Thereisnot,perhaps,inthekingdom,amoredogmaticalorluxurioussetofmen,thanthepedantictyrantswhoresideincollegesandpresideatpublicschools。Thevacationsareequallyinjurioustothemoralsofthemastersandpupils,andtheintercourse,whichtheformerkeepupwiththenobility,introducesthesamevanityandextravaganceintotheirfamilies,whichbanishdomesticdutiesandcomfortsfromthelordlymansion,whosestateisawkwardlyapedonasmallerscale。Theboys,wholiveatagreatexpencewiththemastersandassistants,areneverdomesticated,thoughplacedthereforthatpurpose;for,afterasilentdinner,theyswallowahastyglassofwine,andretiretoplansomemischievoustrick,ortoridiculethepersonormannersoftheverypeopletheyhavejustbeencringingto,andwhomtheyoughttoconsiderastherepresentativesoftheirparents。
Canitthenbeamatterofsurprise,thatboysbecomeselfishandviciouswhoarethusshutoutfromsocialconverse？orthatamitreoftengracesthebrowofoneofthesediligentpastors？Thedesireoflivinginthesamestyle,astherankjustabovethem,infectseachindividualandeveryclassofpeople,andmeannessistheconcomitantofthisignobleambition;butthoseprofessionsaremostdebasingwhoseladderispatronage;yetoutofoneoftheseprofessionsthetutorsofyouthareingeneralchosen。But,cantheybeexpectedtoinspireindependentsentiments,whoseconductmustberegulatedbythecautiousprudencethatiseveronthewatchforpreferment？
Sofar,however,fromthinkingofthemoralsofboys,Ihaveheardseveralmastersofschoolsargue,thattheyonlyundertooktoteachLatinandGreek;andthattheyhadfulfilledtheirduty,bysendingsomegoodscholarstocollege。
Afewgoodscholars,Igrant,mayhavebeenformedbyemulationanddiscipline;but,tobringforwardthesecleverboys,thehealthandmoralsofanumberhavebeensacrificed。
Thesonsofourgentryandwealthycommonersaremostlyeducatedattheseseminaries,andwillanyonepretendtoassert,thatthemajority,makingeveryallowance,comeunderthedescriptionoftolerablescholars？
Itisnotforthebenefitofsocietythatafewbrilliantmenshouldbebroughtforwardattheexpenceofthemultitude。Itistrue,thatgreatmenseemtostartup,asgreatrevolutionsoccur,atproperintervals,torestoreorder,andtoblowasidethecloudsthatthickenoverthefaceoftruth;butletmorereasonandvirtueprevailinsociety,andthesestrongwindswouldnotbenecessary。
Publiceducation,ofeverydenomination,shouldbedirectedtoformcitizens;butifyouwishtomakegoodcitizens,youmustfirstexercisetheaffectionsofasonandabrother。Thisistheonlywaytoexpandtheheart;forpublicaffections,aswellaspublicvirtues,mustevergrowoutoftheprivatecharacter,ortheyaremerelymeteorsthatshootathwartadarksky,anddisappearastheyaregazedatandadmired。
Few,Ibelieve,havehadmuchaffectionformankind,whodidnotfirstlovetheirparents,theirbrothers,sisters,andeventhedomesticbrutes,whomtheyfirstplayedwith。Theexerciseofyouthfulsympathiesformsthemoraltemperature;anditistherecollectionofthesefirstaffectionsandpursuits,thatgiveslifetothosethatareafterwardsmoreunderthedirectionofreason。Inyouth,thefondestfriendshipsareformed,thegenialjuicesmountingatthesametime,kindlymix;or,rathertheheart,temperedforthereceptionoffriendship,isaccustomedtoseekforpleasureinsomethingmorenoblethanthechurlishgratificationofappetite。
Inorderthentoinspirealoveofhomeanddomesticpleasures,childrenoughttobeeducatedathome,forriotousholidaysonlymakethemfondofhomefortheirownsakes。Yet,thevacations,whichdonotfosterdomesticaffections,continuallydisturbthecourseofstudy,andrenderanyplanofimprovementabortivewhichincludestemperance;still,weretheyabolished,childrenwouldbeentirelyseparatedfromtheirparents,andIquestionwhethertheywouldbecomebettercitizensbysacrificingthepreparatoryaffections,bydestroyingtheforceofrelationshipsthatrenderthemarriagestateasnecessaryasrespectable。But,ifaprivateeducationproduceself—importance,orinsulatesamaninhisfamily,theevilisonlyshifted,notremedied。
Thistrainofreasoningbringsmebacktoasubject,onwhichI
meantodwell,thenecessityofestablishingproperday—schools。
Buttheseshouldbenationalestablishments,forwhilstschool—mastersaredependentonthecapriceofparents,littleexertioncanbeexpectedfromthem,morethanisnecessarytopleaseignorantpeople。Indeed,thenecessityofamaster\'sgivingtheparentssomesampleoftheboy\'sabilities,whichduringthevacation,isshowntoeveryvisiter,isproductiveofmoremischiefthanwouldatfirstbesupposed。Fortheyareseldomdoneentirely,tospeakwithmoderation,bythechilditself;thusthemastercountenancesfalsehoods,orwindsthepoormachineuptosomeextraordinaryexertion,thatinjuresthewheels,andstopstheprogressofgradualimprovement。Thememoryisloadedwithunintelligiblewords,tomakeashowof,withouttheunderstanding\'sacquiringanydistinctideas:butonlythateducationdeservesemphaticallytobetermedcultivationofmind,whichteachesyoungpeoplehowtobegintothink。Theimaginationshouldnotbeallowedtodebauchtheunderstandingbeforeitgainedstrength,orvanitywillbecometheforerunnerofvice:foreverywayofexhibitingtheacquirementsofachildisinjurioustoitsmoralcharacter。
Howmuchtimeislostinteachingthemtorecitewhattheydonotunderstand！whilst,seatedonbenches,allintheirbestarray,themammaslistenwithastonishmenttotheparrot—likeprattle,utteredinsolemncadences,withallthepompofignoranceandfolly。Suchexhibitionsonlyservetostrikethespreadingfibresofvanitythroughthewholemind;fortheyneitherteachchildrentospeakfluently,norbehavegracefully。Sofarfromit,thatthesefrivolouspursuitsmightcomprehensivelybetermedthestudyofaffectation:forwenowrarelyseeasimple,bashfulboy,thoughfewpeopleoftastewereeverdisgustedbythatawkwardsheepishnesssonaturaltotheage,whichschoolsandanearlyintroductionintosociety,havechangedintoimpudenceandapishgrimace。
Yet,howcanthesethingsberemediedwhilstschoolmastersdependentirelyonparentsforasubsistence;andwhensomanyrivalschoolshangouttheirlurestocatchtheattentionofvainfathersandmothers,whoseparentalaffectiononlyleadsthemtowish,thattheirchildrenshouldoutshinethoseoftheirneighbours？
Withoutgreatgoodluck,asensible,conscientiousman,wouldstarvebeforehecouldraiseaschool,ifhedisdainedtobubbleweakparents,bypractisingthesecrettricksofthecraft。
Inthebestregulatedschools,however,whereswarmsarenotcrammedtogethermanybadhabitsmustbeacquired;but,atcommonschools,thebody,heart,andunderstanding,areequallystunted,forparentsareoftenonlyinquestofthecheapestschool,andthemastercouldnotlive,ifhedidnottakeamuchgreaternumberthanhecouldmanagehimself;norwillthescantypittance,allowedforeachchild,permithimtohireusherssufficienttoassistinthedischargeofthemechanicalpartofthebusiness。Besides,whateverappearancethehouseandgardenmaymake,thechildrendonotenjoythecomfortsofeither,fortheyarecontinuallyreminded,byirksomerestrictions,thattheyarenotathome,andthestate—rooms,garden,etc。mustbekeptinorderfortherecreationoftheparents;who,ofaSunday,visittheschool,andareimpressedbytheveryparadethatrendersthesituationoftheirchildrenuncomfortable。
WithwhatdisgusthaveIheardsensiblewomen,forgirlsaremorerestrainedandcowedthanboys,speakofthewearisomeconfinementwhichtheyenduredatschool。Notallowed,perhaps,tostepoutofonebroadwalkinasuperbgarden,andobligedtopacewithsteadydeportmentstupidlybackwardsandforwards,holdinguptheirheads,andturningouttheirtoes,withshouldersbracedback,insteadofbounding,asnaturedirectstocompleteherowndesign,inthevariousattitudessoconducivetohealth。Thepureanimalspirits,whichmakebothmindandbodyshootout,andunfoldthetenderblossomsofhopeareturnedsour,andventedinvainwishes,orpertrepinings,thatcontractthefacultiesandspoilthetemper;
elsetheymounttothebrainandsharpeningtheunderstandingbeforeitgainsproportionablestrength,producethatpitifulcunningwhichdisgracefullycharacterizesthefemalemind——andI
fearwillevercharacterizeitwhilstwomenremaintheslavesofpower！
Thelittlerespectwhichthemaleworldpaytochastityis,Iampersuaded,thegrandsourceofmanyofthephysicalandmoralevilsthattormentmankind,aswellasofthevicesandfolliesthatdegradeanddestroywomen;yetatschool,boysinfalliblylosethatdecentbashfulness,whichmighthaveripenedintomodestyathome。
Ihavealreadyanimadvertedonthebadhabitswhichfemalesacquirewhentheyareshutuptogether;andIthinkthattheobservationmayfairlybeextendedtotheothersex,tillthenaturalinferenceisdrawnwhichIhavehadinviewthroughout——thattoimprovebothsexestheyought,notonlyinprivatefamilies,butinpublicschools,tobeeducatedtogether。Ifmarriagebethecementofsociety,mankindshouldallbeeducatedafterthesamemodel,ortheintercourseofthesexeswillneverdeservethenameoffellowship,norwillwomeneverfulfilthepeculiardutiesoftheirsex,tilltheybecomeenlightenedcitizens,tilltheybecomefree,bybeingenabledtoearntheirownsubsistence,independentofmen;
inthesamemanner,Imean,topreventmisconstruction,asonemanisindependentofanother。Nay,marriagewillneverbeheldsacredtillwomenbybeingbroughtupwithmen,arepreparedtobetheircompanions,ratherthantheirmistresses;forthemeandoublingsofcunningwilleverrenderthemcontemptible,whilstoppressionrendersthemtimid。SoconvincedamIofthistruth,thatIwillventuretopredict,thatvirtuewillneverprevailinsocietytillthevirtuesofbothsexesarefoundedonreason;and,tilltheaffectioncommontobothareallowedtogaintheirduestrengthbythedischargeofmutualduties。
Wereboysandgirlspermittedtopursuethesamestudiestogether,thosegracefuldecenciesmightearlybeinculcatedwhichproducemodesty,withoutthosesexualdistinctionsthattaintthemind。
Lessonsofpoliteness,andthatformularyofdecorum,whichtreadsontheheelsoffalsehood,wouldberendereduselessbyhabitualproprietyofbehaviour。Not,indeedputonforvisiterslikethecourtlyrobeofpoliteness,butthesobereffectofcleanlinessofmind。Wouldnotthissimpleeleganceofsinceritybeachastehomagepaidtodomesticaffections,farsurpassingthemeretriciouscomplimentsthatshinewithfalselustreintheheartlessintercourseoffashionablelife？But,tillmoreunderstandingpreponderateinsociety,therewilleverbeawantofheartandtaste,andtheharlot\'srougewillsupplytheplaceofthatcelestialsuffusionwhichonlyvirtuousaffectionscangivetotheface。Gallantry,andwhatiscalledlove,maysubsistwithoutsimplicityofcharacter;butthemainpillarsoffriendship,arerespectandconfidence——esteemisneverfoundedonitcannottellwhat。
Atasteforthefineartsrequiresgreatcultivation;butnotmorethanatasteforthevirtuousaffections:andbothsupposethatenlargementofmindwhichopenssomanysourcesofmentalpleasure。
Whydopeoplehurrytonoisyscenesandcrowdedcircles？Ishouldanswer,becausetheywantactivityofmind,becausetheyhavenotcherishedthevirtuesoftheheart。Theyonly,therefore,seeandfeelinthegross,andcontinuallypineaftervariety,findingeverythingthatissimple,insipid。
Thisargumentmaybecarriedfurtherthanphilosophersareawareof,forifnaturedestinedwoman,inparticular,forthedischargeofdomesticduties,shemadehersusceptibleoftheattachedaffectionsinagreatdegree。Nowwomenarenotoriouslyfondofpleasure;andnaturallymustbeso,accordingtomydefinition,becausetheycannotenterintotheminutiaeofdomestictaste;
lackingjudgmentthefoundationofalltaste。Fortheunderstanding,inspiteofsensualcavillers,reservestoitselftheprivilegeofconveyingpurejoytotheheart。
WithwhatalanguidyawnhaveIseenanadmirablepoemthrowndown,thatamanoftruetastereturnsto,againandagainwithrapture;
and,whilstmelodyhasalmostsuspendedrespiration,aladyhasaskedmewhereIboughtmygown。Ihaveseenalsoaneyeglancedcoldlyoveramostexquisitepicture,rest,sparklingwithpleasure,onacaricaturerudelysketched;andwhilstsometerrificfeatureinnaturehasspreadasublimestillnessthroughmysoul,I
havebeendesiredtoobservetheprettytricksofalap—dog,thatmyperversefateforcedmetotravelwith。Isitsurprising,thatsuchatastelessbeingshouldrathercaressthisdogthanherchildren？Or,thatsheshouldprefertherantofflatterytothesimpleaccentsofsincerity？
ToillustratethisremarkImustbeallowedtoobserve,thatmenofthefirstgenius,andmostcultivatedminds,haveappearedtohavethehighestrelishforthesimplebeautiesofnature;andtheymusthaveforciblyfelt,whattheyhavesowelldescribed,thecharm,whichnaturalaffections,andunsophisticatedfeelingsspreadroundthehumancharacter。Itisthispoweroflookingintotheheart,andresponsivelyvibratingwitheachemotion,thatenablesthepoettopersonifyeachpassion,andthepaintertosketchwithapenciloffire。
Truetasteisevertheworkoftheunderstandingemployedinobservingnaturaleffects;andtillwomenhavemoreunderstanding,itisvaintoexpectthemtopossessdomestictaste。Theirlivelysenseswilleverbeatworktohardentheirhearts,andtheemotionsstruckoutofthemwillcontinuetobevividandtransitory,unlessapropereducationstorestheirmindswithknowledge。
Itisthewantofdomestictaste,andnottheacquirementofknowledge,thattakeswomenoutoftheirfamilies,andtearsthesmilingbabefromthebreastthatoughttoafforditnourishment。
Womenhavebeenallowedtoremaininignorance,andslavishdependence,many,verymanyyears,andstillwehearofnothingbuttheirfondnessofpleasureandsway,theirpreferenceofrakesandsoldiers,theirchildishattachmenttotoys,andthevanitythatmakesthemvalueaccomplishmentsmorethanvirtues。
Historybringsforwardafearfulcatalogueofthecrimeswhichtheircunninghasproduced,whentheweakslaveshavehadsufficientaddresstoover—reachtheirmasters。InFrance,andinhowmanyothercountrieshavemenbeentheluxuriousdespots,andwomenthecraftyministers？Doesthisprovethatignoranceanddependencedomesticatethem？Isnottheirfollytheby—wordofthelibertines,whorelaxintheirsociety;anddonotmenofsensecontinuallylament,thatanimmoderatefondnessfordressanddissipationcarriesthemotherofafamilyforeverfromhome？
Theirheartshavenotbeendebauchedbyknowledge,northeirmindsledastraybyscientificpursuits;yet,theydonotfulfilthepeculiarduties,whichaswomentheyarecalleduponbynaturetofulfil。Onthecontrary,thestateofwarfarewhichsubsistsbetweenthesexes,makesthememploythosewiles,thatfrustratethemoreopendesignsofforce。
When,therefore,Icallwomenslaves,Imeaninapoliticalandcivilsense;for,indirectlytheyobtaintoomuchpower,andaredebasedbytheirexertionstoobtainillicitsway。
Letanenlightenednationthentrywhateffectreasonwouldhavetobringthembacktonature,andtheirduty;andallowingthemtosharetheadvantagesofeducationandgovernmentwithman,seewhethertheywillbecomebetter,astheygrowwiserandbecomefree。Theycannotbeinjuredbytheexperiment;foritisnotinthepowerofmantorenderthemmoreinsignificantthantheyareatpresent。
Torenderthispracticable,dayschoolsforparticularagesshouldbeestablishedbygovernment,inwhichboysandgirlsmightbeeducatedtogether。Theschoolfortheyoungerchildren,fromfivetonineyearsofage,oughttobeabsolutelyfreeandopentoallclasses。*Asufficientnumberofmastersshouldalsobechosenbyaselectcommittee,ineachparish,towhomanycomplaintofnegligence,etc。mightbemade,ifsignedbysixofthechildren\'sparents。
（*Footnote。Treatingthispartofthesubject,IhaveborrowedsomehintsfromaverysensiblepamphletwrittenbythelatebishopofAutunonpublicEducation。）
Usherswouldthenbeunnecessary;for,Ibelieve,experiencewilleverprove,thatthiskindofsubordinateauthorityisparticularlyinjurioustothemoralsofyouth。What,indeed,cantendtodepravethecharactermorethanoutwardsubmissionandinwardcontempt？Yet,howcanboysbeexpectedtotreatanusherwithrespectwhenthemasterseemstoconsiderhiminthelightofaservant,andalmosttocountenancetheridiculewhichbecomesthechiefamusementoftheboysduringtheplayhours？
Butnothingofthiskindcouldoccurinanelementaryday—school,whereboysandgirls,therichandpoor,shouldmeettogether。Andtopreventanyofthedistinctionsofvanity,theyshouldbedressedalike,andallobligedtosubmittothesamediscipline,orleavetheschool。Theschool—roomoughttobesurroundedbyalargepieceofground,inwhichthechildrenmightbeusefullyexercised,foratthisagetheyshouldnotbeconfinedtoanysedentaryemploymentformorethananhouratatime。Buttheserelaxationsmightallberenderedapartofelementaryeducation,formanythingsimproveandamusethesenses,whenintroducedasakindofshow,totheprinciplesofwhichdrylylaiddown,childrenwouldturnadeafear。Forinstance,botany,mechanics,andastronomy。Reading,writing,arithmetic,naturalhistory,andsomesimpleexperimentsinnaturalphilosophy,mightfilluptheday;
butthesepursuitsshouldneverencroachongymnasticplaysintheopenair。Theelementsofreligion,history,thehistoryofman,andpolitics,mightalsobetaughtbyconversations,inthesocraticform。
Aftertheageofnine,girlsandboys,intendedfordomesticemployments,ormechanicaltrades,oughttoberemovedtootherschools,andreceiveinstruction,insomemeasureappropriatedtothedestinationofeachindividual,thetwosexesbeingstilltogetherinthemorning;butintheafternoon,thegirlsshouldattendaschool,whereplainwork,mantua—making,millinery,etc。
wouldbetheiremployment。
Theyoungpeopleofsuperiorabilities,orfortune,mightnowbetaught,inanotherschool,thedeadandlivinglanguages,theelementsofscience,andcontinuethestudyofhistoryandpolitics,onamoreextensivescale,whichwouldnotexcludepoliteliterature。Girlsandboysstilltogether？Ihearsomereadersask:yes。AndIshouldnotfearanyotherconsequence,thanthatsomeearlyattachmentmighttakeplace;which,whilstithadthebesteffectonthemoralcharacteroftheyoungpeople,mightnotperfectlyagreewiththeviewsoftheparents,foritwillbealongtime,Ifear,beforetheworldissoenlightened,thatparents,onlyanxioustorendertheirchildrenvirtuous,willletthemchoosecompanionsforlifethemselves。
Besides,thiswouldbeasurewaytopromoteearlymarriages,andfromearlymarriagesthemostsalutaryphysicalandmoraleffectsnaturallyflow。Whatadifferentcharacterdoesamarriedcitizenassumefromtheselfishcoxcomb,wholivesbutforhimself,andwhoisoftenafraidtomarrylestheshouldnotbeabletoliveinacertainstyle。Greatemergenciesexcepted,whichwouldrarelyoccurinasocietyofwhichequalitywasthebasis,amancouldonlybepreparedtodischargethedutiesofpubliclife,bythehabitualpracticeofthoseinferioroneswhichformtheman。
Inthisplanofeducation,theconstitutionofboyswouldnotberuinedbytheearlydebaucheries,whichnowmakemensoselfish,norgirlsrenderedweakandvain,byindolenceandfrivolouspursuits。But,Ipresuppose,thatsuchadegreeofequalityshouldbeestablishedbetweenthesexesaswouldshutoutgallantryandcoquetry,yetallowfriendshipandlovetotempertheheartforthedischargeofhigherduties。
Thesewouldbeschoolsofmorality——andthehappinessofman,allowedtoflowfromthepurespringsofdutyandaffection,whatadvancesmightnotthehumanmindmake？Societycanonlybehappyandfreeinproportionasitisvirtuous;butthepresentdistinctions,establishedinsociety,corrodeallprivate,andblastallpublicvirtue。
Ihavealreadyinveighedagainstthecustomofconfininggirlstotheirneedle,andshuttingthemoutfromallpoliticalandcivilemployments;forbythusnarrowingtheirmindstheyarerenderedunfittofulfilthepeculiardutieswhichnaturehasassignedthem。
Onlyemployedaboutthelittleincidentsoftheday,theynecessarilygrowupcunning。Myverysoulhasoftensickenedatobservingtheslytrickspractisedbywomentogainsomefoolishthingonwhichtheirsillyheartswereset。Notallowedtodisposeofmoney,orcallanythingtheirown,theylearntoturnthemarketpenny;or,shouldahusbandoffend,bystayingfromhome,orgiverisetosomeemotionsofjealousy——anewgown,oranyprettybauble,smoothsJuno\'sangrybrow。
ButtheseLITTLENESSESwouldnotdegradetheircharacter,ifwomenwereledtorespectthemselves,ifpoliticalandmoralsubjectswereopenedtothem;andIwillventuretoaffirm,thatthisistheonlywaytomakethemproperlyattentivetotheirdomesticduties。
Anactivemindembracesthewholecircleofitsduties,andfindstimeenoughforall。Itisnot,Iassert,aboldattempttoemulatemasculinevirtues;itisnottheenchantmentofliterarypursuits,orthesteadyinvestigationofscientificsubjects,thatleadwomenastrayfromduty。No,itisindolenceandvanity——theloveofpleasureandtheloveofsway,thatwillreignparamountinanemptymind。Isayempty,emphatically,becausetheeducationwhichwomennowreceivescarcelydeservesthename。Forthelittleknowledgetheyareledtoacquireduringtheimportantyearsofyouth,ismerelyrelativetoaccomplishments;andaccomplishmentswithoutabottom,forunlesstheunderstandingbecultivated,superficialandmonotonousiseverygrace。Likethecharmsofamade—upface,theyonlystrikethesensesinacrowd;butathome,wantingmind,theywantvariety。Theconsequenceisobvious;ingayscenesofdissipationwemeettheartificialmindandface,forthosewhoflyfromsolitudedreadnexttosolitude,thedomesticcircle;nothavingitintheirpowertoamuseorinterest,theyfeeltheirowninsignificance,orfindnothingtoamuseorinterestthemselves。
Besides,whatcanbemoreindelicatethanagirl\'scomingoutinthefashionableworld？Which,inotherwords,istobringtomarketamarriageablemiss,whosepersonistakenfromonepublicplacetoanother,richlycaparisoned。Yet,mixinginthegiddycircleunderrestraint,thesebutterflieslongtoflutteratlarge,forthefirstaffectionoftheirsoulsistheirownpersons,towhichtheirattentionhasbeencalledwiththemostsedulouscare,whilsttheywerepreparingfortheperiodthatdecidestheirfateforlife。Insteadofpursuingthisidleroutine,sighingfortastelessshow,andheartlessstate,withwhatdignitywouldtheyouthsofbothsexesformattachmentsintheschoolsthatIhavecursorilypointedout;inwhich,aslifeadvanced,dancing,music,anddrawing,mightbeadmittedasrelaxations,forattheseschoolsyoungpeopleoffortuneoughttoremain,moreorless,tilltheywereofage。Those,whoweredesignedforparticularprofessions,mightattend,threeorfourmorningsintheweek,theschoolsappropriatedfortheirimmediateinstruction。
Ionlydroptheseobservationsatpresent,ashints;rather,indeedasanoutlineoftheplanImean,thanadigestedone;butImustadd,thatIhighlyapproveofoneregulationmentionedinthepamphletalreadyalludedto（TheBishopofAutun）,thatofmakingthechildrenandyouthsindependentofthemastersrespectingpunishments。Theyshouldbetriedbytheirpeers,whichwouldbeanadmirablemethodoffixingsoundprinciplesofjusticeinthemind,andmighthavethehappiesteffectonthetemper,whichisveryearlysouredorirritatedbytyranny,tillitbecomespeevishlycunning,orferociouslyoverbearing。
Myimaginationdartsforwardwithbenevolentfervourtogreettheseamiableandrespectablegroups,inspiteofthesneeringofcoldhearts,whoareatlibertytoutter,withfrigidself—importance,thedamningepithet——romantic;theforceofwhichIshallendeavourtobluntbyrepeatingthewordsofaneloquentmoralist。
\"Iknownotwhethertheallusionsofatrulyhumaneheart,whosezealrenderseverythingeasy,isnotpreferabletothatroughandrepulsingreason,whichalwaysfindsinindifferenceforthepublicgood,thefirstobstacletowhateverwouldpromoteit。\"
Iknowthatlibertineswillalsoexclaim,thatwomanwouldbeunsexedbyacquiringstrengthofbodyandmind,andthatbeauty,softbewitchingbeauty！wouldnolongeradornthedaughtersofmen。
Iamofaverydifferentopinion,forIthink,that,onthecontrary,weshouldthenseedignifiedbeauty,andtruegrace;toproducewhich,manypowerfulphysicalandmoralcauseswouldconcur。Notrelaxedbeauty,itistrue,northegracesofhelplessness;butsuchasappearstomakeusrespectthehumanbodyasamajesticpile,fittoreceiveanobleinhabitant,intherelicsofantiquity。
Idonotforgetthepopularopinion,thattheGrecianstatueswerenotmodelledafternature。Imean,notaccordingtotheproportionsofaparticularman;butthatbeautifullimbsandfeatureswereselectedfromvariousbodiestoformanharmoniouswhole。Thismight,insomedegree,betrue。Thefineidealpictureofanexaltedimaginationmightbesuperiortothematerialswhichthepainterfoundinnature,andthusitmightwithproprietybetermedratherthemodelofmankindthanofaman。Itwasnot,however,themechanicalselectionoflimbsandfeatures,buttheebullitionofanheatedfancythatburstforth;andthefinesensesandenlargedunderstandingoftheartistselectedthesolidmatter,whichhedrewintothisglowingfocus。
Iobservedthatitwasnotmechanical,becauseawholewasproduced——amodelofthatgrandsimplicity,ofthoseconcurringenergies,whicharrestourattentionandcommandourreverence。
Foronlyinsipidlifelessbeautyisproducedbyaservilecopyofevenbeautifulnature。Yet,independentoftheseobservations,I
believe,thatthehumanformmusthavebeenfarmorebeautifulthanitisatpresent,becauseextremeindolence,barbarousligatures,andmanycauses,whichforciblyactonit,inourluxuriousstateofsociety,didnotretarditsexpansion,orrenderitdeformed。
Exerciseandcleanlinessappeartobenotonlythesurestmeansofpreservinghealth,butofpromotingbeauty,thephysicalcausesonlyconsidered;yet,thisisnotsufficient,moralonesmustconcur,orbeautywillbemerelyofthatrustickindwhichbloomsontheinnocent,wholesomecountenancesofsomecountrypeople,whosemindshavenotbeenexercised。Torenderthepersonperfect,physicalandmoralbeautyoughttobeattainedatthesametime;
eachlendingandreceivingforcebythecombination。Judgmentmustresideonthebrow,affectionandfancybeamintheeye,andhumanitycurvethecheek,orvainisthesparklingofthefinesteyeortheelegantlyturnedfinishofthefairestfeatures;whilstineverymotionthatdisplaystheactivelimbsandwell—knitjoints,graceandmodestyshouldappear。Butthisfairassemblageisnottobebroughttogetherbychance;itistherewardofexertionsmettosupporteachother;forjudgmentcanonlybeacquiredbyreflection,affection,bythedischargeofduties,andhumanitybytheexerciseofcompassiontoeverylivingcreature。
Humanitytoanimalsshouldbeparticularlyinculcatedasapartofnationaleducation,foritisnotatpresentoneofournationalvirtues。Tendernessfortheirhumbledumbdomestics,amongstthelowerclass,isoftenertobefoundinasavagethanacivilizedstate。Forcivilizationpreventsthatintercoursewhichcreatesaffectionintherudehut,ormudcabin,andleadsuncultivatedmindswhoareonlydepravedbytherefinementswhichprevailinthesociety,wheretheyaretroddenunderfootbytherich,todomineeroverthemtorevengetheinsultsthattheyareobligedtobearfromtheirsuperiours。
Thishabitualcrueltyisfirstcaughtatschool,whereitisoneoftheraresportsoftheboystotormentthemiserablebrutesthatfallintheirway。Thetransition,astheygrowup,frombarbaritytobrutestodomestictyrannyoverwives,children,andservants,isveryeasy。Justice,orevenbenevolence,willnotbeapowerfulspringofaction,unlessitextendtothewholecreation;nay,I
believethatitmaybedeliveredasanaxiom,thatthosewhocanseepain,unmoved,willsoonlearntoinflictit。
Thevulgarareswayedbypresentfeelings,andthehabitswhichtheyhaveaccidentallyacquired;butonpartialfeelingsmuchdependencecannotbeplaced,thoughtheybejust;for,whentheyarenotinvigoratedbyreflection,customweakensthem,tilltheyarescarcelyfelt。Thesympathiesofournaturearestrengthenedbyponderingcogitations,anddeadenedbythoughtlessuse。
Macbeth\'sheartsmotehimmoreforonemurder,thefirst,thanforahundredsubsequentones,whichwerenecessarytobackit。But,whenIusedtheepithetvulgar,Ididnotmeantoconfinemyremarktothepoor,forpartialhumanity,foundedonpresentsensationsorwhim,isquiteasconspicuous,ifnotmoreso,amongsttherich。
Theladywhoshedstearsforthebirdstarvedinasnare,andexecratesthedevilsintheshapeofmen,whogoadtomadnessthepoorox,orwhipthepatientass,totteringunderaburdenaboveitsstrength,will,nevertheless,keephercoachmanandhorseswholehourswaitingforher,whenthesharpfrostbites,ortherainbeatsagainstthewell—closedwindowswhichdonotadmitabreathofairtotellherhowroughlythewindblowswithout。Andshewhotakesherdogstobed,andnursesthemwithaparadeofsensibility,whensick,willsufferherbabestogrowupcrookedinanursery。Thisillustrationofmyargumentisdrawnfromamatteroffact。ThewomanwhomIalludetowashandsome,reckonedveryhandsome,bythosewhodonotmissthemindwhenthefaceisplumpandfair;butherunderstandinghadnotbeenledfromfemaledutiesbyliterature,norherinnocencedebauchedbyknowledge。No,shewasquitefeminine,accordingtothemasculineacceptationoftheword;and,sofarfromlovingthesespoiledbrutesthatfilledtheplacewhichherchildrenoughttohaveoccupied,sheonlylispedoutaprettymixtureofFrenchandEnglishnonsense,topleasethemenwhoflockedroundher。Thewife,mother,andhumancreature,wereallswallowedupbythefactitiouscharacter,whichanimpropereducation,andtheselfishvanityofbeauty,hadproduced。
Idonotliketomakeadistinctionwithoutadifference,andIownthatIhavebeenasmuchdisgustedbythefineladywhotookherlap—dogtoherbosom,insteadofherchild;asbytheferocityofaman,who,beatinghishorse,declared,thatheknewaswellwhenhedidwrongasaChristian。
Thisbroodoffollyshowshowmistakentheyarewho,iftheyallowwomentoleavetheirharams,donotcultivatetheirunderstanding,inordertoplantvirtuesintheirhearts。Forhadtheysense,theymightacquirethatdomestictastewhichwouldleadthemtolovewithreasonablesubordinationtheirwholefamily,fromthehusbandtothehouse—dog;norwouldtheyeverinsulthumanityinthepersonofthemostmenialservant,bypayingmoreattentiontothecomfortofabrute,thantothatofafellow—creature。