Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to WomenBlackwell, Elizabeth
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Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to Women
Blackwell, Elizabeth
Blackwell, Elizabeth, 1821-1910; Women physicians -- United States -- Biography
May 31, 1849.
I have just returned from my visit by appointment to
Lamartine, where I went to deliver the Philadelphia
resolution entrusted to me. I must hasten to give you a
sketch before this post—the last—closes.
Of course I dressed with great care, and arrived just at the
appointed hour. I was asked if I was a lady from America,
for Lamartine is to most people _in the country_. I was
shown through several ante-chambers into a drawing-room,
where stood the poet entertaining some visitors; he bowed,
requested me to wait a few moments, and withdrew with his
visitors into another room. I examined the apartment: a
lofty room, carved and richly gilded, three long windows
opening on to a balcony commanding a garden full of trees.
The room contained a rich carpet and purple velvet couches
and chairs, some portraits, an exquisite female profile
in bas-relief, a golden chandelier from the ceiling, some
antique vases, &c., and a soft green light from the trees
of the large garden diffused through the room. The door
opened and Lamartine entered; very tall and slender, but
the most graceful man I have ever seen, every movement
was music; grey eyes and hair. The little bust is a
pretty good likeness. He has the gentlemanly voice (Uncle
Charles’s), clear, melodious, perfectly well-bred. In
fact, his exterior harmonised perfectly with his poetry.
He understood English. Slowly and distinctly I explained
the commission which had been entrusted to me. He asked me
if the resolution referred to the fraternity of the race,
and seemed to understand at once the whole matter when I
replied in the affirmative. I referred him to the letters
accompanying the resolution for full explanation respecting
the document and the manner of presenting it. He said he
was very happy to receive these expressions of sympathy.
He would read the letters carefully and send me an answer,
which I promised to transmit to America. He accompanied me
very politely to the stairs, bowed, and we parted. I was in
no way disappointed; there was perfect harmony in the man
and his surroundings. Doubtless he is a true man, though
unable to work into practice the great thoughts he cherishes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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