A father has done but a third of his task when he begets children and provides a living for them.  He owes men to humanity, citizens to the state.  A man who can pay this threefold debt and neglect to do so is guilty, more guilty, perhaps, if he pays it in part than when he neglects it entirely.  He has no right to be a father if he cannot fulfil a father’s duties.  Poverty, pressure of business, mistaken social prejudices, none of these can excuse a man from his duty, which is to support and educate his own children.  If a man of any natural feeling neglects these sacred duties he will repent it with bitter tears and will never be comforted.

But what does this rich man do, this father of a family, compelled, so he says, to neglect his children?  He pays another man to perform those duties which are his alone.  Mercenary man! do you expect to purchase a second father for your child?  Do not deceive yourself; it is not even a master you have hired for him, it is a flunkey, who will soon train such another as himself.

There is much discussion as to the characteristics of a good tutor.  My first requirement, and it implies a good many more, is that he should not take up his task for reward.  There are callings so great that they cannot be undertaken for money without showing our unfitness for them; such callings are those of the soldier and the teacher.

“But who must train my child?” “I have just told you, you should do it yourself.”  “I cannot.”  “You cannot!  Then find a friend.  I see no other course.”

A tutor!  What a noble soul!  Indeed for the training of a man one must either be a father or more than man.  It is this duty you would calmly hand over to a hireling!

The more you think of it the harder you will find it.  The tutor must have been trained for his pupil, his servants must have been trained for their master, so that all who come near him may have received the impression which is to be transmitted to him.  We must pass from education to education, I know not how far.  How can a child be well educated by one who has not been well educated himself!

Can such a one be found?  I know not.  In this age of degradation who knows the height of virtue to which man’s soul may attain?  But let us assume that this prodigy has been discovered.  We shall learn what he should be from the consideration of his duties.  I fancy the father who realises the value of a good tutor will contrive to do without one, for it will be harder to find one than to become such a tutor himself; he need search no further, nature herself having done half the work.

Some one whose rank alone is known to me suggested that I should educate his son.  He did me a great honour, no doubt, but far from regretting my refusal, he ought to congratulate himself on my prudence.  Had the offer been accepted, and had I been mistaken in my method, there would have been an education ruined; had I succeeded, things would have been worse—­his son would have renounced his title and refused to be a prince.