I am sanguine that the government will yield to
our representations, and make us a grant for the foundation of a college
to be devoted to their higher education. We ask for twenty thousand
pounds."
"I hope the government will have more wit," Mr. Fairfax exclaimed, his
rallying tone taking the sting out of his words. "The private hobbies of
you noble ladies must be supported out of your private purses, at the
expense of more selfish whims."
"There is nothing so unjust as prejudice, unless it be jealousy,"
exclaimed Lady Angleby with delicious unreason. "You would keep women in
subjection."
Mr. Fairfax laughed, and assented to the proposition. "You clamor for
the high education of a few at the cost of the many; is that fair?" he
continued. "High education is a luxury for those who can afford it--a
rich endowment for the small minority who have the power of mind to
acquire it; and no more to be provided for that small minority out of
the national exchequer than silk attire for our conspicuous beauties."
"I shall never convert you into an advocate for the elevation of the
sex. You sustain the old cry--the inferiority of woman's intellect."
"'The earth giveth much mould whereof earthen vessels are made, but
little dust that gold cometh of.' High education exists already for the
wealthy, and commercial enterprise will increase the means of it as the
demand increases. If you see a grain of gold in the dust of common life,
and likely to be lost there, rescue it for the crucible, but most such
grains of gold find out the way to refine themselves.
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