Grouping together Monckton Milnes's "Palm Leaves," Mrs. Poole's
"Sketch of Egyptian Harems," Mrs. Ellis's "Women and Wives of
England," he produced a playful, lightly touched, yet sincerely
constructed sketch of woman's characteristics, seductions,
attainments; the extent and secret of her fascination and her
deeper influence; her defects, foibles, misconceptions. He was
greatly vexed to learn that his criticism of "Palm Leaves" was
considered hostile, and begged Warburton to explain. His praise,
he said, had been looked upon as irony, his bantering taken to
express bitterness. Warburton added his own conviction that the
notice was tributary to Milnes's fame, and Milnes accepted the
explanation. But the chief interest of this paper lies in the
beautiful passage which ends it. "The world must go on its own
way, for all that we can say against it. Beauty, though it beams
over the organization of a doll, will have its hour of empire; the
most torpid heiress will easily get herself married; but the wife
whose sweet nature can kindle worthy delights is she that brings to
her hearth a joyous, hopeful, ardent spirit, and that subtle power
whose sources we can hardly trace, but which yet so irradiates a
home that all who come near are filled and inspired by a deep sense
of womanly presence.
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