13.  I cannot but think, Mr. Rambler, that I have reason to complain; for surely the females ought to pay some regard to the age of him whose youth was passed in endeavouring to please them.  They that encourage folly in the boy, have no right to punish it in the man.  Yet I find, that though they lavish their first fondness upon pertness and gaiety, they soon transfer their regard to other qualities, and ungratefully abandon their adorers to dream out their last years in stupidity and contempt.

I am, &c. Florentulus.

[RAMBLER.]

Learning a necessary Accomplishment in a Woman of Quality or Fortune.

GUARDIAN, No. 155.

1.  I have often wondered that learning is not thought a proper ingredient in the education of a woman of quality or fortune.  Since they have the same improveable minds as the male part of the species, why should they not be cultivated, by the same method?  Why should reason be left to itself in one of the sexes, and be disciplined with so much care to the other?

2.  There are some reasons why learning seems more adapted to the female world than to the male.  As in the first place, because they have more spare time upon their hands, and lead a more sedentary life.  Their employments are of a domestic nature, and not like those of the other sex, which are often inconsistent with study and contemplation.

3.  The excellent lady, the lady Lizard, in the space of one summer furnished a gallery with chairs and couches of her own and her daughters working; and at the same time heard all Dr. Tillotson’s sermons twice over.  It is always the custom for one of the young ladies to read, while the others are at work; so that the learning of the family is not at all prejudicial to its manufactures.

4.  I was mightily pleased the other day to find them all busy in preserving several fruits of the season, with the Sparkler in the midst of them, reading over “The plurality of Worlds.”  It was very entertaining to me to see them dividing their speculations between jellies and stars, and making a sudden transition from the sun to an apricot, or from the Copernicum system to the figure of a cheese cake.

5.  A second reason why women should apply themselves to useful knowledge rather than men, is because they have that natural gift of speech in greater perfection.  Since they have so excellent a talent, such a Copia Verborum, or plenty of words, it is pity they should not put it to some use.  If the female tongue will be in motion, why should it not be set to go right?  Could they discourse about the spots in the sun, it might divert them from publishing the faults of their neighbours:  could they talk of the different aspects and conjunctions of the planets, they need not be at the pains to comment upon oglings and clandestine marriages.  In short, were they furnished with matters of fact, out of arts and sciences, it would now and then be of great ease to their invention.