the other hand, of the education of the Quaker
females, is utility and not shew. They are taught domestic economy, or
the cares and employments of a house. They are taught to become good
wives and good mothers. Prohibited the attainments of music and dancing,
and many of the corruptive amusements of the world, they have ample time
for the improvement of the understanding. Thus they have in general as
good an education as other females, as far as literary acquirements are
concerned; so that, whether they are compared with Quaker men, or with
the other women of the island, they will not incur the imputation of a
deficiency of knowledge.

It must be obvious too, that the money-getting spirit, which the world
has fixed upon as a trait in the character of some of the men, can
seldom be a trait in that of the women of this society. For men are the
principals in trade. They lay their plans for the getting of money. They
see the accumulating surplus rise. They handle it. They count it. They
remember it. The women, on the other hand, see it only in the
disposition of their husbands or parents, who make probably a larger
allowance for domestic wants or gratifications than before. Hence a
charge cannot be so frequently brought against them of a want of that
spiritual mindedness, which is the great characteristic of Quakerism, as
they have but little to do with the mammon of the world.

To these exceptions in Quaker women from the reputed imperfections of
Quaker men, I cannot help adding in this place, that the females of this
society are peculiarly distinguishable for that which has been at all
times considered as one of the brightest ornaments of their sex. Modesty
is particularly conspicuous in their looks and in their whole outward
demeanour. It is conspicuous in their conversation. It is conspicuous
also in their dress. And here it may not be improper to observe, that,
whatever objections may be made to the Quaker apparel, it is estimable,
as far as it gives this appearance of modesty to the females who wear
it, or rather as far as it hinders them from wearing the loose and
indelicate garments, which are frequently worn, without any scruple, by
many of the females of the world.

SECT. II.

_Quaker women, besides their private, have a public character--Low
light in which women have been held--Importance given them by
chivalry--and by the revival of learning in Europe--and by the
introduction of Christianity--but still