HOUSEHOLD EDUCATION.
BY

HARRIET MARTINEAU.

LONDON:
EDWARD MOXON, DOVER STREET.
MDCCCXLIX.

LONDON
BRADBURY AND EVANS, PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS.

PREFACE.

A portion of this work appeared, some months ago, in papers in the People's Journal. The appearance of these papers was suspended by the change in the affairs of that Journal. From that time to the present, applications have been made to me at intervals, to request me to finish my subject. In deference to these requests, I have completed my original design. For its suggestion, I am indebted to Mr. Saunders, the late editor of the People's Journal. For the imperfections of the work, which I know to be many and great, notwithstanding my earnest interest in what I was writing, no one is responsible but myself.

Ambleside,
November 16th, 1848.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE

• OLD AND YOUNG IN SCHOOL 1
• WHAT THE SCHOOLING IS FOR 11
• THE NATURAL POSSESSIONS OF MAN 21
• HOW TO EXPECT 32
• THE GOLDEN MEAN 41
• THE NEW COMER 50
• CARE OF THE FRAME 60
• CARE OF THE POWERS.—WILL 70
• HOPE 79
• FEAR 89
• PATIENCE 103
• PATIENCE. INFIRMITY 114
• PATIENCE. INFIRMITY 127
• LOVE 136
• VENERATION 148
• TRUTHFULNESS 159
• CONSCIENTIOUSNESS 172
• INTELLECTUAL TRAINING.—ITS REQUISITES 186
• ORDER OF DEVELOPMENT. THE PERCEPTIVE FACULTIES 199
• THE CONCEPTIVE FACULTIES 213
• THE REASONING FACULTIES. FEMALE EDUCATION 230
• THE IMAGINATIVE FACULTIES 246
• CARE OF THE HABITS.—IMPORTANCE OF HABIT 262
• PERSONAL HABITS 275
• FAMILY HABITS 298
• CONCLUSION 320

HOUSEHOLD EDUCATION.

CHAPTER I.

OLD AND YOUNG IN SCHOOL.

Household education is a subject so important in its bearings on every one's happiness, and so inexhaustible in itself, that I do not see how any person whatever can undertake to lecture upon it authoritatively, as if it was a matter completely known and entirely settled. It seems to me that all that we can do is to reflect, and say what we think, and learn of one another. This is, at least, all that I venture to offer. I propose to say, in a series of chapters, what I have observed and thought on the subject of Life at Home, during upwards of twenty years' study of domestic life in great variety. It will be for my readers to discover whether they agree in my views, and whether their minds are set to work by what I say on a matter which concerns them as seriously as any in the world. Once for all, let me declare here