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Untitled Article
mind edtild heif > in her pursuit—our pursuit ; for our minds would be linked together , bur ' principles firmly knit together , mir energies equally devoted , though after a different manner ( for I , alas T have not her power ;) and , the crown of all , her precious heart * s love mine own through all—oh 1 it was too much bliss for
earth ; why did I hope it ? ' Mrs . Fenton was at a loss . The strength and truth of Percy ' s feeling impressed her , in spite of the prejudices so unaccountably interfered with . She was aware that to speak of Flora would be to exaggerate Percy ' s state of feeling , so she had recourse to argument . * How inconsistent
this is , Percy , with all I have heard you say . You , who have so often expressed a contempt for the profession of a barrister , because it obliged " a man to sell his brains for hire . " Wh y what is this but a woman selling her brains , her feelings , her soul , for hire ? ' ' Mistake not ; the lawyer , as a necessity , sell * his conscience with his brains . The actress , at least she who is
worthy to be one , gives brains and feelings in defiance of no principle , but for a public benefit ; the hire is , or should be , a matter of secondary importance , only received because the present exchange throughout society makes the acceptance of remuneration a necessity to her existence . Oh ! how much rather would I be
an actor , than one of the many parish priests whom we have known about the neighbourhood of Percy Court , who dole out the knowledge which ought to be the fireest gift under heaven , and who are paid for the scanty service they render , not by a voluntary offering , but by a compulsory tithe ! ' ' ' ' Percy , what is voluntary offering , but b y a compulsory tithe ! Percy , what is
this you are saying ? Where have you imbibed these dangerous opinions Y ' They are the thoughts of the moment , called up by the truth of an elevating passion—a passion that has given me true life . I , too , had once that selfish pride , that ig norant , false delicacy , which would have shrunk from the thought , as you do
new , as contamination to the being 1 loved . Oh , how low ! how mean ! how injurious to her high and sainted nature , which nt > communion , even with the lowest , could taint , but which would elevate all who came within her sphere ! It was I who would have contaminated her , by desiring other than the full and free devotion of her noble powers , which were not bestowed for utter rtselessness , or worse—to wear away her own heart and brain by
their unemployed enerry . She it was who awakened within me the strong desire to help tho * e who need it ; to help them through her , and with her , who first taught me to long after the luxury of blessing others ; who first lighted up the true spirit within me . Beware , oh , beware , lest you change that light into darkness V There was something prophetic in Percy ' s manner ; and this ,
added to the strong emotion under which he had been speaking , tbopgh it could effect no change in Mrs . FentonSi mind , involuntaril y had its effect u ^ pon henr n-eKngs : only for a time ; the object of J *** t was not to be rdhtqukhed for the feeling of an hour ,
Untitled Article
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1835, page 586, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2649/page/22/
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