Yearly Archives: 2007

the difference between choice and necessity

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“You may say – people have said to me – you would have been happy in the more flourishing days of the religious order, and that, I imagine, is close to the truth. But even there I hesitate, and the difference between Choice and Necessity jumps up again to confound me. ‘Freedom is knowledge of necessity’; I believe nothing as ardently as I do that. And I assure you that to act in this way is the only logical step for me to take. I mean, of course, to be acted upon in this way is the only logical step for me to take.”

(Elizabeth Bishop, “In Prison,” p.191 in Collected Prose.)

talking in italic

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“One day she abruptly asked me, ‘Do you like the nude, Elizabeth?’ I said yes I did on the whole. Marianne: ‘Well so do I, Elizabeth, but in moderation,’ and she immediately pressed on me a copy of Sir Kenneth Clark’s new book, The Nude, which had just been sent to her.”

(Elizabeth Bishop on Marianne Moore in “Efforts of Affection,” p.147 in Bishop’s Collected Prose.)

ancestors

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“I see you have a lot of ancestors said Mr Salteena in a jelous tone, who are they.

Well said Bernard they are all quite correct. This is my aunt Caroline she was rather exentrick and quite old.

So I see said Mr Salteena and he passed on to a lady with a very tight waist and quearly shaped. That is Mary Ann Fudge my grandmother I think said Bernard she was very well known in her day.

Why asked Ether who was rarther curious by nature.

Well I dont quite know said Bernard but she was and he moved away to the next picture. It was of a man with a fat smiley face and a red ribbon around him and a lot of medals. My great uncle Ambrose Fudge said Bernard carelessly.

He looks a thourough ancestor said Ethel kindly.

Well he was said Bernard in a proud tone he was really the Sinister son of Queen Victoria.

Not really cried Ethel in excited tones but what does that mean.

Well I dont quite know said Bernard Clark it puzzles me very much but ancesters do turn quear at times.

Perhaps it means god son said Mr Salteena in an inteligent voice.

Well I dont think so aid Bernard but I mean to find out.

It is very grand anyhow said Ethel.

Who is this said Mr Salteena halting at a picture of a lady holding up some grapes and smiling a great deal.

Her name was called Minnie Pilato responded Bernard she was rarther far back but a real relation and she was engaged to the earl of Tullyvarden only it did not quite come off.

What a pity cried Ethel.

Yes it was rarther replied Bernard but she married a Captain in the Navy and had seven children so she was quite alright.

Here Mr Salteena thourght he had better go to bed as he had had a long jornney. . . .”

(Daisy Ashford, The Young Visiters: or, Mr. Salteena’s Plan, pp. 36–38.)

young darwin

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“A young man of twenty-two, carrying a copy of Paradise Lost when he set sail on the Beagle six years before Victoria ascended the throne, Darwin was a Romantic. He played the piano to worms, thought about the free will of dogs and oysters, called his eldest son Mr Hoddy Doddy, liked novels with pretty women and happy endings, and was basically a good egg.”

(Angelique Richardson, review of George Levine’s Darwin Loves You: Natural selection and the re-enchantment of the world, Times Literary Supplement, 27 July 2007, p. 11.)