The Little Review, April 1915 (Vol. 2, No. 2)Various
General
The Little Review, April 1915 (Vol. 2, No. 2)
Various
Literature, Modern -- 20th century -- Periodicals
The only way one has a right to judge life is to look at it from the
inside. Before I read Havelock Ellis I was unable to take this view of
the subjects you so sanely and clearly project on our imaginations.
After laying down his book I found my only shock came from some of the
methods employed in “curing” these unfortunates. From the histories of
cases he cites, I should consider it fair to conclude that the nervous
organization of inverts tended to average below par—as is the usual
medical view. This may be a psychic, not physical, result. Personally, I
cannot see any effect the reading of that material has had on me except
to make me more wisely charitable in my views. It has broadened my
ideals, without weakening them. It has put a new value on normality. It
has not modified my personal theory of love any more than the
not-entirely aesthetic conditions of carrying and bearing my children
did. There are points about that sort of experience—especially the
attitude of the inexperienced—which makes the prude’s attitude to the
whole broad question ridiculous. Another generation will regard ours as
we do the Victorians—my shade will grind its spirit teeth to hear them
laugh.
I am not sure your point of view as a writer rather than a speaker does
not make you overlook legitimate limitations in Mrs. Ellis’s position. A
speaker can often suggest far more than she actually utters; the
conclusions people are inspired to make for themselves are of far
greater value than if they were cast forth with inspired eloquence. To
antagonize an audience by forcing your point is to lose efficiency. In
print one has not the personal element so strongly and immediately to
consider. Perhaps she was subtler than Emma Goldman, but not so much
weaker as you think.
THE LITTLE REVIEW is the most satisfactory source of mental stimulation
I have yet discovered. If I do not always agree with it I at least have
the sense of arguing with a friend whose intellect I respect—never did I
feel that for any other publication. And I love freshness and freedom
and enthusiasm as I love youth itself—they’re the qualities that promise
growth.
_Stella Worden Smith, Monte Vista Heights, Cal._:
For six months or so I have been blessed with the presense of your
LITTLE REVIEW. Many times I have wanted to tell you so. It is a matter
of deep gratitude that at last one can open the pages of a magazine and
feel that sense of freedom and incomparable beauty that one does in,
say, looking out at a sunset across the mountains—and no more hampering!
You give new horizons, fresh inspiration, and revive the creative
impulse that is more likely to be snuffed out than stimulated when one
peruses the majority of our “best” magazines. Forgive me if I seem over
enthusiastic, but it springs from a gratitude born of great need. And
you have filled it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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