A few extracts from her manuscripts upon this subject may be of interest, as indicating the spirit and aim with which she wrote:—­

’To those of us who hate emphasis and exaggeration, who believe that whatever is good of its kind is good, who shrink from love of excitement and love of sway, who, while ready for duties of many kinds, dislike pledges and bonds to any,—­this talk about “Woman’s Sphere,” “Woman’s Mission,” and all such phrases as mark the present consciousness of an impending transition from old conventions to greater freedom, are most repulsive.  And it demands some valor to lift one’s head amidst the shower of public squibs, private sneers, anger, scorn, derision, called out by the demand that women should be put on a par with their brethren, legally and politically; that they should hold property not by permission but by right, and that they should take an active part in all great movements.  But though, with Mignon, we are prompted to characterize heaven as the place where

       “Sie fragen nicht nach Mann nie Weib,”

yet it is plain that we must face this agitation; and beyond the dull clouds overhead hangs in the horizon Venus, as morning-star, no less fair, though of more melting beauty, than the glorious Jupiter, who shares with her the watch.

* * * * *

’The full, free expression of feeling must be rare, for this book of Bettina Brentano’s to produce such an effect.  Men who have lived in the society of women all their days, seem never before to have dreamed of their nature; they are filled with wonderment and delight at these revelations, and because they see the woman, fancy her a genius.  But in truth her inspiration is nowise extraordinary; and I have letters from various friends, lying unnoticed in my portfolio, which are quite as beautiful.  For one, I think that these veins of gold should pass in secret through the earth, inaccessible to all who will not take the trouble to mine for them.  I do not like Bettina for publishing her heart, and am ready to repeat to her Serlo’s reproof to Aurelia.’

* * * * *

’How terrible must be the tragedy of a woman who awakes to find that she has given herself wholly to a person for whom she is not eternally fitted!  I cannot look on marriage as on the other experiments of life:  it is the one grand type that should be kept forever sacred.  There are two kinds of love experienced by high and rich souls.  The first seeks, according to Plato’s myth, another half, as being not entire in itself, but needing a kindred nature to unlock its secret chambers of emotion, and to act with quickening influence on all its powers, by full harmony of senses, affections, intellect, will; the second is purely ideal, beholding in its object divine perfection, and delighting in it only in degree as it symbolizes the essential good.