First published in 1836, this influential work by American writer and educator Mrs. John Sandford explores the role of women in 19th century society. Sandford argues that women should be educated not only to be good wives and mothers, but also to be active and engaged members of their communities. She advocates for better access to education and financial independence for women, and her ideas continue to influence feminist thought today. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.