The Letters and Works of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu Volume 3 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1837 edition. Excerpt: ...than I do at the word blindness, tho' I know all the fine things that may be said for consolation in such a case: but I know also they would not operate on my constitution. "Why, then," (say my wise monitors, ) "will you persist in reading or writing seven hours in a day?" "I am happy while I read and write." "Indeed one would suffer a great deal to be happy," say the men, sneering; and the ladies wink at each other, and hold up their fans. A fine lady of threescore had the goodness to add, "At least, madam, you should use spectacles; I have used them myselfe these twenty years; I was advised to it by a famous oculist when I was fifteen. I am really of opinion that they have preserved my sight, notwithstanding the passion I always had both for reading and drawing." This good woman, you must know, is halfe blind, and never read a larger volume than a newspaper. I will not trouble you with the whole conversation, tho' it would make an excellent scene in a farce; but after they had in the bestbred way in the world convinced me that they thought I lyed when I talked of reading without glasses, the foresaid matron obligingly said she should be very proud to see the writing I talked of, having heard me say formerly I had no correspondents but my daughter and Mr. Wortley. She was interrupted by her sister, who said, simpering, "You forgot Sir J. S." I took her up something short, I confess, and said in a dry stern tone, "Madam, I do write to Sir J. S. and will do it as long as he will permit that honor." This rudeness of mine occasioned a profound silence for some minutes, and they fell into a good-natured discourse of the ill consequences of too much application, and remembered haw...