To Mrs. S. B. Shaw.
Wayland, 1859.
I would gladly come to meet you, to save you trouble; but for no other reason.
As for turning us out of our chamber, we transfer only our bodies; and should you consider that any great trouble, for the sight of a precious friend?
Moreover, suppose it was any trouble, be it known to you that I would turn myself out of my house, and live in a tree, any time, for you. Please put quite out of your head all idea that your coming will give me trouble.
In the first place, I will promise not to take trouble.
In the next place, I would inform you that the world is divided into two classes: those who love to minister to others, and those who like to be ministered unto.
I think I belong to the first class.
I also belong to the class described in “Counterparts:” those to whom it is more necessary to love than to be loved ; though both are essential to my happiness.
Bad, is n't it?
for a childless woman of sixty years. But then my good David serves me for husband and “baby and all.”
What a singular book is that “Counterparts.”
It has some of the inspiration of the tripod, and some of the confusion also.
The philosophy is sometimes unintelligible, and the moral influence in some degree dubious.
How gorgeous is the style; how the embroidery and the jewels are piled on!
It made me think of Madame Bishop's singing.
She was so fond of fioritune in music, that when she sang some common, simple air, even Rosa was sometimes puzzled to recognize it. Yet Madame Bishop charmed me with her tone-embroidery, and so does this woman with her word-embroidery.
Some of her comparisons
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sparkle with poetry; but it is “sparkle,” not glow.
It is from outward, not inward light.
They tell me she is a German, resident in England; and that accounts for the un-Englishness of some of her phraseology.
A Jewess she is, of course.
I am always pleased to have the Jews do anything great; as I am to have the colored people, or any other persecuted race.
I was so glad the Rothschilds and others compelled the Emperor of Austria to repeal his contemptuous law, by resolving to have no commercial relations with Austrians!
The silly despot concluded it was safer to offend the Pope than to displease the wealthy Jews.
