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"March 22, 1841.—The question of the day was, What is life?
"Let us define, each in turn, our idea of living. Margaret did not believe we had, any of us, a distinct idea of life.
"A.S. thought so great a question ought to be given for a written definition. 'No,' said Margaret, 'that is of no use. When we go away to think of anything, we never do think. We all talk of life. We all have some thought now. Let us tell it. C——, what is life?'
"C—— replied,—'It is to laugh, or cry, according to our organization.'
"'Good,' said Margaret, 'but not grave enough. Come, what is life? I know what I think; I want you to find out what you think.'
"Miss P. replied,—'Life is division from one's principle of life in order to a conscious reörganization. We are cut up by time and circumstance, in order to feel our reproduction of the eternal law.'
"Mrs. E.,—'We live by the will of God, and the object of life is to submit,' and went on into Calvinism.
"Then came up all the antagonisms of Fate and Freedom.
"Mrs. H. said,—'God created us in order to have a perfect sympathy from us as free beings.'