第5章

类别:其他 作者:George Bernard Shaw字数:10830更新时间:18/12/14 11:07:01
Anotherfamiliarfactthatteachesthesamelessonisthatmanywomenwhohavevoluntarilyattainedahighdegreeofculturecannotadduptheirownhousekeepingbooks,thoughtheireducationinsimplearithmeticwascompulsory,whereastheirhighereducationhasbeenwhollyvoluntary。Everywherewefindthesameresult。Theimprisonment,thebeating,thetamingandlaming,thebreakingofyoungspirits,thearrestofdevelopment,theatrophyofallinhibitivepowerexceptthepoweroffear,arereal:theeducationissham。Thosewhohavebeentaughtmostknowleast。 AntichristAmongtheworsteffectsoftheunnaturalsegregationofchildreninschoolsandtheequallyunnaturalconstantassociationofthemwithadultsinthefamilyistheutterdefeatofthevitalelementinChristianity。Christstandsintheworldforthatintuitionofthehighesthumanitythatwe,beingmembersoneofanother,mustnotcomplain,mustnotscold,mustnotstrike,norrevilenorpersecutenorrevengenorpunish。Nowfamilylifeandschoollifeare,asfarasthemoraltrainingofchildrenisconcerned,nothingbutthedeliberateinculcationofaroutineofcomplaint,scolding,punishment,persecution,andrevengeasthenaturalandonlypossiblewayofdealingwithevilorinconvenience。 \"Aintnobodytobewhoppedforthishere?\"exclaimedSamWellerwhenhesawhisemployer\'snamewrittenuponastagecoach,andconceivedthephenomenonasaninsultwhichreflectedonhimself。ThisexclamationofSamWellerisatoncethenegationofChristianityandthebeginningandtheendofcurrentmorality;andsoitwillremainaslongasthefamilyandtheschoolpersistasweknowthem:thatis,aslongastherightsofchildrenaresoutterlydeniedthatnobodywilleventakethetroubletoascertainwhattheyare,andcomingofageisliketheturningofaconvictintothestreetaftertwenty-oneyearspenalservitude。 Indeeditisworse;fortheconvictmayhavelearntbeforehisconvictionhowtoliveinfreedomandmayrememberhowtosetaboutit,howeverlamedhispowersoffreedommayhavebecomethroughdisuse;butthechildknowsnootherwayoflifebuttheslave\'sway。 Bornfree,asRousseausays,hehasbeenlaidhandsonbyslavesfromthemomentofhisbirthandbroughtupasaslave。Howishe,whenheisatlastsetfree,tobeanythingelsethantheslaveheactuallyis,clamoringforwar,forthelash,forpolice,prisons,andscaffoldsinawildpanicofdelusionthatwithoutthesethingsheislost。Thegrown-upEnglishmanistotheendofhisdaysabadlybrought-upchild,beyondbeliefquarrelsome,petulant,selfish,destructive,andcowardly:afraidthattheGermanswillcomeandenslavehim;thattheburglarwillcomeandrobhim;thatthebicycleormotorcarwillrunoverhim;thatthesmallpoxwillattackhim;andthatthedevilwillrunawaywithhimandemptyhimout likeasackofcoalsonablazingfireunlesshisnurseorhisparentsorhisschoolmasterorhisbishoporhisjudgeorhisarmyorhisnavywilldosomethingtofrightenthesebadthingsaway。AndthisEnglishman,withoutthemoralcourageofalouse,willriskhisneckforfunfiftytimeseverywinterinthehuntingfield,andatBadajossiegesandthelikewillramhisheadintoaholebristlingwithswordbladesratherthanbebeatenintheonedepartmentinwhichhehasbeenbroughtuptoconsulthisownhonor。AsaSportsman(andwarisfundamentallythesportofhuntingandfightingthemostdangerousofthebeastsofprey)hefeelsfree。Hewilltellyouhimselfthatthetruesportsmanisneverasnob,acoward,aduffer,acheat,athief,oraliar。 Curious,isitnot,thathehasnotthesameconfidenceinothersortsofman? Andevensportislosingitsfreedom。Sooneverybodywillbeschooled,mentallyandphysically,fromthecradletotheendofthetermofadultcompulsorymilitaryservice,andfinallyofcompulsorycivilservicelastinguntiltheageofsuperannuation。Alwaysmoreschooling,morecompulsion。Wearetobecuredbyanexcessofthedosethathaspoisonedus。SatanistocastoutSatan。 UndertheWhipClearlythiswillnotdo。Wemustreconcileeducationwithliberty。 Wemustfindoutsomemeansofmakingmenworkersand,ifneedbe,warriors,withoutmakingthemslaves。Wemustcultivatethenoblevirtuesthathavetheirrootinpride。Nownoschoolmasterwillteachtheseanymorethanaprisongovernorwillteachhisprisonershowtomutinyandescape。Self-preservationforceshimtobreakthespiritthatrevoltsagainsthim,andtoinculcatesubmission,eventoobsceneassault,asaduty。AbishoponcehadthehardihoodtosaythathewouldratherseeEnglandfreethanEnglandsober。NobodyhasyetdaredtosaythathewouldratherseeanEnglandofignoramusesthananEnglandofcowardsandslaves。Andifanyonedid,itwouldbenecessarytopointoutthattheantithesisisnotapracticalone,aswehavegotatpresentanEnglandofignoramuseswhoarealsocowardsandslaves,andextremelyproudofitatthat,becauseinschooltheyaretaughttosubmit,withwhattheyridiculouslycallOrientalfatalism(asifanyOrientalhaseversubmittedmorehelplesslyandsheepishlytorobberyandoppressionthanweOccidentalsdo),tobedrivendayafterdayintocompoundsandsettothetaskstheyloathebythementheyhateandfear,asifthis weretheinevitabledestinyofmankind。Andnaturally,whentheygrowup,theyhelplesslyexchangetheprisonoftheschoolfortheprisonofthemineortheworkshoportheoffice,anddrudgealongstupidlyandmiserably,withjustenoughgregariousinstincttoturnfuriouslyonanyintelligentpersonwhoproposesachange。ItwouldbequiteeasytomakeEnglandaparadise,accordingtoourpresentideas,inafewyears。Thereisnomysteryaboutit:thewayhasbeenpointedoutoverandoveragain。Thedifficultyisnotthewaybutthewill。Andwehavenowillbecausethefirstthingdonewithusinchildhoodwastobreakourwill。CananythingbemoredisgustingthanthespectacleofanationreadingthebiographyofGladstoneandgloatingovertheaccountofhowhewasfloggedatEton,twoofhisschoolfellowsbeingcompelledtoholdhimdownwhilsthewasflogged。NotlongagoapublicbodyinEnglandhadtodealwiththecaseofaschoolmasterwho,conceivinghimselfinsultedbythesmokingofacigaretagainsthisordersbyapupileighteenyearsold,proposedtofloghimpubliclyasasatisfactiontowhathecalledhishonorandauthority。 Ihadintendedtogivetheparticularsofthisease,butfindthedrudgeryofrepeatingsuchstufftoosickening,andtheeffectunjusttoamanwhowasdoingonlywhatothersalloverthecountryweredoingaspartoftheestablishedroutineofwhatiscallededucation。 Theastoundingpartofitwasthemannerinwhichthepersontowhomthisoutrageondecencyseemedquiteproperandnaturalclaimedtobeafunctionaryofhighcharacter,andhadhisclaimallowed。InJapanhewouldhardlyhavebeenallowedtheprivilegeofcommittingsuicide。 Whatistobesaidofaprofessioninwhichsuchobscenitiesaremadepointsofhonor,orofinstitutionsinwhichtheyareanacceptedpartofthedailyroutine?Wholesomepeoplewouldnotargueaboutthetasteofsuchnastinesses:theywouldspitthemout;butwearetaintedwithflagellomaniafromourchildhood。Whenwillwerealizethatthefactthatwecanbecomeaccustomedtoanything,howeverdisgustingatfirst,makesitnecessaryforustoexaminecarefullyeverythingwehavebecomeaccustomedto?Beforemotorcarsbecamecommon,necessityhadaccustomedustoafoulnessinourstreetswhichwouldhavehorrifiedushadthestreetbeenourdrawing-roomcarpet。 Beforelongweshallbeasparticularaboutourstreetsaswenowareaboutourcarpets;andtheirconditioninthenineteenthcenturywillbecomeasforgottenandincredibleastheconditionofthecorridorsofpalacesandthecourtsofcastleswasaslateastheeighteenthcentury。Thisfoulness,wecanplead,wasimposedonusasanecessitybytheuseofhorsesandofhugeretinues;butflogginghasneverbeensoimposed:ithasalwaysbeenavice,cravedforonanypretextbythosedepravedbyit。Boyswerefloggedwhencriminalswerehanged,toimpresstheawfulwarningonthem。Boyswerefloggedatboundaries,toimpresstheboundariesontheirmemory。Othermethodsandotherpunishmentswerealwaysavailable:thechoiceofthisonebetrayedthesensualimpulsewhichmakesthepracticeanabomination。Butwhenitsviciousnessmadeitcustomary,itwaspractisedandtoleratedonallhandsbypeoplewhowereinnocentofanythingworsethanstupidity,illtemper,andinabilitytodiscoverothermethodsofmaintainingorderthanthosetheyhadalwaysseenpractisedandapprovedof。Fromchildrenandanimalsitextendedtoslavesandcriminals。InthedaysofMosesitwaslimitedto39 lashes。Intheearlynineteenthcenturyithadbecomeanopenmadness:soldiersweresentencedtoathousandlashesfortriflingoffences,withtheresult(amongotherslessmentionable)thattheIronDukeofWellingtoncomplainedthatitwasimpossibletogetanorderobeyedintheBritisharmyexceptintwoorthreecrackregiments。Suchfranticexcessesofthisdisgustingneurosisprovokedareactionagainstit;buttheclamorforitbydepravedpersonsneverceased,andwastoleratedbyanationtrainedtoitfromchildhoodintheschoolsuntillastyear(1913),wheninwhatmustbedescribedasaparoxysmofsexualexcitementprovokedbytheagitationconcerningtheWhiteSlaveTraffic(thepurelycommercialnatureofwhichIwaspreventedfromexposingonthestagebytheCensorshiptwentyyearsago)theGovernmentyieldedtoanoutcryforflagellationledbytheArchbishopofCanterbury,andpassedanActunderwhichajudgecansentenceamantobefloggedtotheutmostextremitywithanyinstrumentusableforsuchapurposethathecarestoprescribe。SuchanActisnotalegislativephenomenonbutapsychopathicone。ItseffectontheWhiteSlaveTrafficwas,ofcourse,todistractpublicattentionfromitsrealcauseandfromthepeoplewhoreallyprofitbyittoimaginary\"foreignscoundrels,\"andtosecureamonopolyofitsorganizationforwomen。 Andallthisevilismadepossiblebytheschoolmasterwithhiscaneandbirch,bytheparentsgettingridasbesttheycanofthenuisanceofchildrenmakingnoiseandmischiefinthehouse,andbythedenialtochildrenoftheelementaryrightsofhumanbeings。 Thefirstmanwhoenslavedand\"brokein\"ananimalwithawhipwouldhaveinventedtheexplosionengineinsteadcouldhehaveforeseenthecursehewaslayingonhisrace。Formenandwomenlearnttherebytoenslaveandbreakintheirchildrenbythesamemeans。Thesechildren,grownup,knewnoothermethodsoftraining。Finallytheevilthatwasdoneforgainbythegreedywasrefinedonanddoneforpleasurebythelustful。Flogginghasbecomeapleasurepurchasableinourstreets,andinhibitionagrown-uphabitthatchildrenplayat。 \"Goandseewhatbabyisdoing;andtellhimhemustnt\"isthelastwordofthenursery;andthegrimmestaspectofitisthatitwasfirstformulatedbyacomicpaperasacapitaljoke。 TechnicalInstructionTechnicalinstructiontemptstoviolence(asashortcut)morethanliberaleducation。ThesailorinMrRudyardKipling\'sCaptainsCourageous,teachingtheboythenamesoftheship\'stacklewitharope\'send,doesnotdisgustusasourschoolmastersdo,especiallyastheboywasaspoiledboy。Butanunspoiledboywouldnothaveneededthatdrasticmedicine。Technicaltrainingmaybeastediousaslearningtoskateortoplaythepianoorviolin;butitisthepriceonemustpaytoachievecertaindesirableresultsornecessaryends。 ItisamonstrousthingtoforceachildtolearnLatinorGreekormathematicsonthegroundthattheyareanindispensablegymnasticforthementalpowers。Itwouldbemonstrousevenifitweretrue;forthereisnolaborthatmightnotbeimposedonachildoranadultonthesamepretext;butasaglanceattheaverageproductsofourpublicschoolanduniversityeducationshewsthatitisnottrue,itneednottroubleus。ButitisafactthatignoranceofLatinandGreekandmathematicsclosescertaincareerstomen(Idonotmeanartificial,unnecessary,noxiouscareerslikethoseofthecommercialschoolmaster)。Languages,evendeadones,havetheiruses;and,asitseemstomanyofus,mathematicshavetheiruses。Theywillalwaysbelearnedbypeoplewhowanttolearnthem;andpeoplewillalwayswanttolearnthemaslongastheyareofanyimportanceinlife:indeedthewantwillsurvivetheirimportance:superstitionisnowherestrongerthaninthefieldofobsoleteacquirements。Andtheywillneverbelearntfruitfullybypeoplewhodonotwanttolearnthemeitherfortheirownsakeorforuseinnecessarywork。Thereisnoharderschoolmasterthanexperience;andyetexperiencefailstoteachwherethereisnodesiretolearn。 Still,onemustnotbegintoapplythisgeneralizationtooearly。Andthisbringsmetoanimportantfactorinthecase:thefactorofevolution。 DocilityandDependenceIfanyone,impressedbymyviewthattherightsofachildarepreciselythoseofanadult,proceedstotreatachildasifitwereanadult,he(orshe)willfindthatthoughtheplanwillworkmuchbetteratsomepointsthantheusualplan,atothersitwillnotworkatall;andthisdiscoverymayprovokehimtoturnbackfromthewholeconceptionofchildren\'srightswithajestattheexpenseofbachelors\'andoldmaids\'children。Indealingwithchildrenwhatisneededisnotlogicbutsense。Thereisnologicalreasonwhyyoungpersonsshouldbeallowedgreatercontroloftheirpropertythedayaftertheyaretwenty-onethanthedaybeforeit。ThereisnologicalreasonwhyI whostronglyobjecttoanadultstandingoveraboyoftenwithaLatingrammar,andsaying,\"youmustlearnthis,whetheryouwanttoornot,\"shouldneverthelessbequitepreparedtostandoveraboyoffivewiththemultiplicationtableoracopybookoracodeofelementarygoodmanners,andpracticeonhisdocilitytomakehimlearnthem。AndthereisnologicalreasonwhyIshoulddoforachildagreatmanylittleoffices,someofthemtroublesomeanddisagreeable,whichIshouldnotdoforaboytwiceitsage,orsupportaboyorgirlwhenIwouldunhesitatinglythrowanadultonhisownresources。Buttherearepracticalreasons,andsensiblereasons,andaffectionatereasonsforalltheseillogicalities。 Childrendonotwanttobetreatedaltogetherasadults:suchtreatmentterrifiesthemandover-burdensthemwithresponsibility。 Intruth,veryfewadultscaretobecalledonforindependenceandoriginality:theyalsoarebewilderedandterrifiedintheabsenceofprecedentsandpreceptsandcommandments;butmodernDemocracyallowsthemasanctioningandcancellingpoweriftheyarecapableofusingit,whichchildrenarenot。Totreatachildwhollyasanadultwouldbetomockanddestroyit。Infantiledocilityandjuveniledependenceare,likedeath,aproductofNaturalSelection;andthoughthereisnovilercrimethantoabusethem,yetthereisnogreatercrueltythantoignorethem。IhavecomplainedsufficientlyofwhatI sufferedthroughtheprocessofassault,imprisonment,andcompulsorylessonsthattaughtmenothing,whicharecalledmyschooling。ButI couldsayagooddealalsoaboutthethingsIwasnottaughtandshouldhavebeentaught,nottomentionthethingsIwasallowedtodowhichIshouldnothavebeenallowedtodo。Ihavenorecollectionofbeingtaughttoreadorwrite;soIpresumeIwasbornwithbothfaculties;butmanypeopleseemtohavebitterrecollectionsofbeingforcedreluctantlytoacquirethem。AndthoughIhavetheuttermostcontemptforateachersoillmanneredandincompetentastobeunabletomakeachildlearntoreadandwritewithoutalsomakingitcry,stillIampreparedtoadmitthatIhadratherhavebeencompelledtolearntoreadandwritewithtearsbyanincompetentandillmanneredpersonthanleftinignorance。Reading,writing,andenougharithmetictousemoneyhonestlyandaccurately,togetherwiththerudimentsoflawandorder,becomenecessaryconditionsofachild\'slibertybeforeitcanappreciatetheimportanceofitsliberty,orforeseethattheseaccomplishmentsareworthacquiring。Naturehasprovidedforthisbyevolvingtheinstinctofdocility。Childrenareverydocile:theyhaveasoundintuitionthattheymustdowhattheyaretoldorperish。Andadultshaveanintuition,equallysound,thattheymusttakeadvantageofthisdocilitytoteachchildrenhowtoliveproperlyorthechildrenwillnotsurvive。Thedifficultyistoknowwheretostop。Toillustratethis,letusconsiderthemaindangerofchildishdocilityandparentalofficiousness。 TheAbuseofDocilityDocilitymaysurviveasalazyhabitlongafterithasceasedtobeabeneficial instinct。Ifyoucatchachildwhenitisyoungenoughtobeinstinctivelydocile,andkeepitinaconditionofunremittedtutelageunderthenurserymaid,thegoverness,thepreparatoryschool,thesecondaryschool,andtheuniversity,untilitisanadult,youwillproduce,notaself-reliant,free,fullymaturedhumanbeing,butagrown-upschoolboyorschoolgirl,capableofnothinginthewayoforiginalorindependentactionexceptoutburstsofnaughtinessinthewomenandblackguardisminthemen。Thatisexactlywhatwegetatpresentinourrichandconsequentlygoverningclasses:theypassfromjuvenilitytosenilitywithoutevertouchingmaturityexceptinbody。Theclasseswhichcannotaffordthissustainedtutelagearenotablymoreself-reliantandgrown-up:anofficeboyoffifteenisoftenmoreofamanthanauniversitystudentoftwenty。 Unfortunatelythisprecocityisdisabledbypoverty,ignorance,narrowness,andahideouspoweroflivingwithoutartorloveorbeautyandbeingratherproudofit。Thepoorneverescapefromservitude:theirdocilityispreservedbytheirslavery。Andsoallbecomethepreyofthegreedy,theselfish,thedomineering,theunscrupulous,thepredatory。 Ifhereandthereanindividualrefusestobedocile,tendocilepersonswillbeathimorlockhimuporshoothimorhanghimatthebiddingofhisoppressorsandtheirown。Thecruxofthewholedifficultyaboutparents,schoolmasters,priests,absolutemonarchs,anddespotsofeverysort,isthetendencytoabusenaturaldocility。Anationshouldalwaysbehealthilyrebellious;butthekingorprimeministerhasyettobefoundwhowillmaketroublebycultivatingthatsideofthenationalspirit。Achildshouldbegintoassertitselfearly,andshiftforitselfmoreandmorenotonlyinwashinganddressingitself,butinopinionsandconduct;yetasnothingissoexasperatingandsounlovableasanuppishchild,itisuselesstoexpectparentsandschoolmasterstoinculcatethisuppishness。SuchunamiablepreceptsasAlwayscontradictanauthoritativestatement,Alwaysreturnablow,Neverloseachanceofagoodfight,Whenyouarescoldedforamistakeaskthepersonwhoscoldsyouwhetherheorshesupposesyoudiditonpurpose,andfollowthequestionwithabloworaninsultorsomeotherunmistakableexpressionofresentment,Rememberthattheprogressoftheworlddependsonyourknowingbetterthanyourelders,arejustasimportantasthoseofTheSermonontheMount;butnoonehasyetseenthemwrittenupinlettersofgoldinaschoolroomornursery。Thechildistaughttobekind,toberespectful,tobequiet,not toanswerback,tobetruthfulwhenitselderswanttofindoutanythingfromit,toliewhenthetruthwouldshockorhurtitselders,tobeaboveallthingsobedient,andtobeseenandnotheard。Herewehavetwosetsofprecepts,eachwarrantedtospoilachildhopelesslyiftheotherbeomitted。Unfortunatelywedonotallowfairplaybetweenthem。Therebellious,intractable,aggressive,selfishsetprovokeacorrectiveresistance,anddonotpretendtohighmoralorreligioussanctions;andtheyareneverurgedbygrown-uppeopleonyoungpeople。Theyarethereforemoreindangerofneglectorsuppressionthantheotherset,whichhavealltheadults,allthelaws,allthereligionsontheirside。Howisthechildtobesecureditsdueshareofbothbodiesofdoctrine? TheSchoolboyandtheHomeboyInpracticewhathappensisthatparentsnoticethatboysbroughtupathomebecomemollycoddles,orprigs,orduffers,unabletotakecareofthemselves。Theyseethatboysshouldlearntoroughitalittleandtomixwithchildrenoftheirownage。Thisisnaturalenough。 Whenyouhavepreachedatandpunishedaboyuntilheisamoralcripple,youareasmuchhamperedbyhimasbyaphysicalcripple;andasyoudonotintendtohavehimonyourhandsallyourlife,andaregenerallyratherimpatientforthedaywhenhewillearnhisownlivingandleaveyoutoattendtoyourself,yousoonerorlaterbegintotalktohimabouttheneedforself-reliance,learningtothink,andsoforth,withtheresultthatyourvictim,bewilderedbyyourinconsistency,concludesthatthereisnousetryingtopleaseyou,andfallsintoanattitudeofsulkyresentment。Whichisanadditionalinducementtopackhimofftoschool。 Inschool,hefindshimselfinadualworld,undertwodispensations。 Thereistheworldoftheboys,wherethepointofhonoristobeuntameable,alwaysreadytofight,ruthlessintakingtheconceitoutofanyonewhoventurestogivehimselfairsofsuperiorknowledgeortaste,andgenerallytotakeLuciferforone\'smodel。Andthereistheworldofthemasters,theworldofdiscipline,submission,diligence,obedience,andcontinualandshamelessassumptionofmoralandintellectualauthority。Thustheschoolboyhearsbothsides,andissofarbetteroffthanthehomebredboywhohearsonlyone。Butthetwosidesarenotfairlypresented。Theyarepresentedasgoodandevil,asviceandvirtue,asvillainyandheroism。Theboyfeelsmeanandcowardlywhenheobeys,andselfishandrascallywhenhedisobeys。Helooseshismoralcouragejustashecomestohatebooksandlanguages。Intheend,JohnRuskin, tiedsoclosetohismother\'sapron-stringthathedidnotescapeevenwhenhewenttoOxford,andJohnStuartMill,whosefatheroughttohavebeenprosecutedforlayinghisson\'schildhoodwastewithlessons,weresuperior,asproductsoftraining,toourschoolboys。Theywereveryconspicuouslysuperiorinmoralcourage;andthoughtheydidnotdistinguishthemselvesatcricketandfootball,theyhadquiteasmuchphysicalhardihoodasanycivilizedmanneeds。ButitistobeobservedthatRuskin\'sparentswerewisepeoplewhogaveJohnafullshareintheirownlife,andputupwithhispresencebothathomeandabroadwhentheymustsometimeshavebeenverywearyofhim;andMill,asithappens,wasdeliberatelyeducatedtochallengeallthemostsacredinstitutionsofhiscountry。ThehouseholdstheywerebroughtupinwerenomoreaveragehouseholdsthanaMontessorischoolisanaverageschool。 TheComingsofAgeofChildrenAllthisinculcatedadultdocility,whichwreckseverycivilizationasitiswreckingours,isinhumanandunnatural。WemustreconsiderourinstitutionoftheComingofAge,whichistoolateforsomepurposes,andtooearlyforothers。ThereshouldbeaseriesofComingofAgesforeveryindividual。Themammalshavetheirfirstcomingofagewhentheyareweaned;anditisnoteworthythatthisrathercruelandselfishoperationonthepartoftheparenthastobeperformedresolutely,withclawsandteeth;foryourlittlemammaldoesnotwanttobeweaned,andyieldsonlytoaprettyroughassertionoftherightoftheparenttoberelievedofthechildassoonasthechildisoldenoughtobeartheseparation。Thesamethingoccurswithchildren: theyhangontothemother\'sapron-stringandthefather\'scoattailsaslongastheycan,oftenbafflingthosesensitiveparentswhoknowthatchildrenshouldthinkforthemselvesandfendforthemselves,butaretookindtothrowthemontheirownresourceswiththeferocityofthedomesticcat。Thechildshouldhaveitsfirstcomingofagewhenitisweaned,anotherwhenitcantalk,anotherwhenitcanwalk,anotherwhenitcandressitselfwithoutassistance;andwhenitcanread,write,countmoney,andpassanexaminationingoingasimpleerrandinvolvingapurchaseandajourneybyrailorotherpublicmethodoflocomotion,itshouldhavequiteamajority。Atpresentthechildrenoflaborersaresoonmobileandabletoshiftforthemselves,whereasitispossibletofindgrown-upwomenintherichclasseswhoareactuallyafraidto takeawalkinthestreetsunattendedandunprotected。Itistruethatthisisasuperstitionfromthetimewhenaretinuewaspartofthestateofpersonsofquality,andtheunattendedpersonwassupposedtobeacommonpersonofnoquality,earningaliving;butthishasnowbecomesoabsurdthatchildrenandyoungwomenarenolongertoldwhytheyareforbiddentogoaboutalone,andhavetobepersuadedthatthestreetsaredangerousplaces,whichofcoursetheyare;butpeoplewhoarenoteducatedtolivedangerouslyhaveonlyhalfalife,andaremorelikelytodiemiserablyafterallthanthosewhohavetakenallthecommonrisksoffreedomfromtheirchildhoodonwardasmattersofcourse。