a vindication of the rights of woman-第43章
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echnical terms； nor initiated into the arcana； therefore I may speak improperly； but it is clear； that men who will not conform to the law of reason； and earn a subsistence in an honest way； by degrees； are very fortunate in becoming acquainted with such obliging spirits。 We cannot； indeed； give them credit for either great sagacity or goodness； else they would have chosen more noble instruments； when they wished to show themselves the benevolent friends of man。 It is； however； little short of blasphemy to pretend to such power。 》From the whole tenor of the dispensations of Providence； it appears evident to sober reason； that certain vices produce certain effects： and can any one so grossly insult the wisdom of God； as to suppose； that a miracle will be allowed to disturb his general laws； to restore to health the intemperate and vicious； merely to enable them to pursue the same course with impunity？ Be whole； and sin no more； said Jesus。 And are greater miracles to be performed by those who do not follow his footsteps； who healed the body to reach the mind？ The mentioning of the name of Christ； after such vile impostors may displease some of my readersI respect their warmth； but let them not forget； that the followers of these delusions bear his name； and profess to be the disciples of him； who said； by their works we should know who were the children of God or the servants of sin。 I allow that it is easier to touch the body of a saint； or to be magnetised； than to restrain our appetites or govern our passions； but health of body or mind can only be recovered by these means； or we make the Supreme Judge partial and revengeful。 Is he a man； that he should change； or punish out of resentment？ Hethe common father； wounds but to heal； says reason； and our irregularities producing certain consequences； we are forcibly shown the nature of vice； that thus learning to know good from evil； by experience； we may hate one and love the other； in proportion to the wisdom which we attain。 The poison contains the antidote； and we either reform our evil habits； and cease to sin against our own bodies； to use the forcible language of scripture； or a premature death； the punishment of sin； snaps the thread of life。 Here an awful stop is put to our inquiries。 But； why should I conceal my sentiments？ Considering the attributes of God； I believe； that whatever punishment may follow； will tend； like the anguish of disease； to show the malignity of vice； for the purpose of reformation。 Positive punishment appears so contrary to the nature of God； discoverable in all his works； and in our own reason； that I could sooner believe that the Deity paid no attention to the conduct of men； than that he punished without the benevolent design of reforming。 To suppose only； that an all…wise and powerful Being； as good as he is great； should create a being； foreseeing； that after fifty or sixty years of feverish existence； it would be plunged into never ending woeis blasphemy。 On what will the worm feed that is never to die？ On folly； on ignorance； say yeI should blush indignantly at drawing the natural conclusion； could I insert it； and wish to withdraw myself from the wing of my God！ On such a supposition； I speak with reverence； he would be a consuming fire。 We should wish； though vainly； to fly from his presence when fear absorbed love； and darkness involved all his counsels。 I know that many devout people boast of submitting to the Will of God blindly； as to an arbitrary sceptre or rod； on the same principle as the Indians worship the devil。 In other words； like people in the common concerns of life； they do homage to power； and cringe under the foot that can crush them。 Rational religion； on the contrary； is a submission to the will of a being so perfectly wise； that all he wills must be directed by the proper motivemust be reasonable。 And； if thus we respect God； can we give credit to the mysterious insinuations which insult his laws？ Can we believe； though it should stare us in the face； that he would work a miracle to authorize confusion by sanctioning an error？ Yet we must either allow these impious conclusions； or treat with contempt every promise to restore health to a diseased body by supernatural means； or to foretell； the incidents that can only be foreseen by God。 SECTION 13。2。 Another instance of that feminine weakness of character； often produced by a confined education； is a romantic twist of the mind； which has been very properly termed SENTIMENTAL。 Women； subjected by ignorance to their sensations； and only taught to look for happiness in love； refine on sensual feelings； and adopt metaphysical notions respecting that passion； which lead them shamefully to neglect the duties of life； and frequently in the midst of these sublime refinements they plunge into actual vice。 These are the women who are amused by the reveries of the stupid novelists； who； knowing little of human nature； work up stale tales； and describe meretricious scenes； all retailed in a sentimental jargon； which equally tend to corrupt the taste； and draw the heart aside from its daily duties。 I do not mention the understanding； because never having been exercised； its slumbering energies rest inactive； like the lurking particles of fire which are supposed universally to pervade matter。 Females； in fact； denied all political privileges； and not allowed； as married women； excepting in criminal cases； a civil existence； have their attention naturally drawn from the interest of the whole community to that of the minute parts； though the private duty of any member of society must be very imperfectly performed； when not connected with the general good。 The mighty business of female life is to please； and； restrained from entering into more important concerns by political and civil oppression； sentiments become events； and reflection deepens what it should； and would have effaced； if the understanding had been allowed to take a wider range。 But； confined to trifling employments； they naturally imbibe opinions which the only kind of reading calculated to interest an innocent frivolous mind； inspires。 Unable to grasp any thing great； is it surprising that they find the reading of history a very dry task； and disquisitions addressed to the understanding； intolerably tedious； and almost unintelligible？ Thus are they necessarily dependent on the novelist for amusement。 Yet； when I exclaim against novels； I mean when contrasted with those works which exercise the understanding and regulate the imagination。 For any kind of reading I think better than leaving a blank still a blank； because the mind must receive a degree of enlargement； and obtain a little strength by a slight exertion of its thinking powers； besides； even the productions that are only addressed to the imagination； raise the reader a little above the gross gratification of appetites； to which the mind has not given a shade of delicacy。 This observation is the result of experience； for I have known several notable women； and one in particular； who was a very good womanas good as such a narrow mind would allow her to be； who took care that her daughters （three in number） should never see a novel。 As she was a woman of fortune and fashion； they had various masters to attend them； and a sort of menial governess to watch their footsteps。 From their masters they learned how tables； chairs； etc。 were called in French and Italian； but as the few books thrown in their way were far above their capacities； or devotional； they neither acquired ideas nor sentiments； and passed their time； when not compelled to repeat WORDS； in dressing； quarrelling with each other； or conversing with their maids by stealth； till they were brought into company as marriageable。 Their mother； a widow； was busy in the mean time in keeping up her connexions； as she termed a numerous acquaintance lest her girls should want a proper introduction into the great world。 And these young ladies； with minds vulgar in every sense of the word； and spoiled tempers； entered life puffed up with notions of their own consequence； and looking down with contempt on those who could not vie with them in dress and parade。 With respect to love； nature； or their nurses； had taken care to teach them the physical meaning of the word； and； as they had few topics of conversation； and fewer refinements of sentiment； they expressed their gross wishes not in very delicate phrases； when they spoke freely； talking of matrimony。 Could these girls have been injured by the perusal of novels？ I almost forgot a shade in the character of one of them； she affected a simplicity bordering on folly； and with a simper would utter the most immodest remarks and questions； the full meaning of which she had learned whilst secluded from the world； and afraid to speak in her mother's presence； who governed with a high hand； they were all educated； as she prided herself； in a most exemplary manner； and read their chapters and psalms before breakfast； never touching a silly novel。 This is only one instance； but I recollect many other women who； not led by degrees to proper studies； and not permitted to choose for themselves； have indeed been overgrown children； or have obtained； by mixing in the world； a little of what is termed common sense； that is； a distinct manner of seeing common occurrences； as they stand detached： but what deserves the name of intellect； the power of gaining general or abstract ideas； or even intermediate ones； was out of the question。 Their minds were quiescent； and when they were not roused by sensible objects and employments of that kind； they were low…spirited； would cry； or go to sleep。 When； therefore； I advise my sex not to read such flimsy works； it is to induce them to read something superior； for I coincide in opinion with a sagacious man； who； having a daughter and niece under his care； pursued a very different plan with each。 The niece； who had considerable abilities； had； before she was left to his guardianship； been indulged in desultory reading。 Her he endeavoured to lead； and did lead； to history and moral essays； but his daughter whom a fond weak mother had indulged； and who consequently was averse to every thing like application； he allowed to read novels； and used to justify his conduct by saying； that if she ever attained a relish for reading them； he should have some foundation to work upon； and that erroneous opinions were better than none at all。 In fact； the female mind has been so totally neglected； that knowledge was only to be acquired from this muddy source； till from reading novels some women of superior talents learned to despise them。 The best method； I believe； that can be adopted to correct a fondness for novels is to ridicule them； not indiscriminately； for then it would have little effect； but； if a judicious person； with some turn for humour； would read several to a young girl； and point out； both by tones and apt comparisons with pathetic incidents and heroic characters in history； how foolishly and ridiculously they caricatured human nature； just opinions might be substituted instead of romantic sentiments。 In one respect； however； the majority of both sexes resemble； and equally show a want of taste and modesty。 Ignorant women； f
