piety is undoubtedly the shortest and securest way to all moral
rectitude, young women should be virtuous and good on the broad,
firm basis of Christianity; therefore it is not the tenets of any
man or sect whatever that are to be inculcated in preference to
those rigid but divine truths contained in the New Testament. As it
appears to be our reasonable duty to improve our faculties, and by
that means to render ourselves useful, it is necessary and very
agreeable to be well-informed of our own language, and the Latin as
being most permanent, and the French as being the most in general
request. The simple beauties of mathematics appear to be so
excellent an exercise to the understanding, that they ought on no
account to be omitted, and are, perhaps, scarcely less essential
than a competent knowledge of ancient and modern history, geography
and chronology. To which may be added a knowledge of the most
approved branches of natural history, and a capacity of drawing
from nature, in order to promote that knowledge and facilitate the
pursuit of it. As a great portion of a woman's life ought to be
passed in at least regulating the subordinate affairs of a family,
she should work plain work herself, neatly; understand the
cutting-out of linen; also she should not be ignorant of the common
proprieties of a table, or deficient in the economy of any of the
most minute affairs of a family. It should be here observed that
gentleness of manner is indispensably necessary in women, to say
nothing of that polished behavior which adds a charm to every
qualification; to both which, it appears pretty certain, children
may be led without vanity or affectation by amiable and judicious
instruction.

These observations furnish the key-note to Mrs. Gurney's system of
training, as well as indicate the strong common-sense and high