Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education (Volume 2); With a View of the Principles and Conduct Prevalent Among Women of Rank and

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAP. XVI. On the Danger of an ill-directed Senjibiiity. In confidering the human mind with a view to its improvement, it is prudent to endeavour to difcover the natural bent of the individual character ; and having found it, to direct your force againft that fide on vhich the warp lies, that you may lefleft by counteraction the defect which you might be promoting, by applying your aid in a contrary direction. But the misfortune is, people who mean better than they judge are apt to take up a fet of general rules, good perhaps in themfelves, and originally gleaned from experience and obfer- vation on the nature of human things, but not applicable in all cafes. Thefe rules they keep by them as noftrums of univerfal efficacy, which they therefore often bring outout for ufe in cafes to which they do not apply. For to make any remedy effectual, it is not enough to know the medicine, you muft ftudy the conftitutionalfo; if there be not a congruity between the two, you may be injuring one patient by the means which are requifite to raife and reftore another. In forming the female character it is of importance that thofe on whom the tafk devolves fhould poffefs fo much penetration as accurately to difcern the degree of fen- fibility, and fo much judgment as to accommodate the treatment to the individual character. By conftantly ftimulating and extolling feelings naturally quick, thofe feelings will be rendered too acute and irritable. On the other hand, a calm and equable temper will become obtufe by the total want of excitement: the former treatment converts the feelings into a fource of error, agitation, and calamity ; the latter ftarves their native energy, deadens the affections, and produces a cold, dull, fel- fi(h fpirit; for the human mind is an in- ftrumentftrument ...