324 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN 



part of parents is, to my mind, too great, and no neglect 

 of education is to be thought of compared to improving 

 the child's state of health. Nothing is so likely to do 

 that as high country air or sea air for a great part of the 

 year. Girls may grow up healthy and strong, though they 

 live in London nearly all the year round, but it is un- 

 doubtedly a risk which should never slip out of the 

 mother's mind, especially if the remaining in London 

 is associated with any selfish purposes of her own, either 

 as regards pleasure or expense. In France the teaching 

 of Eousseau still unconsciously influences society, and 

 fashionable doctors insist on delicate children being sent 

 right away into the country, to lead almost peasants' 

 lives. This plan I never can feel is kind or even wise, 

 though it ensures the advantages of no excitement, 

 country air, and liberty to run in and out so necessary 

 an element in child-life. But it rather resembles turning 

 thin-skinned stable-horses, with their tails cut, into a 

 green field full of sunshine and flies. Delicately born 

 and nurtured children must suffer from the rough life. 



In England, on the contrary, I think we often sacri- 

 fice our girls' good to the selfish pleasure of keeping 

 them with us, making the girls' education the excuse. 

 Broadly speaking, it is far better for a woman to be 

 strong, healthy, intelligent, observant, and, above all, 

 adaptable to the changes and chances of this mortal life, 

 than that she should be well educated. Intelligence is 

 no doubt inborn, a gift that belongs to no class; bad 

 health may injure it, but no higher education will ever 

 give it to those who are without it, nor will it ever make 

 what I consider the ideal woman. 



The longer I live, the more I believe that a woman's 

 education, if she has not to learn some special trade, 

 should be awakening and yet superficial, teaching her to 

 stand alone and yet not destroying her adaptability for a 



