SECTION VII, 551 Shall I be allowed after this, to tttentibn.drazaing and paint= ing as agreeable amusements of polite youth ? Where the genius leads that way it is a noble diversion, and improves the mind. Nature has her share in this as well as in poesy; where nature inclines, let polite youth be taught to sketch a little on piper ; let them have at least some taste of these arts, some capacity of being pleased with a curious draught, a noble,painting, an elegant statue, and fine resemblances of nature. This is an ingenious and a graceful acquirement. Mr. Richardson's Essay on the Theory of Painting, is the best book that I know on that sub- ject; and sufficient to give a young gentleman a general know- ledge of the art. Shall I now name the art of feneing and of riding the managed horse as an. accomplishment for gentlemen? These are exercises of a healthy kind, and may be useful in human life. Shall I speak of dancing, as a modish accomplishment of both sexes ? I confess, I know no evil in it. This also is a healthful exercise, and it gives young persons a decent manner' of appear- ance in company. It may be profitable to some good purposes, if it be well guarded against all the abuses and temptations that may attend it. It was used of old in sacred and civil rejoicing ; Ex. xv. 20, 21. 2 Sam. vi. 14. I Sam. xviii. 0. It is certainly an advantage to have the body formed early to graceful motion, to which the art of dancing may have contributed. But where it is so much beloved and indulged, it has most sensible dangers, especially mixed dancing. It leads youth too often and too early into company ; it may create too much forwardness and assurance in the sex, whose chief glory is their modesty ; it may. kindle vain and vicious inclinations, and raise in young minds too great a fondness for the excessive gaieties and licentious plea- sures of the age. In all these affairs a wise parent will keep a watchful eye upon the child, while he indulges it in these gratifications of youth and inclination : a wise parent will daily observe, whether the son or the little daughter begin to be too much charmed with any of the gay ornaments and amusements of life ; und, with a !mu-, dent and secret solicitude, will take care lest any of them en- trench on the more necessary and more important duties of life and religion. And according to this view of things, the parent's hand will either give a looser rein to the pursuit of these exer- cises, or will manage the propensities of the child with a needful and becoming restraint. But among all the accomplishments of youth, there is none preferable to a decent and agreeable behaviour among men, a modest freedom of speech, a soft and elegant manner of address, a graceful and lovely deportment, a cheerful gravity and good humour, with a mind appearing ever serene under the ruining
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