Memoirs of Anne C.L. Botta,: written by her friends. With selections from her correspondence and from her writings in prose and poetry.

a ourner to 11taara fa[ls
FROM my experience, and from my limited observation of human nature, I have come to the conclusion that when either
the masculine or feminine mind once becomes possessed with an
idea, and with the desire to translate this idea into action, however absurd and fantastic it may appear to others, the only effectual mode of treatment, as in the case of certain diseases, is
to let nature take its course, and to allow the idea to become a
fact of experience. When, for instance, an ambitious youth becomes what is called stage-struck, or affected with a passion for
the sea, solitary confinement and low diet only aggravate the
disease, which will be generally found to terminate in a quiet
departure from the paternal roof some morning before the family
are stirring. When an individual becomes thus affected, the
mode of treatment we suggest, which might be called the
"method of nature," has a twofold advantage. The patient
may be convinced of his folly, and the adviser may indulge in
that most satisfactory phrase in our language, "I told you so!"
As to advice, the text of Scripture, "It is more blessed to give
than to receive," will in this be found to be of universal application and adoption; and the most that can be expected of those
who disregard it, and follow the "inner light," to use one of
the cant phrases of the day for self-will, is, that they confess on
being convinced, and to the "I told you so," reply "You were
right." In this category I now place myself, and proceed with
my confession.
The idea with which I became infected was that of taking
a journey on foot; and here I am forced into an acknowledgment that I would willingly forego, were I not sure of betraying
myself should I attempt to withhold it-and this acknowledg
398