Graham's Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 4, April 1852Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 4, April 1852
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
as if she were stating a scientific fact, in enumerating the merits of
somebody, ‘He appreciates ME.’”
Mr. Emerson accounts for this egotism partly on the ground of hereditary
organization, and partly on “an ebullient sense of power, which she felt
to be in her, and which as yet had found no channels.” In further
illustration of this he adds, that in conversation she seldom, “except
as a special grace, admitted others upon an equal ground with herself.”
She was exceedingly tender, when she pleased to be, and most cherishing
in her influence; but to elicit this tenderness, it was necessary to
submit first to her personally. When a person was overwhelmed by her and
answered not a word, except ‘Margaret, be merciful to me a sinner,’ then
her love and tenderness would come like a seraph’s, and often an
acknowledgment that she had been too harsh, and even a craving for
pardon, with a humility—which, perhaps, she had caught from the other.
But her instinct was not humility—that was an after thought.
This peculiarity, so honestly stated by Mr. Emerson, probably made
Margaret Fuller all her enemies; and it is a fault which every person is
bound to resent, though it appeared in an angel or archangel. It cannot
be justified though it may be accounted for; and by those who knew her
best, it was explained on principle! which relieved it of positive
offensiveness. Some of her intellectual dependents, persons who gloried
in wearing her mental livery, and were delighted with the servitude she
enforced, might say very naively, in explanation, that Margaret was the
greatest woman that ever was, and that Margaret was very sincere, and
that being sincere it was very proper that she should not conceal her
knowledge even of her own greatness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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