The exaltation of the sex and the complete freedom allowed to them belong to a state of society, if any such there be, where man is still _more_ excellent. There, indeed, a bright and beautiful ideal is made real, and men and women know how to love and to obey; and love is as true as the respect and the obedience. The Barbarians, full of immorality, of rudeness, of strong passions, of selfishness, controlled by a false conception founded in their Idolatry, act, in respect of their women, as if purity, cultivation, generosity, and the highest morality, everywhere existed! This, so false, is well-nigh fatal to them. Yet, it is only an illustration of the uncultivated and confused state of mind, even in the highest, that so simple a thing as the natural order governing the relation of sex and family is not comprehended; and that their Society is saved from absolute wreck only by the strong and controlling instinct of nature, which, in spite of obstacles, does bring the female into subjection to the male--at least to an extent sufficient to make life possible! None the less the disorder of households is dreadful. Sons and daughters, as they grow strong, assert themselves [Quan-hang-ho]. They act and speak (and in this follow the wife and mother) as if the sole business of the father was to give the means of selfish, idle indulgence. This would not be so unjust among the High-Caste, but it descends to all grades, and the middle orders are content to see the father toil at his business till overworked, or ruined altogether, in his efforts to supply these daily exactions. No doubt he himself is a victim to the whole vicious falseness--yet the cold-bloodedness of this conduct on the part of children and wives is remarkable. "Obedience," or "gratitude!"--Words sneered at, laughed at! The daughters, directed by _Mamma_ [na-ni-go], are taught to dress, to _look_ modest, to practise all those arts by which they may attract the male and secure husbands, and are exhibited in public places and in Society accordingly.