Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
A very suggestive and intriguing titleis “The Privilege of Pain.” Those whoknow a good deal about the subject willdoubtless raise the eyebrow of incredulity,while those who have lived in blissfulignorance will be curious if not whollysympathetic. When I first heard the essay(since developed into this book) readbefore an audience of very thoughtful anddiscriminating women, I fancied, althoughit awakened the liveliest interest in allpresent, that there was not entire unanimityas to the essayist’s point of view.Several invalids and semi-invalids wore anexpression of modest pride in the eloquentplea that physical limitations had not succeededin stemming the tide of mental andspiritual achievement in the long historyof the world’s progress. Robust ladies,equal to eight hours’ work, and if advisable,4eight hours’ play, out of the twenty-four,looked a trifle aggrieved, as if thegift of perfect health had been underrated,and the laurels that had always surmountedtheir shining hair and glowingfaces might be wrested from them andplaced on paler brows. They had no wishto shorten the list of the essayist’s heroes,(Heaven forbid!) but they evidentlywished to retire to their private librariesand compile a roll of honor from themerely healthy.
However there was no acrimony in thediscussion that followed the reading of thepaper nor any desire to withhold honorwhere honor was so gloriously due.
Those who disbelieved in the validityof pain; those who were convinced thatmind is not only superior to, but able towin complete triumph over matter; thosewho felt that laying hold of the GreatSource of Healing and Power would enablethem not only to deny but to defypain, these naturally were not completelyin accord with the writer.
Myself, I have always thought that thehappy waking after dreamless sleep; theexultation in the new day and its appointedtask; the sense of vigor and ability to do5whatever opportunity offered; the feelingthat one could “run and not be weary,could walk and not faint”—that thesewere the most precious things that thegods could vouchsafe to mankind,—andyet!—What