and those whom indelicacy has covered with dishonor. Above every thing, never suffer children's minds to be filled with ideas that suit not with their condition. Repress severely all their whims and fantasies--shew them the inevitable danger which follows--and how much they make themselves despised by wise and discreet people, in thus assuming a character which does not belong to them. What now remains to be effected, is, the managing of children of high and animated spirit. If care be not taken of this, when they have any vivacity, they intrigue: they wish to speak on every topic: they decide on works the least calculated for their capacity, and affect, through extreme delicacy, to be easily fatigued and overpowered. A girl should never speak but when necessity prompts: and then, with an air of deference and doubt: they should never even discuss subjects above the level of a common understanding, how well soever versed in them. Let a child possess a good memory and vivacity--shew pleasant little turns, and a facility of _graceful_ eloquence--all these qualifications she may have in common with a great number of other stupid and contemptible women. But an exact and uniform conduct--an equal and regulated spirit--when to be silent, and when to speak--these rare qualifications will indeed distinguish her among her sex. As to squeamish delicacy and affectation of _ennui_, she must be repressed in both--by shewing her that a correct taste and good understanding consist in accommodating oneself to every thing in proportion to its utility. Good sense and virtue are alone estimable. These will teach her to consider disgust and _ennui_, not as a commendable delicacy, but as the weakness of a diseased mind. Since one must sometimes associate with gross characters, and mingle in occupations not altogether congenial--reason, which is the only real delicacy to be indulged, should instruct us to accommodate ourselves according to every emergency. An understanding which knows in what true politeness consists, and practises it, but which aspires to objects beyond it, in the hope of enjoying more solid attainments--is infinitely superior to delicate and merely polite characters, who are subject to be disgusted by their own nicety and refined taste. CHAP. XI. _Instruction of Women in their Duties._ Let us now discuss, in detail, those particulars of which it is the duty of a woman to be well informed. What are her employments? She is charged with the education of her children--of the boys, till a certain age--of the girls till they are married; of the conduct, manners, and morals of her domestic attendants; of the whole detail of household expenses; of the means of managing every thing with credit and economy; and sometimes, of the regulation of farms and the receipt of profits which arise from them.