Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/354

 "I had heard nothing of your engagement, etc. I was far away at the time, beyond the reach of letters or rumors. When the name that since has come to represent to my thoughts all that is lovely and noble was first uttered in my bearing, it awoke in me no associations of any kind. But such were not long in being formed. My uncle was surprised as well as gratified by the suddenness with which I developed a 'practical interest in life,' as be called it.

"For Edith Alston's sake there is nothing I could not have resolved to do or become: there is no drudgery, however distasteful, to which I would not have submitted. At her behest I would have waded into the slough of New-York polities,—yea, have consented to herd with aldermen, like our quixotic friend R. Faugh! To keep pigs from the garden may be an occupation useful and even necessary, but can hardly be either agreeable or elevating. Better have the garden fenced, or the pigs abolished, my earnest friend. Yet, at her behest, I, too, might have joined you in your bootless and thankless task.

"Much has been said and written about 'the ennobling influence of woman.' The per contra of that claim might afford an interesting subject for speculation. Could we but read the inner history of many a stunted life, how many an aspiring soul would we find has been compelled to forsake the path of the gods, the pursuit of truth for its own sake, lured from that path by the ignis fatuus of a pair of bright eyes, thenceforth to be weighed down to earth by petty cares! A woman's influence, in fact, is as the woman is. Yet there are wiseacres would debar her from all share in man's higher intellectual activities. O fools and blind, not to see that woman's share in moulding the destinies of mankind has increased, is increasing, will increase, till she attain the perfect equality that is her due!

"Noble as is her character, I almost tremble to think how great influence, for good or evil, one woman could have exercised upon me had she but so willed. Not that I can for a moment imagine an influence consciously exercised by her for evil. The influences I feared were those with which I should necessarily surround myself by acceding to my uncle's desire that I should