“I have just been,” Celia wrote in one of her letters, when she was
an active club woman, “out West to a convention of the Federation of
Women's Clubs. Such a striking collection of noble, independent women!
Handsome, lots of them, and dressed--oh, my friend, dress is still a
part of it! So different from a man's convention! Cranks? Yes, a few
left over. It was a fine, inspiring meeting. But, honestly, I could not
exactly make out what they were federating about, and what they were
going to do when they got federated. It sort of came over me, I am such
a weak sister, that there is such a lot of work done in this world with
no object except the doing of it.”
A more recent letter:--“Do you remember Aunt Hepsy, who used to keep
the little thread-and-needle and candy shop in Rivervale? Such a dear,
sweet, contented old soul! Always a smile and a good word for every
customer. I can see her now, picking out the biggest piece of candy in
the dish that she could afford to give for a little fellow's cent. It
never came over me until lately how much good that old woman did in the
world. I remember what a comfort it was to go and talk with her. Well, I
am getting into a frame of mind to want to be an Aunt Hepsy. There is
so much sawdust in everything--No, I'm not low-spirited. I'm just
philosophical--I've a mind to write a life of Aunt Hepsy, and let the
world see what a real useful life is.”
And here is a passage from the latest:--“What an interesting story your
friend--I hope he isn't you friend, for I don't half like him--has made
out of that Mavick girl! If I were the girl's mother I should want to
roast him over the coals. Is there any truth in it?
“Of course I read it, as everybody did and read the crawl out, and
looked for more. So it is partly our fault, but what a shame it is,
the invasion of family life! Do tell me, if you happen to see her--the
girl--driving in the Park or anywhere--of course you never will--what
she looks like. I should like to see an unsophisticated millionaire-ess!
But it is an awfully interesting problem, invented or not I'm pretty
deep in psychology these days, and I'd give anything to come in contact
with that girl. You would just see a woman, and you wouldn't know. I'd
see a soul. Dear me, if I'd only had the chance of that Scotch woman!
Don't you see, if we could only get to really know one mind and soul, we
should know it all. I mean scientifically. I know what you are thinking,
that all women have that chance. What you think is impertinent--to the
subject.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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