Well, darling Father, I have written you a very long letter, but I wished to tell you honestly all I thought, and I trust you don’t think my epistle too long....
Your loving child,
Sophy.”
Emery Walker ph. sc.
Thomas Jex-Blake
from a drawing in chalks by H. T. Wells, R.A. 1862
“4th Feb. 1859.
Dearest Sophy,
Your letter has given me unmixed pleasure....
About the tutorship, you write very ably, but your logic and illustrations are not sound, as I hope to show you. I am sure you are fit for, as you are fond of, teaching, and the desire to raise the standard both of teaching and teachers is good, but your receiving or not receiving wages for the work, can neither help or hinder the matter. I agree to all you say in favour of working,—it is very honourable, very right, and worthy of all praise, but what I object to is your taking money for it. It is beneath you, and you will be far happier to decline it, and let it flow into its proper channels, to fructify widely and do real good.