work_id,theme,provenance,created_at,text,reviewed_on,id,comments,metaphor,dictionary,updated_at,context
5106,Blank Slate,"Found again searching ""mind"" and ""sheet"" in HDIS (Prose)",2009-09-14 19:39:13 UTC,"In giving you a very circumstantial account of this society, I confess I have a view beyond the pleasure, which a mind like yours must receive from the contemplation of so much virtue. Your constant endeavours have been to inculcate the best principles into youthful minds, the only probable means of mending mankind; for the foundation of most of our virtues, or our vices, are laid in that season of life when we are most susceptible of impression, and when our minds, as on a sheet of white paper, any characters may be engraven; these laudable endeavours, by which we may reasonably expect the rising generation will be greatly improved, render particularly due to you, any examples which may teach those virtues that are not easily learnt by precept, and shew the facility of what, in meer speculation, might appear surrounded with a discouraging impracticability: you are the best judge, whether, by being made public, they may be conducive to your great end of benefitting the world. I therefore submit the following sheets entirely to you.""
(pp. 1-2; 53-54)",2005-04-06,13793,"•I've included twice: Blank Paper, and Engraving","""Your constant endeavours have been to inculcate the best principles into youthful minds, the only probable means of mending mankind; for the foundation of most of our virtues, or our vices, are laid in that season of life when we are most susceptible of impression, and when our minds, as on a sheet of white paper, any characters may be engraven.""",Writing,2013-06-27 21:17:53 UTC,"Addressed to the ""Publisher"" of the volume"
5106,"",Reading; found again in HDIS,2004-01-25 00:00:00 UTC,"This scene had made too deep an impression on our minds, not to be the subject of our discourse all the way home, and in the course of conversation, I learnt, that when these people were first rescued out of their misery, their healths were much impaired, and their tempers more so: to restore the first, all medicinal care was taken, and air and exercise assisted greatly in their recovery; but to cure the malady of the mind, and conquer that internal source of unhappiness, was a work of longer time. Even these poor wretches had their vanity, and would contend for superior merit, of which, the argument was the money their keepers had gained in exhibiting them. To put an end to this contention, the ladies made them understand, that what they thought a subject for boasting, was only a proof of their being so much farther from the usual standard of the human form, and therefore a more extraordinary spectacle. But it was long before one of them could be persuaded to lay aside her pretensions to superiority, which she claimed on account of an extraordinary honour she had received from a great princess, who had made her a present of a sedan chair.
(74).",,13796,"","""This scene had made too deep an impression on our minds, not to be the subject of our discourse all the way home.""",Impressions,2013-06-27 21:18:56 UTC,""
5106,"",Reading; found again in HDIS,2004-01-25 00:00:00 UTC,"This scene had made too deep an impression on our minds, not to be the subject of our discourse all the way home, and in the course of conversation, I learnt, that when these people were first rescued out of their misery, their healths were much impaired, and their tempers more so: to restore the first, all medicinal care was taken, and air and exercise assisted greatly in their recovery; but to cure the malady of the mind, and conquer that internal source of unhappiness, was a work of longer time. Even these poor wretches had their vanity, and would contend for superior merit, of which, the argument was the money their keepers had gained in exhibiting them. To put an end to this contention, the ladies made them understand, that what they thought a subject for boasting, was only a proof of their being so much farther from the usual standard of the human form, and therefore a more extraordinary spectacle. But it was long before one of them could be persuaded to lay aside her pretensions to superiority, which she claimed on account of an extraordinary honour she had received from a great princess, who had made her a present of a sedan chair.
(74).",,13797,"","""I learnt, that when these people were first rescued out of their misery, their healths were much impaired, and their tempers more so: to restore the first, all medicinal care was taken, and air and exercise assisted greatly in their recovery; but to cure the malady of the mind, and conquer that internal source of unhappiness, was a work of longer time.""",Empire,2013-06-27 21:20:12 UTC,""
5106,"",Reading and using HDIS to doublecheck search,2004-01-25 00:00:00 UTC,"Great was the joy of the two friends at meeting. Miss Melvyn's situation at home was rendered as irksome as possible, by Lady Melvyn's behaviour both to her and Sir Charles, who, notwithstanding her ill treatment, was extremely fond of, and totally guided by her. His mind was so entirely enslaved, that he beheld nothing but in the light wherein she pleased to represent it, and was so easy a dupe, that she could scarcely feel the joys of self triumph in her superior art, which was on no subject so constantly exerted, as in keeping up a coldness in Sir Charles towards his daughter; this she had with tolerable facility effected in her absence, and was assiduously careful to preserve now she was present. To those who know not the power an artful woman can obtain over a weak man, it would appear incredible, that any father could be prejudiced against a daughter, whose whole attention was to please him. She had so perfect a command over her temper, that she never appeared to take offence at any thing Lady Melvyn said or did, though that lady endeavoured by every provocation to throw her off her guard. This behaviour only encreased her hatred, which was not in the least abated by Miss Melvyn's taking every opportunity of being serviceable to her brothers and sisters-in-law. Lady Melvyn persuaded Sir Charles, that his daughter's calmness was only assumed in his presence, and continually complained of her insolence, when he was not by. If he ever appeared to doubt the truth of her report, she would burst into tears, complain of his want of love, and little confidence in her; and sometimes thought proper to shew her grief at such treatment, by a pretended hysteric fit, always ready at call to come to her assistance, though really so unnecessarily lavished on one easily duped without those laborious means, that it appeared a wantonness of cunning, which was thus exerted only for its own indulgence. She soon perceived that Miss Melvyn rather chose to submit to any aspersions, than to render her father unhappy, by undeceiving him; and taking advantage of this generosity, would sometimes, to establish his opinion of her veracity, accuse Miss Melvyn to her face of offences which she had never committed, and things she had never said.
(104-5)",,13798,"","""His mind was so entirely enslaved, that he beheld nothing but in the light wherein she pleased to represent it, and was so easy a dupe, that she could scarcely feel the joys of self triumph in her superior art, which was on no subject so constantly exerted, as in keeping up a coldness in Sir Charles towards his daughter; this she had with tolerable facility effected in her absence, and was assiduously careful to preserve now she was present.""","",2012-01-06 18:36:00 UTC,""
5106,"",Reading and using HDIS to doublecheck,2004-01-25 00:00:00 UTC,"After rubbing her hands and feet till they were sore, suffocating her with burnt feathers, and half poisoning her with medicines, Sir Charles and her servants so far brought her to life, that after sending her attendants out of the room, she had just power to tell him, 'she had discovered an intrigue between his daughter and Simon the young farmer,' and then immediately sunk into another fit, which however did not last so long; for as she had removed the heavy burden off her mind, she soon began to recover.
(108)",,13799,"","""After rubbing her hands and feet till they were sore, suffocating her with burnt feathers, and half poisoning her with medicines, Sir Charles and her servants so far brought her to life, that after sending her attendants out of the room, she had just power to tell him, 'she had discovered an intrigue between his daughter and Simon the young farmer,' and then immediately sunk into another fit, which however did not last so long; for as she had removed the heavy burden off her mind, she soon began to recover.""","",2013-06-27 21:21:15 UTC,""
5106,"",Reading and using HDIS to doublecheck search,2004-01-25 00:00:00 UTC,"'Certainly, answered Mrs. Maynard, it is not without its difficulties. For the first year of this establishment my friends dedicated most of their time and attention to this new community, who were every day either at the hall, or these ladies with them, endeavouring to cultivate in this sisterhood that sort of disposition which is most productive of peace. By their example and suggestions, (for it is difficult to give unreserved advice where you may be suspected of a design to dictate) by their examples and suggestions therefore, they led them to industry, and shewed it to be necessary to all stations, as the basis of almost every virtue. An idle mind, like fallow ground, is the soil for every weed to grow in; in it vice strengthens, the seed of every vanity flourishes unmolested and luxuriant; discontent, malignity, ill humour, spread far and wide, and the mind becomes a chaos, which it is beyond human power to call into order and beauty. This therefore my good friends laboured to expel from their infant establishment. They taught them that it was the duty of every person to be of service to others. That those whose hands and minds were by the favours of fortune exempt from the necessity of labouring for their own support, ought to be employed for such as are destitute of these advantages. They got this sisterhood to join with them in working for the poor people, in visiting, in admonishing, in teaching them wherever their situations required these services. Where they found that any of these ladies had a taste for gardening, drawing, music, reading, or any manual or mental art, they cultivated it, assisted them in the pleasantest means, and by various little schemes have kept up these inclinations with all the spirit of pursuit, which is requisite to preserve most minds from that state of languidness and inactivity, whereby life is rendered wearisome to those who have never found it unfortunate.
(118)",,13800,"•See also the following entry (simile is extended into a metaphor).
•I've included twice: Fallow Ground and Weeds — There was a duplicate. I've deleted it.","""An idle mind, like fallow ground, is the soil for every weed to grow in; in it vice strengthens, the seed of every vanity flourishes unmolested and luxuriant; discontent, malignity, ill humour, spread far and wide, and the mind becomes a chaos, which it is beyond human power to call into order and beauty.""","",2013-06-27 21:36:30 UTC,""
5106,"",Reading and using HDIS to doublecheck search,2004-01-25 00:00:00 UTC,"'When I reflect, said she, afterwards, on the step I am going to take, my terrors are inexpressible; how dreadful is it at my age, when nature seems to promise me so many years of life, to doom myself to a state of wretchedness, which death alone can terminate, and wherein I must bury all my sorrows in silence, without even the melancholy relief of pouring them forth in the bosom of my friend, and seeking, from her tender participation, the only consolation I could receive! for after his dreaded union is compleated, duty will forbid me to make my distresses known, even to my Louisa; I must not then expose the faults of him whose slightest failings I ought to conceal. One only hope remains, that you, my first and dearest friend, will not abandon me; that whatever cloud of melancholy may hang over my mind, yet you will still bear with me, and remove your abode to a place where I may have the consolation of your company. If it be in my power to make my house a comfortable habitation to my Louisa, I cannot be entirely wretched.'
(128-9)",,13802,"","""One only hope remains, that you, my first and dearest friend, will not abandon me; that whatever cloud of melancholy may hang over my mind, yet you will still bear with me, and remove your abode to a place where I may have the consolation of your company.""","",2013-06-27 21:23:19 UTC,""
5106,"",Reading and using HDIS to doublecheck search,2004-01-25 00:00:00 UTC,"The pleasure Sir Edward received at the account of Louisa's good fortune, and the still greater joy he felt at so evident a proof of her regard for him, made him for a time forget his pains, and flattered the good old steward with hopes, that his case was not so desperate as the surgeons represented it; but Sir Edward told him, 'he knew all hope was vain.' 'I must accuse myself, said he, of losing that lovely generous woman; what a treasure would have gladdened my future days, had I not rashly, I fear criminally shortened them, not by my own hand indeed, but how little different! Mad with despair, I have sought all means of obtaining, what I imagined the only cure for my distempered mind. Weary of life, since I could not possess her, in whom all my joys, all the wishes of my soul were centered, I seized every occasion of exposing myself to the enemy's sword. Contrary to my hopes, I escaped many times, when death seemed unavoidable; but grown more desperate by disappointment, I this morning went on an attack, where instead of attempting to conquer, all my endeavour was to be killed, and at last I succeeded, how fatally!' 'Oh! my Louisa,' continued he, 'and do I then lose thee by my own impatience! Had I, like thee, submitted to the disposition of providence, had I waited, from its mighty power, that relief which it alone can give, I might now be expecting with rapture the hour that should have united us for ever, instead of preparing for that which shall summon me to the grave, where even thou shalt be forgotten, and the last traces of thy lovely image effaced from my too faithful remembrance. How just are the decrees of the Almighty! Thy patience, thy resignation, and uncommon virtues are rewarded as they ought; my petulance, my impatience, which, as it were, flew in the face of my Maker, and sought to lose a life which he had intrusted to my keeping, and required me to preserve, is deservedly punished. I am deprived of that existence, which I would now endure whole ages of pain to recal, were it to be done, but it is past, and I submit to thy justice, thou all wise disposer of my fate.'
(152-3)",,13803,"","""Mad with despair, I have sought all means of obtaining, what I imagined the only cure for my distempered mind.""","",2013-06-27 21:23:59 UTC,""
5106,"",Reading and using HDIS to doublecheck search,2004-01-25 00:00:00 UTC,"'Can you, who have never erred, said Lady Emilia, see my offence in so fair a light? What may I not then hope from infinite mercy? I do hope; it would be criminal to doubt, when such consolatory promises appear in almost every page of holy writ. With pleasure I go where I am called, for I leave my child safe in the Divine Protection, and her own virtue; I leave her, I hope, to a happy life, and a far more happy death; when joys immortal will bless her through all eternity. I have now my love discharged the burden from my mind; not many hours of life remain, let me not pass them in caressing my dear daughter, which, though most pleasing to my fond heart, can end only in making me regret the loss of a world which will soon pass from my sight. Let me spend this hour, as I hope to do those that will succeed it through all eternity. Join with me in prayers to, and praises of him, in whom consists all our lasting happiness.'
(218)",,13804,"","""I have now my love discharged the burden from my mind.""","",2013-06-27 21:24:31 UTC,""
5106,Mind and Body,Reading and using HDIS to doublecheck search,2004-01-25 00:00:00 UTC,"By teaching her humanity, he initiated her into civility of manners. She had learnt, that to give pain was immoral; and could no more have borne to have shocked any person's mind, than to have racked his body. Any thought therefore that could hurt she suppressed as an indispensable duty, and to please by her actions, and not offend by her words, was an essential part of the religion in which she was educated; but in every thing whereby no one could suffer, she was innocence and simplicity itself; and in her nature shone pure and uncorrupted, either by natural or acquired vices.
(225)",,13805,"","""She had learnt, that to give pain was immoral; and could no more have borne to have shocked any person's mind, than to have racked his body.""","",2013-06-27 21:25:05 UTC,""