ON FEMALE EDUCATION AND OCCUPATIONS. 179 



Should, the end to which the display is secretly direct- 

 ed, that of procuring for themselves an establishment 

 by marriage, of taking the heart captive through the 

 eye or ear, fail amidst numerous competitors, what is 

 to become of these unfortunate factitious beings — un- 

 able to dig, ashamed to beg ? 



For a few years, it is true, many may be employed in 

 teaching their talents and acquirements, even though 

 not of the highest order ; they may become governesses 

 in families of greater affluence or supeiior rank ; or 

 they may fill the humbler destiny of assistants in 

 schools. But, while their youth withers, and their 

 spirits are exhausted in these situations of constraint, 

 servility, or drudgery, — while beneath the roofs of the 

 wealthy, or the aristocracy of the land, they add a 

 taste for luxuries and elegancies to that for the arts, 

 and become still more unfitted for the humbler walks 

 of life, — have they any chance or opportunities, from 

 the remuneration which their services receive, of lay- 

 ing up in store any adequate supply for advancing 

 years or declining powers and life ? Is it even likely, 

 however liberal may be the recompense of their labours, 

 a circumstance rarely occurring and not to be reckoned 

 upon, that, among the gay and great, surrounded by 

 temptations to vanity and expense, they should acquire 

 habits of self-denial, economy, and prudence? But 

 liberal remunerations are not to be expected, competi- 

 tion is too great, and the market is already glutted ; 

 in the universal rage for the acquisition of accomplish- 

 ments, their value is daily sinking ; many accomplished 

 young women, upon whose training and education a 

 little fortune has been expended, actually barter their 

 acquirements and time for less than the wages of a 

 domestic servant, and for scarcely more than temporary 

 protection and support. 



Where will, where must this end ? What is to be- 

 come, after a transient season, of these refined, delicate, 

 and helpless creatures ? Will honest mechanics — 

 will plain tradesmen — burthen themselves with fine 

 ladies and take them for wives? Will the higher 



