Regarding Elizabeth Gouverneur's illness. Transcription: as she [Elizabeth Gouverneur] does, all that's proferred as though that were the remedy, yet drifting off into inconsequence, got I think a minute's comfort from a pardox ? that the very dread of insanity indicated her distance from it. So she went off into Gods' mild, sunny morning, through the live streets, with the blue sky and delicate white clouds over head, as wretched a creature as might be, for all her money. I am really sorry for her ? should be for anybody in such condition. What a Hell of suffering lies in that one word ?
Regarding Elizabeth Gouverneur's illness. Transcription: as she [Elizabeth Gouverneur] does, all that's proferred as though that were the remedy, yet drifting off into inconsequence, got I think a minute's comfort from a pardox ? that the very dread of insanity indicated her distance from it. So she went off into Gods' mild, sunny morning, through the live streets, with the blue sky and delicate white clouds over head, as wretched a creature as might be, for all her money. I am really sorry for her ? should be for anybody in such condition. What a Hell of suffering lies in that one word ? Nervousness. There are as selfish, vapid women as she who never feel that their lives are based on falsity and by so much are the wickeder. Now I fear that if Mrs Church were here, she would, I won't say triumph, but she would find no pity for Mrs Gouverneur. That one thing she lacked ? mercy, forgiveness to others ? especially her own sex. This grew out of her pride, self-respect self-opinion ? call it what you will. And that is the one thing of all others which makes women loveable. And loveable she was not. She has written neither to the Martins, to Mrs [Catharine] Potter, nor myself, and so, nobody knows where she's got to. I should wish, very much to hear from her ? the high-souled, generous, lady that she truly was ? high-bred throughout ? only lacking that one thing; there the infernal American, unchristian self esteem came in ? how I hate it! My Hannah [Bennett]! you are worth all the Yankee women in this barbarism miscalled a civilized country! What asses are those who rail at [William Makepeace] Thackeray as putting too much Title: Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries: Volume 10, page 91, January 25, 1859 . 25 January 1859. Gunn, Thomas Butler, 1826-1903
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