L[ydia] Maria Child ALS to [Ellis Gray Loring], November 4, 1855

them, than to help them." She had a low, narrow
forehead, a thin, shrill voice, and other symptoms
of the most malignant type of femality.
I tried to reason a little with her; but finding
she had no heart to admit a feeling, and no
mind to perceive a principle, I soon desisted.
But she went on a long time afterward,
defending capital against labor.

When we arrived at the Depot, I asked a
gentleman who she was. He had been seated
next to her in the stage, and occasionally
spoken to her. "I don't know," he replied,
"I guess she's an abolitionist." "An abolition-
-st!" exclaimed I; "nothing could be more
opposite to their sentiments, than her conversation
has been." "Ah?" said he. "Well, I dont know.
I thought she seemed to be some kind of a radi-
cal; and she was so fond of hearing herself talk,
I concluded she was an abolitionist."

I thought to myself that I had met with a couple
of rare specimens of stupidity.