DAUGHTERS 331 



her music (to discover if she has a taste for it, that can be 

 developed) and foreign languages, for they cannot be learnt 

 later, and are of great use to women in many positions 

 in life. If she shows any taste for drawing, encourage it 

 in all ways, giving her time in which to do it, but no 

 serious lessons till she is much older. The drudgery of 

 early teaching often destroys any taste the child may 

 have. Pay great attention to handwriting ; a good and 

 cultivated handwriting is quite easy to acquire young, 

 and is a continual advantage to a woman through life. 



Another thing that mothers should teach their children, 

 and of which they should ever remind their young men 

 and women as they grow older, is the extreme importance 

 of prompt note-answering. The habit of writing notes 

 and letters, which is now going somewhat out of fashion, 

 is certainly of great assistance in helping us to obey the 

 golden rule never to turn a friend into an enemy by mere 

 carelessness or idleness, for want of a little trouble or of 

 the explanation which, if neglected, often changes the 

 whole character of the situation into one that is hard and 

 difficult, and even in some cases irreparable. 



Some years ago I sympathised much and took great 

 interest in the movement that tended towards the higher 

 education of women. I still think that every door should 

 be thrown open and every facility given, both as regards 

 education and professional employment, to such women 

 who have mind and strength for the competition. The 

 great danger of over-educating young girls is that they 

 are so much keener and work so much harder than boys ; 

 and even if it does not injure their health, it very often 

 unfits them for life, and makes them dissatisfied with 

 their home and its surroundings. 



The great objection to the superficial education I 

 recommend and believe to be so advantageous to the 

 prosperous, is that it may degenerate into idleness and 



