To take another view of the subject, confining my remarks to
women.
The ridiculous falsities* which are told to children, from
mistaken notions of modesty, tend very early to inflame their
imaginations and set their little minds to work, respecting
subjects, which nature never intended they should think of till
the body arrived at some degree of maturity; then the passions
naturally begin to take place of the senses, as instruments to
unfold the understanding, and form the moral character.
* Children very early see cats with their kittens, birds with
their young ones, &c. Why then, are they not to be told that
their mothers carry and nourish them in the same way? As there
would then be no appearance of mystery they would never think of
the subject more. Truth may always be told to children, if it be
told gravely; but it is the immodesty of affected modesty, that
does all the mischief, and this smoke heats the imagination by
vainly endeavouring to obscure certain objects. If, indeed,
children could be kept entirely from improper company, we should
never allude to any such subjects; but as this is impossible, it
is best to tell the truth, especially as such information, not
interesting them, will make no impression on their
imagination.
