Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian: A Plantation Tutor of the Old Dominion, 1773-1774.Fithian, Philip Vickers
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Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian: A Plantation Tutor of the Old Dominion, 1773-1774.
Fithian, Philip Vickers
Carter family; Virginia -- Social life and customs -- To 1775
on all hands allow'd to be due from one Sex to the other, & to many of
your _age_, & _Standing_ no doubt would be entirely salutary. Because
the necessary connections which you have had with the Fair, from your
Puberty upwards have been so unfavourable & ill-fated, that instead of
apprehending any danger on the score of over fondness, I am fearful
your rancour has grown so inveterate at length, as, not only to
preserve you, in thought & practice, pure of every Fleshly foible, but
has carried you so far towards the other extream, as that you will
need many persuasions, when your circumstances shall seem to require
it, to bring you back to a rational & manly habit of thinking & acting
with respect to the Sex; which yet, after all (& eternally will
continue to be, tho it is so much courted & whined after) if
considered in the fullest manner, & set forth to the best advantage,
never rises above its divine definition viz "The weaker Vessel." But
without detaining you any longer with a matter merely depending on
accident or Circumstance I pass on to the second General Head; in
which "Ludis atque Jocis amotis [amatis]" I shall offer to your
consideration & recommend for your practice several Rules concerning
the managment of the School.
2. You will act wisely, if, from the begining, you convince all your
Scholars which you may easily do, of your abilities in the several
branches, which you shall profess to teach; you are not to tell them,
totidem Verbis, "that you understand, perhaps as well as any man on
the Continent both the Latin & Greek Classicks;" "& have gone through
the usual Course in the noted College of New-Jersey, under Dr
Witherspoon, so universally known & admired, where you have studied
Criticism, Oratory, History, not to mention Mathematical &
philosophical Studies, & dipt a good way into the French-Language, &
that you have learn'd a smattering of Dancing, Cards &c. &c. &c." For
Dun-p or Hack---n or the most profound dunce in your College or School
would have too much sense to pass such impudence by, & not despise and
reproach it; but you may speedily & certainly make them think you a
"Clever Fellow" (which is a phrase in use here for a good Scholar) if
you never mention any thing before them, only what you seem to be
wholly master of--This will teach them never to dispute your
determination, & always to rely upon your Judgment; two things which
are most essential for your peace, & their advantage. That you may
avoid yourself of this with certainty I shall recommend for your
practice the following method, as useful at least, if not intirely
necessary. Read over carefully, the lessons in Latin & Greek, in your
leisure hours, that the story & Language be fresh in your memory, when
you are hearing the respective lessons; for your memory is
treacherous, & I am pretty certain it would confound you if you should
be accosted by a pert School-Boy, in the midst of a blunder, with
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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