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Women

 

Lady Befuddled:     It is most important to me that Thomas marry a woman of quality.  A woman of second rank will due, however, a woman of quality will better his chances for acceptance into the nobility.

Sir Peabody:     Well, Madame, with the help of James Nelson7 I will lay out for you the differences between the educations of the two, so that you may be a better judge for determining an appropriate bride for your son.

Woman of Quality:     To ensure happiness, a woman of quality must have all her passions regulated.  To achieve the standards of her class she should learn: reading, writing, needlework, dance, French, Italian and music.  In reading she should have good understanding of the material she recites, so that she may give passages proper emphasis.  With writing she should use proper spelling accompanied by an elegant hand.  In addition to the subjects listed above, a woman of quality should have knowledge of arithmetic, geography, drawing, and moral and experimental philosophy.  Women should always speak clear, without vulgarity.  All her studies should be directed toward wisdom, goodness and modesty, so that she is generous, benevolent and sweet in temper.  Remember always, woman may be a weaker vessel than her counterpart, but she is not entirely without strength and, in order to make a proper companion and keep her husband engaged, her facilities must be developed to their full capacity to best fit her station in life.

women in costume--collage.nhil.com

Young Lady of Second Rate:     If the young lady be first born and heiress, she should receive an education equal to that of a woman of quality.  In inheriting her parent’s estate, it becomes possible for her to better her class standing and rise to a lady of quality.  Hence, she must be educated in a manner to prepare her for the transition.  If she is a younger daughter, her education need not be so brilliant.  However, she should not be neglected.  Her education should include a thorough knowledge and proficiency in her mother tongue; she should be educated to write, dance, speak French and have mild proficiency in music.  In addition to these and domestic cares she should have knowledge of arithmetic, drawing and geography.  Like the woman of quality, all that she learns should be fitting to her life station.

 

 

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