‘The numbers enable us to have an aggregate of schools and to have virtually about seven who might have and ought—Headships elsewhere, had they not an independent sphere of their own.
‘Lastly, are you right in saying that an inspiring personality can be taken away? The inspiration is not from any person who can pass away; we are but the earthen vessels; the light persists and is given just so long as it is needed, to any one who has to give light. The inspiration for the Headship will be given to my successor in turn....
‘I do hope God may allow me to go on longer, and it is a comfort to feel that you are glad I should.
‘As regards the growing size of the College. I may add in addition to what I have said, that I have never wished independently to add to the size merely, and that in each development I have felt I was obliged to go on, though often I dreaded it; e.g. the training of teachers could not be refused when Miss Newman offered. Then the Kindergarten grew up, and the elementary teachers was really forced on one. It is unprofitable in money (the Elementary School Department), and a great strain on me, but I feel we have to do this special work. In fact, it is not our work, but we are set here by the great Captain, and I trust we are taking our share in advancing somewhat the kingdom of truth and righteousness. I cannot see that in this erection of buildings, or in any other way, we are acting from self, but under direction. I have not yet read the comments on the buildings, but wanted to reply to the letter at once.’
The following was written to Bishop Fraser of Manchester, who had publicly referred with approbation to the saying of Thucydides, that ‘that woman was most to be admired who was least spoken of whether for good or evil’:—
‘December 1878.
‘My Lord,—We owe to you so much for education work that I cannot but feel sorry you should by your recent quotation from Thucydides place before women a standard lower than the highest. I felt bound to protest against it, when a few days later I read a paper before the Social Science Congress in my own schoolroom.
‘Will the excuse be received from us: “I was afraid of being spoken of for good, and so I hid my talent in a napkin?” Must we not expect that our work will be measured, as was that of another woman by the words, “She hath done what she could?” I venture to enclose a few lines from an article of mine, signed “A Utopian,” in a Fraser[106] of 1866. It was provoked by the same quotation from Thucydides in a Quarterly of that year.—I am, my Lord, yours with sincere respect and esteem,
D. Beale.’
To Mrs. Ashley Smith, at that date Miss Lucy Hall, a relation of Bishop Fraser’s, on the same subject:—