Page:Vindication Women's Rights (Wollstonecraft).djvu/150

144 regulate. The little creature, will doubtles be very deirous to know how to dres up her doll, to make its leeve-knots, its flounces, its head-dres, &c. he is obliged to have o much recoure to the people about her, for their aitance in thee articles, that it would be much more agreeable to her to owe them all to her own indutry. Hence we have a good reaon for the firt leons that are uually taught thee young females: in which we do not appear to be etting them a tak, but obliging them, by intructing them in what is immediately ueful to themelves. And, in fact, almot all of them learn with reluctance to read and write; but very readily apply themelves to the ue of their needles. They imagine themelves already grown up, and think with pleaure that uch qualifications will enable them to decorate themelves.'

This is certainly only an education of the body; but Roueau is not the only man who has indirectly aid that merely the peron of a young woman, without any mind, unles animal pirits come under that decription, is very pleaing. To render it weak, and what ome may call beautiful, the undertanding is neglected, and girls forced to it till, play with dolls and liten to foolih converations;—the effect of habit is inited upon as an undoubted indication of nature. I know it was Roueau's opinion that the firt years of youth hould be employed to form the body, though in educating Emilius he deviates from this plan; yet, the difference between trengthening the body, on which trength of mind in a great meaure depends, and only giving it an eay motion, is very wide. Rouffeau's&ensp;