[Manchester—Sunday, 25 August 1867]

Sunday, August 25. I write these dates with a kind of shudder, seeing how life slips away.

I have been reading Carlyle’s article “Shooting Niagara and After” a stormy protest against reform wh. reminds one of Xerxes throwing the chains into the Bosphorus. Nevertheless it is profoundly interesting for the truths contained in it, for his pictures of English life and character and his true upheaving towards a good life to be lived a purer result to be gained, yet so helpless is the tone that a profound sadness overspread the exciting face of it.

This day is sublimely beautiful—on the high rock just opposite my window, a villager has gone to sit away from noise and talk, in his Sunday clothes, to overlook the sea. We should be devoutly thankful for such privileges for the people. There never was so wonderful a land as ours for portraying the native differences between man and man and the conquests of spirit and circumstance. There is a chance for every man if he be honest here! Thank God.

Yesterday Andrew D. White and his wife dined with us. after dinner we drove to see the Dana’s & thence through the beautiful residences on the Bearley road. My heart went out to this young wife who has three little children whom she must leave to follow her husband to Europe. He wishes her to go for her health and he must go on business, so there seems to be no appeal, but it is a struggle.


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