They see nothing inherently or necessarily mischievous,
either in the theatre or in the concert-room, or in the ball-room, or in
the circulating library, or in many other places of resort. If a young
female, say they, situated in a provincial town, were to see a play
annually, would it not give her animation, and afford a spring to her
heart? or if a youth were to see a play two or three times in the year,
might not his parents, if they were to accompany him, make it each time,
by their judicious and moral remarks, subservient to the improvement of
his morals? neither do these moralists anticipate any danger by looking
to distant prospects, where the things are innocent in themselves. And
they are of opinion, that all danger may be counteracted effectually,
not by prohibitory checks and guards, but by storing the mind with
knowledge, and filling it with a love of virtue. The arguments
therefore, which these will advance against the system of the moral
education of the Quakers, may be seen in the following words.
"All prohibitions, they contend, should be avoided, as much as
possible, in moral education; for prohibitions may often become the
cause of greater immorality, than they were intended to prevent. The
fable of the hen, whose very prohibition led her chickens to the fatal
well, has often been realized in life, there is a certain curiosity in
human nature to look into things forbidden.
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