[The Life of Charlotte Bronte - Volume 1 by Elizabeth Gaskell]@TWC D-Link bookThe Life of Charlotte Bronte - Volume 1 CHAPTER VII 23/34
I can only say, adhere to standard authors, and avoid novelty." From this list, we see that she must have had a good range of books from which to choose her own reading.
It is evident, that the womanly consciences of these two correspondents were anxiously alive to many questions discussed among the stricter religionists.
The morality of Shakspeare needed the confirmation of Charlotte's opinion to the sensitive "E.;" and a little later, she inquired whether dancing was objectionable, when indulged in for an hour or two in parties of boys and girls.
Charlotte replies, "I should hesitate to express a difference of opinion from Mr.---, or from your excellent sister, but really the matter seems to me to stand thus.
It is allowed on all hands, that the sin of dancing consists not in the mere action of 'shaking the shanks' (as the Scotch say), but in the consequences that usually attend it; namely, frivolity and waste of time; when it is used only, as in the case you state, for the exercise and amusement of an hour among young people (who surely may without any breach of God's commandments be allowed a little light-heartedness), these consequences cannot follow.
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