The morning call., 1891-10-16
LADY BURTON.

4 Woman Who Threw Away fortune
Rather Than Do a Wrong.
Editor U-0mdn'S Column, Morning eau:
is said that we cannot drop pin without
disturbing the attraction of the whole
universe; and the recent controversy regard
ing LADY Burton proves that whether the
statement is true or not in the physical
world. if is in the moral Sir Richard Bur-
Ton was noted traveller. An Englishman,
be for many years lived in India; disguised
As an Arab he penetrated Arabia when 1t
was death for any but MuSsulmans to eater
Mecca or the other sacred places. His last
years we're spent in England and devoted
to the translation of a Persian work, which
Celebrates on Oriental vice. Hehad written
valuable books and claimed that his last
work was in the interest OF science, for the
good of the world, and his wife, who knew
him best Of any one, and describes him as
the "purest and best Of men" working
wholly in the interests of science, who evil
IDENTIFY loves him, believes that his motives
were good. He died and let his trausla-
tons in manuscript to his wife rs her only
portion. The work had aroused interest,
much Of it not at all scientific, and imme-
dlately Lady Burton received an offer OF
$4,000 FOR TIE MANUSCRIPT.
True woman and wife as she is, she first
shut herself up in her husbands study to
peruse the manuscript beqHeathcd to her
by one she loved, and never read by any
other. Several DAYS she spent in seclusiOu,
then she deliberately cTemdted the who Ie
legacy, every page, turning to ashes her
husbands work oil fourteen years, and her
own maintenance. Now comes the argu-
ment. Some admire the woman who would
impUveTlsh herself and thwart the work of
4 much-loved husband rather than launch
another vice upon the world But many
condemn. They bemOan, in the name of
science, that woman should venture 10 de-
str9y to science what her learned husband
thought worth the effort of his last
years. They claim that she betrayed a
trust; that she should not have decided
without consulting learned men; that she
ought to have consigned the manuscript to
the British Museum on condition that 1t
should not be printed, but be accessible to
Oriental scholars; and also that her work
was uSelesS-thRt the excitement aroused
will induce some one else 10 translate the
vicious work. that she might have kept the
money, for some one else will get it if she
does no., and that
PROHIBITION OF EVIL
Never prevails; that all Improvement must
come from within; that law is useless until
people are educated up to it; that 1t smacks
OF tie inQuisition to prevent eople from
doing ruin themselves and torture others.
NJ autime Lady Burton keeps her own
counsel, only to say that in his spiritual
state she is sure that Sir Richard approves
her act. Lady Burton had love and pc
cuniary profit at stake, yet her woman
nature said sacrifice both rather than be
the instrument Of vice. Where that book
could help one scientist it would sm.rch
3 million who would read it for its impulity,
and Lady Burton knew that. We may
never know her struggle in the library of
her dead husband, how SATAN showed ner
tie Kingdoms OF the earth and said, "Ail
these shall be thine" if you publish that
There was doubtless a battle with love and
greed, but LAZY Burton triumphed, and we
have reason 10 be proud Of her victory.
The plea that If we d0no wrong some one else
Will, and we may as well reap the benefit,
is OF Satan, and should only be met by Il
get thee behind me, Satan" Inc plea
tina. prohibition only whets peoples desire
10 do WrOug and induces them to add
LAW BREAKING
To their other sins is the argument Of the
Anarchist. Every law Is q prohibition, and
It is the duty Of tie Government to prohibit
whatever is evil and nothing but evil; or
even tie mixed things having elements OF
good when used 10 niure any one. Poison
ing VateTcuur.cs. disseminating small
pox, destroying ti,h wantonly, careless use
of firearms, gambling, are ali justly pro.
hibitei, because they injure others, and By
that one reason books that arouse evil
thoughts are prohibited, because they sully
the soul, which IS far more important than
the body, SIR richards motive was not in
question; the book was wiled to her. the
responsibility was hers, and noble woman
as she is, she took the responsibility with
out clubbing, as human being with an in
carnated soul should. To the upright soul
questions OF right and wrong are no puzzle
" % aye ind ttaI a
TO our II ather who Is Ia heaven" We are
not to measure by another human being
our duty IS ours, none others, and when
such questions come before us the trust is
between US and God, and we should decide
as we would if we knew that our individual
decision would settle the whole question.
Al the silent
TRIBUNAL OF THE SOUL
Is the place for US to settle all yexed ques-
lions OF duty and we are proud Of Lady
Burton for having so much purity OF soul,
so much courage Of conviction, so much
control Of heart and worldly interest as to
cremats her pecuniary independence and
her husbands literary idol, rather than be
instrumental in lOoslng upon the Western
world new vice. MANY daughters have
done WE'LL" but Lady Burton excels them
all; those who criticize her noble action can
hardly know the elevation of soul that must
result to her II we mistake not, every leaf
OF that burned manuscript VIII become a
wing to buoy her above the frets and wOr-
RES Of lie, and let us be thankful that
the nineteenth century has produced a
woman capable of 20 grand deed. 1t was
done for the good Of the world; it was hers,
she had this legacy for her own, her re-
spousibilty. Why should we let our lower
selves rule here on earth, we who wish to
be angels By and by? II we ever hope to
become sainted dead we should begin on
earth to practice, aud the first lesson is
DO no evil, 'Do as you would be done
BY" as if you and God were the only be-
ings in existence. S, 5.
GHsOy, October, 1891