“Well, Ida, there’s more sense in you than in the most of ‘em,” said Mr. Van Arsdel.
“Yes,” said Ida, “I think that an immediate rush into politics of such women as we have now, without experience or knowledge of political economy of affairs, would be, as Eva says, just like women’s undertaking to manage the machinery of a large steamer by feminine instincts. I hope never to see women in public life till we have had a generation of women who have some practical familiarity with the great subjects which are to be considered, about which now the best instructed women know comparatively nothing. The question which mainly interests me at present is a humanitarian one. It’s an absolute fact that a great portion of womankind have their own living to get; and they do it now, as a general rule, with many of the laws and institutions of society against them. The reason of this is, that all these laws and institutions have been made by men, without any consent or concurrence of theirs. Now, as women are different from men, and have altogether a different class of feelings and wants and necessities, it certainly is right and proper that they should have some share in making the laws with which they are to be governed. It is true that the laws have been made by fathers and brothers and husbands; but no man, however near, ever comprehends fully the necessities and feelings of women. And it seems to me that a State where all the laws are made by men, without women, is just like a family that is managed entirely by fathers and brothers, without any concurrence of mothers and sisters. That’s my testimony, and my view of the matter.”
“I don’t see,” said Eva, “if women are to make the laws in relation to their own interests, or to have a voice in making them, why they need go into politics with men in order to do it, or why they need cease to act like women. If the thing has got to be done, I would have a parliament of women meet by themselves, and deliberate and have a voice in all that concerns the State. There, that’s my contribution to the programme.”
“That’s the way the Quakers manage their affairs in their yearly meetings,” said Ida. “I remember I was visiting Aunt Dinah once, during a yearly meeting, and learned all about it. I remember the sisters had a voice in everything that was done. The Quaker women have acquired in this way a great deal of facility in the management of business, and a great knowledge of affairs. They really seem to me superior to the men.”
“I can account for that,” said I. “A man among the Quakers is restricted and held in, and hasn’t as much to cultivate and develop him as ordinary men in the world; whereas, woman, among the Quakers, has her sphere widened and developed.”
At this moment our conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Jim Fellows. He seemed quite out of breath and excited, and had no sooner passed the compliments of the evening than he began.
“Well,” said he, “Hal, I have just come from the Police Court, where there ‘s a precious row. Our friend ‘Dacia Dangyereyes is up for blackmailing and swindling; and there ‘s a terrible wash of dirty linen going on. I was just in time to get the very earliest notes for our paper.”
“Good!” said Mr. Van Arsdel. “I hope the creature is caught at last.”
“Never believe that,” said Jim. “She has as many lives as a cat. They never’ll get a hold on her. She’ll talk ’em all round.”
“Disgusting!” said Ida.
“Ah!” said Jim, “it’s part of the world as it goes. She’ll come off with flying colors, doubtless, and her cock’s-feathers will be flaunting all the merrier for it.”
“How horribly disagreeable,” said Eva, “to have such women around. It makes one ashamed of one’s sex.”
“I think,” said Ida, “there is not sufficient resemblance to a real woman in her to make much trouble on her account. She ‘s an amphibious animal, belonging to a transition period of human society.”
“Well,” said Jim, “if you’ll believe it, Mrs. Cerulean and two or three of the ladies of her set are actually going to invite ‘Dacia to their salon, and patronize her.”
“Impossible!” said Ida, flushing crimson; “it cannot be!”
“Oh, you don’t know Mrs. Cerulean,” said Jim; “ ‘Dacia called on her with her newspaper, and conducted herself in a most sweet and winning manner, and cast herself at her feet for patronage; and Mrs. Cerulean, regarding her through those glory spectacles which she usually wears, took her up immediately as a promising candidate for the latter day. Mrs. Cerulean don’t see anything in ‘Dacia ‘s paper that, properly interpreted, need make any trouble; because, you see, as she says, everything ought to be love, everywhere, above and below, under and over, up and down, top and side and bottom, ought to be love, LOVE. And then when there ‘s general all-overness and all - throughness, and an entire mixed-up-ativeness, then the infinite will come down into the finite, and the finite will overflow into the infinite, and, in short, Miss ‘Dacia ‘s cock’s-feathers will sail right straight up into heaven, and we shall see her cheek by jowl with the angel Gabriel, promenading the streets of the new Jerusalem. That’s the programme. Meanwhile, ‘Dacia ‘s delighted. She hadn’t the remotest idea of being an angel, or anything of the sort; but since good judges have told her she is, she takes it all very contentedly.”
“Oh,” said Ida, “it really can’t be true, Mr. Fellows; it really is impossible that such ladies as Mrs. Cerulean’s set — ladies of family and position, ladies of real dignity and delicacy — are going to indorse the principles of that paper; principles which go to the immediate dissolution of civilized society.”
“That’s just what they are doing,” said Jim; “and they are having a glorious high old time doing it too. Mrs. Cerulean herself intends to write for the paper on the subject of fortification and twentification and unification, and everything else that ends with ation. And it is thought it will improve the paper to have some nice little hymns inserted in it, to the tune of ‘I Want to be an Angel.’ I asked Mrs. Cerulean what if my friend ‘Dacia should rip an oath in the midst of one of her salons — you know the little wretch does swear like a pirate; and you ought to see how serenely she looked over my head into the far distant future, and answered me so tenderly, as if I had been a two hours’ chicken peeping to her. ‘Oh, James,’ says she, ‘there are many opinions yet to be expressed on the subject of what is commonly called profanity. I have arrived at the conclusion myself, that in impassioned natures what is called profanity is only the state of prophetic exaltation which naturally seeks vent in intensified language. I shouldn’t think the worse of this fine vigorous creature if, in a moment’s inspired frenzy, she should burst the tame boundaries of ordinary language. It is true, the vulgar might call it profane. It requires anointed eyes to see such things truly. When we have risen to these heights where we now stand, we behold all things purified. There is around us a new heaven and a new earth.’ And so you see, ‘Dacia Dangyereyes turns out a tip-top angel of the New Dispensation.”
“Well,” said Ida, rising, with heightened color, “this, of course, ends my intercourse with Mrs. Cerulean, if it be true.”
“But,” said Eva, “how can they bear the scandal of this disgraceful trial? This certainly will open their eyes.”
“Oh,” said Jim, “you will see, Mrs. Cerulean will adhere all the closer for this. It’s persecution, and virtue in all ages has been persecuted; therefore, all who are persecuted are virtuous. Don’t you see the logical consistency? And then, don’t the Bible say, ‘Blessed are ye when men persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you’?”
“It don’t appear to me,” said Ida, “that she can so far go against all common sense.”
“Common sense!” said Jim; “Mrs. Cerulean and her clique have long since risen above anything like common sense; all their sense is of the most uncommon kind, and relates to a region somewhere up in the clouds, where everything is made to match. They live in an imaginary world, and reason with imaginary reasons, and see people through imaginary spectacles, and have glorious good times all the while. All I wish is, that I could get up there and liv
e; for you see I get into the state of prophetic ecstasy pretty often with this confounded hard grind below here, and then, when I rip out a naughty word, nobody sees the beauty of it. Mother looks glum. Sister Nell says, ‘Oh, Jim!’ and looks despairing.”
“But the fact is,” said Mr. Van Arsdel, “Mrs. Cerulean is a respectable woman, of respectable family, and this girl is a tramp; that ‘s what she is; and it is absolutely impossible that Mrs. Cerulean can know what she is about.”
“Well, I delicately suggested some such thing to Mrs. Cerulean,” said Jim; “but, bless me! the way she set me down! Says she, ‘Do you men ever inquire into the character of people that you unite with to carry your purposes? You join with anybody that will help you, without regard to antecedents! ‘“
“She don’t speak the truth,” said Mr. Van Arsdel. “We men are very particular about the record of those we join with to carry our purposes. You wouldn’t find a board of bankers taking a man that had a record for swindling, or a man that edited a paper arguing against all rights of property. Doctors won’t admit a man among them who has the record of a quack or a malpractitioner. Clergymen won’t admit a man among them who has a record of licentiousness or infidel sentiments. And if women will admit women in utter disregard of their record of chastity or their lax principles as to the family, they act on lower principles than any body of men.”
“Besides,” said I, “that kind of tolerance cuts the very ground from under the whole woman movement; for the main argument for proposing it was to introduce into politics that superior delicacy and purity which women manifest in family life. But if women are going to be less careful about delicacy and decorum and family purity than men are, the quagmire of politics, foul enough now, will become putrid.”
“Oh, come,” said Eva, “the subject does get too dreadful; I can’t bear to think of it, and I move that we have a game of whist, and put an end to it. Come, now, do let’s sit down sociably, and have something agreeable.”
We went out into the parlor and sat down to the whist-table, Eva and Alice, with Jim Fellows and myself respectively as partners, and indulged ourselves in one of those agreeable chatty games which make the designation “whist” quite an amusing satire — one of those games played with that charming disregard of all rules which is so inspiring. In the best of spirits we talked across the table to each other, trumped our partners’ queens, and did all sorts of enormities in the excitement of the brilliant by-play of conversation which we kept up all the while. It may be a familiar experience to many, that one never thinks of so many things to say, and so many fruitful topics for immediate discussion, as when one professes to be playing whist. But then, if a young gentleman wishes a good opportunity to reconnoitre a certain face, no more advantageous position can be given him than to have it vis-à-vis at the whist-table.
“Now, Mr. Henderson,” said Alice, “we are going to make a good Churchman of you.”
“I am happy to hear it,” said I. “I am ready to be made anything good of that you can mention.”
“Well,” said Alice, “we are going to press you and Mr. Fellows, here, into the service of the Church.”
“Shall be perfectly enchanted!” said Jim. “If the Church only knew my energies, they would have tried to get me long before.”
“Then,” said Eva, “you must go with us to-morrow evening; for we are going to be up all night, about the floral decorations of our church for Easter morning. Oh! you have no idea what splendid things we are going to do. We shall be at work hard, all day to-morrow, upon our wreaths and crosses; and the things must all be put up late at night so as to keep them from withering. Then, you know, we must be out again to the sunrise service.”
“Why,” said I, “it is a regular piece of dissipation.”
“Certainly, — religious dissipation, you know,” said Alice.
“Well,” said Eva, “I don’t know why we should not be up all night to dress the church, for once in our lives, as well as to be up all night dancing the german. Ida says it is wicked to do either. Ida makes a perfect hobby of everybody’s keeping their health.”
“Yes, but,” said I, “if people keep themselves, generally, in temperance and soberness, they can afford a great strain, now and then, if it be for a good purpose.”
“At any rate,” said Eva, “you and Mr. Fellows come round and take tea with us and help us carry our trophies to the church.”
CHAPTER XXV. COUSIN CAROLINE AGAIN
ABOUT this time I received the following letter from my Cousin Caroline: —
DEAR COUSIN, — I have had no time to keep up correspondence with anybody for the past year. The state of my father’s health has required my constant attention, day and night, to a degree that has absorbed all my power, and left no time for writing. For the last six months father has been perfectly helpless with the most distressing form of chronic rheumatism. His sufferings have been protracted and intense, so that it has been wearing even to witness them; and the utmost that I could do seemed to bring very little relief. And when, at last, death closed the scene, it seemed to be in mercy, putting an end to sufferings which were intolerable.
For a month after his death I was in a state of utter prostration, both physical and mental, — worn out with watching and care. My poor father! he was himself to the last, reticent, silent, undemonstrative, and uncommunicative. It seemed to me that I would have given worlds for one tender word from him. I felt a pity and a love that I dared not show; his sufferings went to my very heart; but he repelled every word of sympathy, and was cold and silent to the last. Yet I believe that he really loved me, and that far within this frozen circle of ice his soul was a lonely prisoner, longing to express itself, and unable; longing for the light and warmth of that love which never could touch him in its icy depths; and I am quite sure, it is my comfort to know, that death has broken the ice and melted the bands; and I believe that he has entered the kingdom of heaven as a little child.
The hard skies of our New England, its rocky soil, its severe necessities, make characters like his; and they intrench themselves in a similar religious faith which makes them still harder. They live to aspire and to suffer, but never to express themselves; and every soft and warm heart that is connected with them pines and suffers and dies like flowers that are thrown upon icebergs.
Well, all is now over, and I am free of the world. I have, in the division of the property, a few acres of wood-lot, and many acres of rough, stony land, and about a hundred dollars of yearly income. I must do something, therefore, for my own support. Ever since you left us I have been reading and studying under the care of your uncle, who, since your conversation with him, has been very kind and thoughtful. But then, of course, my studies have been interrupted by some duties, and, during the last year, suspended altogether by the necessity of giving myself to the care of father.
Now, my desire is, if I could in any way earn the means to go to France and perfect myself in medical studies. I am told that a medical education can be obtained there by women cheaper than anywhere else; and I have cast about in my own mind how I might earn money enough to enable me to do it. Now I ask you, who are in New York and on the press, who know me thoroughly, and it also, could I, should I come to New York, gain any situation as writer for the press, which would give me an income for a year or two, by which I could make enough to accomplish my purpose? I should not wish to be always a writer; it would be too exhausting; but if I could get into a profession that I am well adapted for, I should expect to succeed in it.
I have the ability to live and make a respectable appearance upon a very little. I know enough, practically, of the arts of woman-craft to clothe myself handsomely for a small sum, and I am willing to live in cheap, obscure lodgings, and think I could board myself, also, for a very moderate sum. I am willing to undergo privations, and to encounter hard work to carry my purpose, and I write to you, dear cousin, because I know you will speak to me just as freely as though I were not a woman, and give me your unbias
ed opinion as to whether or no I could do anything in the line that I indicate. I know that you would give me all the assistance in your power, and feel a perfect reliance upon your friendship.
The letter here digressed into local details and family incidents not necessary to be reproduced. I resolved to lay it before Bolton. It seemed to me that his reception of it would furnish some sort of clue to the mystery of his former acquaintance with her. The entire silence that he had always maintained with regard to his former knowledge of her, while yet he secretly treasured her picture, seemed to me to indicate that he might somehow have been connected with that passage of her life referred to by my mother when she said that Caroline’s father had, at one period of her life, crushed out an interest that was vital to her.
“The sly old fox,” said I to myself, “always draws me on to tell him everything, while he keeps a close mouth, and I learn nothing of him.” Of course, I felt that to ask any questions or seek to pry into a past which he evidently was not disposed to talk about, would be an indelicate impertinence. But my conscience and sense of honor were quite appeased by this opportunity presented by Caroline’s letter. Bolton was older in the press than I and, with all his reticence and modesty, had a wide circle of influence.
Complete Works of Harriet Beecher Stowe Page 329
