Life in the sick-room : $b EssaysMartineau, Harriet
Science
Life in the sick-room : $b Essays
Martineau, Harriet
Conduct of life; Sick
You, my fellow-sufferer, now lying on your couch, the newspaper dropping
from your hand, while your eyes are fixed on the lamp, are you not
smiling at the thought that you have preserved, up to this time, more or
less of that faith of your childhood--that everything that is in print
is true? Before we had our present leisure for reflection, we read one
newspaper,--perhaps occasionally one on the other side. We found
opposition of views; but this was to be expected from diversities of
minds and position. Now the whole press is open to us, and we see what
is said on all sides. What an astonishing result! We hear that Cabinet
Ministers are apt to grow nervous about newspaper commentaries on their
conduct. To us this seems scarcely possible, seeing, as we do, that,
though every paper may be useful reading for the suggestions and other
lights it affords, every one is at fault, as a judge. Every one forgets,
actually or politicly, that it is in possession of only partial
information, generally speaking; we find no guarding intimation to the
reader, that there may be information behind which might alter the
aspect of the question. Such notice may be too much to expect of diurnal
literature; but the confusion made by the positiveness of all parties,
proceeding on their respective faulty grounds of fact--a positiveness
usually proportioned to the faultiness of the grounds--is such as might,
one would think, relieve Cabinet Ministers who have their work at heart,
from any very anxious solicitude about the judgments of the press, in
regard to unfinished affairs. Meantime, what a work is done! Amidst the
flat contradictions of fact, and oppositions of opinion,--amidst the
passion which sets men’s wits to work to conceive of and propose all
imaginable motives and results, what an abundance of light is struck
out! From a crowd of falsehoods, what a revelation we have of the truth,
which no one man, nor party of men, could reveal!--of the wants, wishes,
and ideas of every class or coterie of society that can speak for
itself, and of some that cannot!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account