An essay on the government of children, under three general heads, viz. health, manners, and educationNelson, James
History
An essay on the government of children, under three general heads, viz. health, manners, and education
Nelson, James
Child rearing -- England -- History -- 18th century
Lady excels, or has the Reputation of it; that of exposing both her and
the Parents to a great deal of gay Company at least, if no worse; such as
tends to dissipate the Mind, to shut out Reflection, and thereby check or
prevent the Knowledge of more weighty Obligations: and it often likewise
exposes them to a great deal of ill-timed Expence: which, as every Day’s
Experience shews us, frequently does great Harm, but seldom any Good.
It is certain that every populous Place, especially a polite City like
_London_, ought to have some Entertainments of this Kind; and Persons
of Quality and Fortune should give due Encouragement to them, as the
Performers make it their Bread, and labour their whole Lives to excel,
that they may give them the utmost Entertainment in their Power: all
this, I say, is highly reasonable, if reasonably used. But will not a
Concert, an Opera, or an Oratorio always furnish this? most certainly. Is
it worth a young Lady’s while, whose Fortune perhaps will be but scanty,
to consume a great deal of Time and Money, and at last fall short of a
Stage-performer? by no Means: any more than it is an Honour to a Man of
Quality to be called the first Fiddle in the Kingdom; or for a Gentleman
to boast that he can beat his Coachman at driving.
If to the Steps already laid down of a young Lady’s Education of this
Rank be added Arithmetic, Drawing, and Geography, I think every thing
will be done that her Parents need Wish; and enough, if well improved,
to enable her to make a very advantageous Figure. Still she should be
taught to know that this is only learning the Road; and she herself, with
these Guides, is to take care not to go wrong: good Company, good Books,
and an Attention to her own Actions, are to compleat her. She should not
aim at more deep or learned Studies, which probably would only make her
affected or pedantic; make her a Pain to herself, and disgustful to all
who converse with her, particularly her own Sex. Knowledge does not
consist in Words, but in Things; and a Language, merely as a Language,
conveys only the Knowledge of Words. If on this Foundation, and with
these Materials, she builds with Care, with Diligence and Judgment, I
dare affirm, that these alone will furnish her with every Means of being
wise and happy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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