The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-08-28
"Vell, Virginia." exclaimed Aqtnt Helen.
'lOhOnl haze you picked ap 4lOlO2'

well, Virginia." exclaimed Aqtnt Helen,
''lDhOm haze you picked up nolD?'
did not attempt to decide between
the merits of the Numerically opposed
schools of thought represented by Mr.
Spence and Mr.. Barr. l was sensible
enough to understand that long study
and reflection would be requisite to quail
ify me to take sides inteligently But
yet had already distinct preference. !
felt that whatever the value of his sys-
tenn Mr.. Spence was thoroughly and
grandly in earnest. His whole soul was
in the spread and development of his
peculiar doctrines. To obtain their
recognition he was willing to sacrifice
luxury, comfort and all the pleasures of
life Everything else was a secondary
consideration.
Already in the course of his thorough
Investigations he had endured horrors
and committed eXtravagances from
which a nature SO palpably refined as
his must have shrunk with loathing 1t
was novel and delightful to me to meet
a man SO completely absorbed in pur-
suit WHICH promised no reward beyond
the amelioration of society-a result of
which he could hope to live to see only
the beginnings. For mere dollars and
cents he cared nothing He had no am
bition to grow rich. Indeed, it was one
of his tenets that no one should retain
more than @ certain amount of property
doubtless enough to keep the wolf
from the door and to permit the con-
tinuation ofscholarship Howm more
unselfsh and ennobling life than that
of the feverish money getter with all
his appliances Of forge and factory and
export and import! | had found an an
swer to my yearnings and my unrest in
this untiring devotion to abstract truth
\ part Of this was true undoubtedly
of Paul Barr as we'll Ardor and zeal
were the very essence Of his philosophy,
but it was easy to divine by looking at
him-at least it appeared SO to me-that
he lacked the spirit of persistent, unset
fish scholarship which distinguished his
rival. felt that he was superficial, and
that he would rather sacrifice his prin-
ciples than his own interests.
All the more did have faith in this
instructive preference for MIR. Spence
from the fact that from the standpoint
of the picturesque and romantic every
thing was on the side of the artist-poet.
Tall, dashing, handsome and brilliant,
he was adapted and doubtless accus-
toned to carry hearts by storm.
No woman could receive his admiring
chances without that slight thrill and
futter Of the heart which proves the
presence of a fascinating man. On the
other hand the master-I liked to think
Of him as such-was, as l have already
intimated, commonplace in appearance
at the first glance, and save, for his mar
velous voice, distinguished for none of
those graces which attract my sex. Per-
haps it would be more just to say that
he sought to repress them rather than
that they did not exist, for when under
the influence of enthusiasm for his sci
ence his face was inspiring to look upon.
Such were the conclusions at which ]
arrived after sitting my impressions.
But never did my incapacity and dearth
of knowledge appear to me in a less
complimentary light than at this time.
Vowed again and again to give myself
up unreservedly TO study, and first of all
to choose some special branch that would
prevent my efforts from resulting in
merely desultory work. Ii So, what bet
ter field could | choose than that in
which there were fellow workers al
ready whom knew and with whom
could sympathize? The more thought
about the subject the stronger did the
argument in favor of this selection APP
pear At last one morning, in an excess
Of enthusiasm, sat down and wrote g
note to Mr.. Spence, asking If he would
be kind enough to call on me at his leis
ure-"on matter of business added
so as to preclude any possible misinter
pretaticn on his part.
This was about week after Mis-
Kingsley's tea. In the meantime | hai
been to see Aunt Agnes twice, but hat
not found her at home. was curiou!
to hear what Miss Kingsley would say
concerning me, for felt by no means
sure that her remarks would be wholly
complimentary Freely as blamed my
self for my conceited notions at the time
regarding the attentions of the tive
philosophers, was not ready to absolv'
her from the imputation of jealousy. l
was difficult to explain her conduct OF
any other ground, and | remembered
what Mrs. Marsh had said as to tende
relations between her and Mr.. Spence
Indeed, felt some irritation against her
and a conviction that she was not likel.
to be altogether my friend when w
were not face to face. However, sh
had chosen to insert my name IN tn
next issue Of The Mercury as having
been present at a small gathering at he
"parlors'' to meet 1.-THE distinguishes
scientist and poet, Charles Liversag
Spence"-a notice which she doubles
considered sympathetic"