But to suppose that
such is the ideal of the opposite sex is a profound mistake. That
men are not commonly drawn towards masculine women is doubtless
true. That such relative weakness as asks the protection of
superior strength is an element of attraction we quite admit. But
the difference thus responded to by the feelings of men is the
natural, pre-established difference, which will assert itself
without artificial appliances. And when, by artificial appliances,
the degree of this difference is increased, it becomes an element
of repulsion rather than of attraction.
"'Then girls should be allowed to run wild--to become as rude as
boys, and grow up into romps and hoydens!' exclaims some defender
of the proprieties. This, we presume, is the ever-present dread of
schoolmistresses. It appears, on inquiry, that at Establishments
for Young Ladies noisy play like that daily indulged in by boys is
a punishable offence; and we infer that it is forbidden, lest
unladylike habits should be formed. The fear is quite groundless,
however. For if the sportive activity allowed to boys does not
prevent them from growing up into gentlemen, why should a like
sportive activity prevent girls from growing up into ladies? Rough
as may have been their play-ground frolics, youths who have left
school do not indulge in leap-frog in the street, or marbles in the
drawing-room.
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