The decline and fall of the British Empire - University of Oregon

of the British Empire 41
the land, and forsaking the handi-
crafts, entered upon a business
career; till the increasing competi-
tion which ensued led to widespread
commercial dishonesty* and the
general stagnation of trade.
If the education of boys in the
National Schools of England was
unpractical and contrary to the
primitive laws of nature, that of
the girls was equally wanting in
common sense. The Report on
Physical Degeneration, referred to
above, makes it clear that the girls
trained under the system were in
the majority of cases ignorant of
cooking, of hygiene, and of domestic
economy. How the English fancied
that they could establish a lasting
Empire on the basis of a literary or
commercial training alone, will
always remain a mystery. Books
are excellent things, and the fact
* See newspapers of the period.