With fathers, the feeling in
favor of the separate family is certainly less strong; but there is an
undefinable tie, a sort of magnetic _rapport_, an invisible,
inseverable umbilical cord between the mother and child, which in most
cases circumscribes her desires and ambition to her own immediate
family.
All the accepted adages and wise saws of society, all the precepts of
morality, all the sanctions of theology, have for ages been employed to
confirm this feeling. This is the chief corner stone of present
society; and to this maternal instinct have, till very lately, our most
heartfelt appeals been made for the progress of the human race, by
means of a deeper and more vital education. Pestalozzi and his most
enlightened disciples are distinguished by this sentiment. And are we
all at once to abandon, to deny, to destroy this supposed stronghold of
virtue? Is it questioned whether the family arrangement of mankind is
to be preserved? Is it discovered that the sanctuary, till now deemed
the holiest on earth, is to be invaded by intermeddling scepticism, and
its altars sacrilegiously destroyed by the rude hands of innovating
progress?
Here "social science" must be brought to issue. The question of
Association and marriage are one.
Pages:
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385