Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/148

 I40 INTRODUCTION

Other. This is a sufficient answer to those who put forth the notion of human perfectibility. The human race must become soon extinct, if in all qualities each individual were perfect, for two equally perfect beings could only be a hindrance, and not a help, to each other. Each must bring to the partnership what the other has not got, which is precisely what each desires. I told you before that I was opposed to cramming a girl's head with learning, an easy way of producing that anomalous animal, a " blue- stocking." But I am certain that whatever things she does learn should be learned thoroughly. If I had daugh- ters of my own, what I should most desire to see in them as children would be a passion for a doll, for on this hang all the virtues of the future woman. From this comes her gentleness of temper, from this her companionship to man, from this her efficiency as a housewife, and from the con- stant dressing and undressing of it comes that taste in attire without which the most beautiful woman has but small power of securing the attachment of men. Want of this and of the strictest cleanliness, or even a slovenly mode of dressing the ankles, is alone sufficient to render a woman repulsive. I know a very intelligent woman whose intelligence helps her not, because she looks in walking like a travelHng coat and hat stand. In this way the best figure is spoiled, while, on the contrary, a poor one becomes passable by a dress cheap but well-fitted. Of course, no tricks of attire can deceive a physiological eye as to the real shape, because face, feet, and hands with certainty indicate it.

The next thing for my girls would be abundant exposure to the air. Even with a boy, take care of his constitution, and that will take care of his genius. There never was nor will be a perfect mind in an imperfect body, nor health in persons who live in the house.

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