Page:Vindication Women's Rights (Wollstonecraft).djvu/71

Rh gradual improvement, and true melioration of temper, the ex is not much benefited by acrificing olid virtues to the attainment of uperficial graces, though for a few years they may procure the individuals regal way.

As a philoopher, I read with indignation the plauible epithets which men ue to often their inults; and, as a moralit, ak what is meant by uch heterogeneous aociations, as fair defects, amiable weaknees, &c.? If there is but one criterion of morals, but one archetype for man, women appear to be upended by detiny, according to the vulgar tale of Mahomet's coffin; they have neither the unerring intinct of brutes; nor are allowed to fix the eye of reaon on a perfect model. They were made to be loved, and mut not aim at repect, let they hould be hunted out of ociety as maculine.

But to view the ubject in another point of view. Do paive indolent women make the bet wives? Confining our dicuion to the preent moment of exitence, let us ee how uch weak creatures perform their part? Do the women, who, by the attainment of a few uperficial accomplihments, have trengthened the prevailing prejudice, merely contribute to the happines of their hubands? Do they diplay their charms merely to amue them? And have women, who have early imbibed notions of paive obedience, ufficient character to manage a family or educate children? So far from it, that, after urveying the hitory of woman, I cannot help agreeing with the everet atirit, conidering the ex as the weaket as well as the mot oppreed half of the pecies. What does hitory dicloe but marks Rh