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The Suffragecampaign was no doubt to blame.
For books have a way of influencing
eachother. Nothing came down the street; nobody passed.
Moreover, the
economists are telling usthat Mrs Seton has had too many children. The
Suffragecampaign was no doubt to blame.
And that, I added, awareof the awful
nature of the confession, seems somehow dull.
Butthis creative power differs
greatly from the creative power of men. And fatal is no figure of speech;for
anything written with that conscious bias is doomed to death. Back one was
always hailed to the letter I.
Then there could be nodoubt that as a novelist
she enjoyed some natural advantages of a highorder. Not a wheel must grate, not
a lightglimmer. Two heads on one body donot make for length of life. My
motives, let me admit, are partlyselfish. If you stop to curse you arelost, I
said to her; equally, if you stop to laugh.
For books have a way of influencing
eachother. The poor poet has not in thesedays, nor has had for two hundred
years, a dogs chance . It took place on the beach under the sun. Indeed, it was
delightful to read a mans writing again.
Coleridge perhaps meant this when
hesaid that a great mind is androgynous. This opportunity, as I think, it is
now coming within yourpower to give her. She had a sensibility that was very
wide, eager and free.
There has been a meeting of academicians whose object it
is todevelop the Italian novel. But after reading achapter or two a shadow
seemed to lie across the page.
Do not dreamof influencing other people, I would
say, if I knew how to make it soundexalted.
However, it was high time to lower
my eyes to the page again. My motives, let me admit, are partlyselfish.
Think
how much women have profited by the comments ofJuvenal; by the criticism of
Strindberg. For Alan had views and Phoebe was quenched in theflood of his
views. Here camean errand-boy; here a woman with a dog on a lead.
Do not
dreamof influencing other people, I would say, if I knew how to make it
soundexalted.
These are dreadful facts, but let usface them.
Butwhatever it
touches, it fixes and makes permanent.
Poetry depends upon intellectual
freedom.
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