveredmyopinionratherwarmlyinfavourofaprivateeducation;butfurtherexperiencehasledmetoviewthesubjectinadifferentlight。Istill,however,thinkschools,astheyarenowregulated,thehot—bedsofviceandfolly,andtheknowledgeofhumannature,supposedtobeattainedthere,merelycunningselfishness。
Atschool,boysbecomegluttonsandslovens,and,insteadofcultivatingdomesticaffections,veryearlyrushintothelibertinismwhichdestroystheconstitutionbeforeitisformed;
hardeningtheheartasitweakenstheunderstanding。
Ishould,infact,beaversetoboarding—schools,ifitwerefornootherreasonthantheunsettledstateofmindwhichtheexpectationofthevacationsproduce。Onthesethechildren\'sthoughtsarefixedwitheageranticipatinghopes,for,atleast,tospeakwithmoderation,halfofthetime,andwhentheyarrivetheyarespentintotaldissipationandbeastlyindulgence。
But,onthecontrary,whentheyarebroughtupathome,thoughtheymaypursueaplanofstudyinamoreorderlymannerthancanbeadopted,whennearafourthpartoftheyearisactuallyspentinidleness,andasmuchmoreinregretandanticipation;yettheythereacquiretoohighanopinionoftheirownimportance,frombeingallowedtotyrannizeoverservants,andfromtheanxietyexpressedbymostmothers,onthescoreofmanners,who,eagertoteachtheaccomplishmentsofagentleman,stifle,intheirbirth,thevirtuesofaman。Thusbroughtintocompanywhentheyoughttobeseriouslyemployed,andtreatedlikemenwhentheyarestillboys,theybecomevainandeffeminate。
Theonlywaytoavoidtwoextremesequallyinjurioustomorality,wouldbetocontrivesomewayofcombiningapublicandprivateeducation。Thustomakemencitizens,twonaturalstepsmightbetaken,whichseemdirectlytoleadtothedesiredpoint;forthedomesticaffections,thatfirstopenthehearttothevariousmodificationsofhumanitywouldbecultivated,whilstthechildrenwereneverthelessallowedtospendgreatpartoftheirtime,ontermsofequality,withotherchildren。
Istillrecollect,withpleasure,thecountrydayschool;whereaboytrudgedinthemorning,wetordry,carryinghisbooks,andhisdinner,ifitwereataconsiderabledistance;aservantdidnotthenleadmasterbythehand,for,whenhehadonceputoncoatandbreeches,hewasallowedtoshiftforhimself,andreturnaloneintheeveningtorecountthefeatsofthedaycloseattheparentalknee。Hisfather\'shousewashishome,andwaseverafterfondlyremembered;nay,Iappealtosomesuperiormenwhowereeducatedinthismanner,whethertherecollectionofsomeshadylanewheretheyconnedtheirlesson;or,ofsomestile,wheretheysatmakingakite,ormendingabat,hasnotendearedtheircountrytothem？
But,whatboyeverrecollectedwithpleasuretheyearshespentincloseconfinement,atanacademynearLondon？unlessindeedheshouldbychancerememberthepoorscare—crowofanusherwhomhetormented;or,thetartman,fromwhomhecaughtacake,todevouritwiththecattishappetiteofselfishness。Atboardingschoolsofeverydescription,therelaxationofthejuniorboysismischief;andofthesenior,vice。Besides,ingreatschoolswhatcanbemoreprejudicialtothemoralcharacter,thanthesystemoftyrannyandabjectslaverywhichisestablishedamongsttheboys,tosaynothingoftheslaverytoforms,whichmakesreligionworsethanafarce？ForwhatgoodcanbeexpectedfromtheyouthwhoreceivesthesacramentoftheLord\'ssupper,toavoidforfeitinghalf—a—guinea,whichheprobablyafterwardsspendsinsomesensualmanner？Halftheemploymentoftheyouthsistoeludethenecessityofattendingpublicworship;andwelltheymay,forsuchaconstantrepetitionofthesamethingmustbeaveryirksomerestraintontheirnaturalvivacity。Astheseceremonieshavethemostfataleffectontheirmorals,andasaritualperformedbythelips,whentheheartandmindarefaraway,isnotnowstoredupbyourchurchasabanktodrawonforthefeesofthepoorsoulsinpurgatory,whyshouldtheynotbeabolished？
Butthefearofinnovation,inthiscountry,extendstoeverything。Thisisonlyacovertfear,theapprehensivetimidityofindolentslugs,whoguard,byslimingitover,thesnugplace,whichtheyconsiderinthelightofanhereditaryestate;andeat,drink,andenjoythemselves,insteadoffulfillingtheduties,exceptingafewemptyforms,forwhichitwasendowed。Thesearethepeoplewhomoststrenuouslyinsistonthewillofthefounderbeingobserved,cryingoutagainstallreformation,asifitwereaviolationofjustice。Iamnowalludingparticularlytotherelicksofpoperyretainedinourcolleges,wheretheprotestantmembersseemtobesuchsticklersfortheestablishedchurch;buttheirzealnevermakesthemlosesightofthespoilofignorance,whichrapaciouspriestsofsuperstitiousmemoryhavescrapedtogether。No,wiseintheirgeneration,theyveneratetheprescriptiverightofpossession,asastronghold,andstillletthesluggishbelltingletoprayers,asduringthedays,whentheelevationofthehostwassupposedtoatoneforthesinsofthepeople,lestonereformationshouldleadtoanother,andthespiritkilltheletter。TheseRomishcustomshavethemostbanefuleffectonthemoralsofourclergy;fortheidleverminwhotwoorthreetimesadayperform,inthemostslovenlymanneraservicewhichtheythinkuseless,butcalltheirduty,soonloseasenseofduty。
Atcollege,forcedtoattendorevadepublicworship,theyacquireanhabitualcontemptfortheveryservice,theperformanceofwhichistoenablethemtoliveinidleness。Itismumbledoverasanaffairofbusiness,asastupidboyrepeatshistask,andfrequentlythecollegecantescapesfromthepreacherthemomentafterhehasleftthepulpit,andevenwhilstheiseatingthedinnerwhichheearnedinsuchadishonestmanner。
Nothing,indeed,canbemoreirreverentthanthecathedralserviceasitisnowperformedinthiscountry,neitherdoesitcontainasetofweakermenthanthosewhoaretheslavesofthischildishroutine。Adisgustingskeletonoftheformerstateisstillexhibited;butallthesolemnity,thatinterestedtheimagination,ifitdidnotpurifytheheart,isstrippedoff。Theperformanceofhighmassonthecontinentmustimpresseverymind,whereasparkoffancyglows,withthatawfulmelancholy,thatsublimetenderness,soneara—kintodevotion。Idonotsay,thatthesedevotionalfeelingsareofmoreuse,inamoralsense,thananyotheremotionoftaste;butIcontend,thatthetheatricalpompwhichgratifiesoursenses,istobepreferredtothecoldparadethatinsultstheunderstandingwithoutreachingtheheart。
Amongstremarksonnationaleducation,suchobservationscannotbemisplaced,especiallyasthesupportersoftheseestablishments,degeneratedintopuerilities,affecttobethechampionsofreligion。Religion,puresourceofcomfortinthisvaleoftears！
howhasthyclearstreambeenmuddiedbythedabblers,whohavepresumptuouslyendeavouredtoconfineinonenarrowchannel,thelivingwatersthateverflowtowardGod——thesublimeoceanofexistence！WhatwouldlifebewithoutthatpeacewhichtheloveofGod,whenbuiltonhumanity,alonecanimpart？Everyearthlyaffectionturnsback,atintervals,topreyupontheheartthatfeedsit;andthepuresteffusionsofbenevolence,oftenrudelydampedbymen,mustmountasafree—willofferingtoHimwhogavethembirth,whosebrightimagetheyfaintlyreflect。
Inpublicschools,however,religion,confoundedwithirksomeceremoniesandunreasonablerestraints,assumesthemostungraciousaspect:notthesoberaustereonethatcommandsrespectwhilstitinspiresfear;butaludicrouscast,thatservestopointapun。
For,infact,mostofthegoodstoriesandsmartthingswhichenliventhespiritsthathavebeenconcentratedatwhist,aremanufacturedoutoftheincidentstowhichtheverymenlabourtogiveadrollturnwhocountenancetheabusetoliveonthespoil。