‘And I do feel that there is a great danger in bringing before the mind temptations which are connected with the bodily organisation. A nervous excitement seems to be produced, something of the nature of hysteria, and there is a sort of criminal fascination such as those feel who throw themselves from heights: the judgment seems utterly in abeyance. The same thought seems expressed in the story of Medusa.
‘For this reason I do feel a little hesitation in giving countenance to the indefinite extension of Blue-ribbon armies, necessary and beneficent as they are in cases where there is strong temptation, or persons are moved to work actively against intemperance; and I would rather that the campaign should be one of missionaries, so to speak, of those who have bound themselves to some active work in the cause. I think that such great evils might arise from the terrible mistakes which might be committed by those who undertook the ostracism without having a fair chance of arriving at a correct judgment. It is so easy to stab to death the character of an innocent man; the devil may steal as well as buy a man’s shadow; he may sell as well as buy....
‘So what seems to me best would be to have a small band of wise and calm leaders; and not to invite a general public to give any pledge, only trust to the working of such leaven as these would form.
‘Some of the points to which they direct attention should be the abolition of the frivolities of the marriage ceremony....
‘As regards material measures, I would still urge the formation of a body of women-policemen, who could safely do work which could not be done by men-policemen or clergymen. These should undertake to watch over registries for women, shops where women work, to establish labour registers themselves, and take care that women were not paid starvation wages; to enter (under protection) suspected houses; to watch railway stations and ships, etc. etc.
‘So you see, dear Mrs. Grey, tho’ my heart is altogether with you, my judgment does not quite go with the recommendations. I do not fear your misunderstanding me, because we are so truly one, and can only differ about the best modes of work....’
As time went on Miss Beale’s continued sympathy with this particular work was evidenced in larger subscriptions to the National Vigilance Association, to which she also left a legacy. The letters of the last years show her interest in it, and that her horror of a worldly marriage was as great as ever. She wrote to Miss Ellice Hopkins in 1903:—
‘I meant that marriage without the spiritual ideal was intolerable, but the body is transfigured; there is a “metamorphosis,” as the New Testament insists so often; but the Scripture teaching is so different from the mere sentimental. I don’t like the tendency of Lady Rose’s Daughter. I dislike, of course, much of Sarah Grand, but the end of the Heavenly Twins does bring before people the horrors of such a marriage as the Bishop’s wife promotes. It is a long and ever-renewed struggle with these wicked laws.... It is sad to see that this new Education Act is shutting out women, and making the hope of the suffrage less. Here the Town Council and the County Council both asked me to nominate a woman—and four of our staff here have been asked to be managers of schools—but of course two or three women will be able to do very little.’
Cheltenham pupils who in course of time took up the cause of the poor and degraded, found the greatest sympathy and help from Miss Beale. She was always specially ready with sympathy for those who were engaged in an unpopular struggle for good. Among them may be specially mentioned Miss Annette Bear, whose labours in 1894 were instrumental in getting a clause dealing with children employed on the stage added to the Act, afterwards known as the Children’s Charter, and who after her marriage worked successfully for the women’s vote in Australia. A short account of Annette Bear Crawford appeared in the College Magazines for 1899 and 1900.
To an old pupil trying to help her unhappy sisters in Africa she wrote: ‘I must tell you how glad I was to see your name on the Ladies’ National List, and to hear from yourself on the subject. I am so rejoiced when my old girls take up this trying question. Only refined and educated women can handle it successfully.’ She also begged her not to be discouraged by failure, ‘but remember the real thing to aim at is the Suffrage. Without the vote you may cut off one evil to find it coming up again in a worse form, and often, but for the personal discipline, might as well be knocking your head against a stone wall.’