August 1853

At Lenox,' Miss congratulated herself that had settled down into sensible opin- ions and practices, like her neighbors. I asked her if she thought her two sisters, who had complied with sensible notions and practices, had quite succeeded; that I perhaps did not think quite as respectfully as she did of Boston and New York; that what she called a success seemed to me a poor thing, and, as those exam- ples betrayed, a mere fetch, or a dose of brandy to drown thought; but only the more degrad- ing those who succeeded. Had New York suc- ceeded ? Were the gentlemen of New York en- tirely satisfied with their manly performance ? As far as I am informed, they are ruled by some rowdy aldermen who are notorious rogues and black- legs. They must feel very clean in going down Wall Street, whilst Mr. Rhynders cows them. Is their political conscience sweet and serene, as they find themselves represented at Albany and at Washington ? As for these people, they have miserably failed, and 't is very fine for them to put on airs. The veriest monk in a college is better than they. As to I was far from thinking she had ended her experiments. It is her glory that she takes her life in her hand, and is ready for a new world.