How to Ruin a Son and Finish a Daughter.
Let him have his own way. Allow him a free use of money. Suffer him to roam where he pleases on the Sabbath. Give him full access to wicked companions. Call him to no account for his evenings. Furnish him with no stated employment. HOW TO “FINISH” A DAUGHTER.
Be always telling her how pretty she is. Instill into her mind a devoted love of dress. Accustom her to so much pleasure, that she is never happy at home. Allow her to read nothing but novels. Teach her all the accomplishments, but none of the utilities of life. Keep her in the darkest ignorance of the mysteries of housekeeping. Initiate her into the principle that it is vulgar to do any thing for herself. To strengthen the latter belief, let her have a lady’s maid. And lastly, having given her such an education, marry her to a clerk upon five hundred a year, or to a lieutenant going out to a fort. If, with the above careful training, your daughter is not finished, you may be sure it is no fault of yours, and you must look upon her escape as nothing short of a miracle.