Page:Advice to young ladies on their duties and conduct in life - Arthur - 1849.djvu/75

Rh of those who are born into, or have been elevated into, a higher, more intelligent, and refined condition, would be rather an injury than a benefit, if she were not at the same time gifted with some portion of a corresponding intelligence and refinement. She could neither give nor receive any thing—could add nothing to the general good and general enjoyment, nor receive any genuine good or true enjoyment in return. The wish to be thus introduced, without the requisite qualifications for such an introduction, has its origin in pride, as much as the wish to keep out from the benefits of refined society those who are in an humble condition, because they are poor and humble, has its origin in pride. Among the poor, uneducated, and humble, there exists the same natural ability to be refined and intelligent, as among those born to a better condition: the difference lies in the difference of means available to each, arising from the peculiarity of external circumstances.

While it is possible for a poor, uneducated girl to become a highly-accomplished and intelligent woman, yet, from the very nature of the disabilities surrounding her, this is a very difficult matter, and a thing but rarely attained. The chief end we have in view in particularly introducing this subject now, is to show that a