'They hated ridicule, as only coarse, weak natures can.' Sound familiar?!?!

[bobbieinok]

Quote from In the Way, a novel written in 1897 by Grace Livingston Hill (a popular conservative Christian author of the era).

[qazplm135]

1. I don't know

is there anyone who doesn't hate being ridiculed?

[Roland99]

2. Hmm

A young sister seeks out her two brothers after the death of the Aunt and Uncle who raised her as their own. Following God's path, she sets out to brighten their lives. They are wary of the sister they never knew and all the strange ideas she brings to their sleepy, little farm town. The love and hope of Grace Hill shines through this story like a ray a of sunshine.

Seems like something written in post-Darwin era based on perceived threats to fragile faith

[bobbieinok]

4. Hill was daughter and then later widow of ministers. She was a conservative Christian of the era.

Some of her books, like this one, are interesting because of her descriptions of how the main character decorates her home or room.

The height of style for a woman's bedroom is often 'soft pale gray walls' and white furniture.

A special meal is stewed chicken topped with bisquits.

Also, her books are quite class conscious. Not based on wealth but on 'culture' and education. In her books often the richest people are the lowest class when looked at through the era's (and her) lens of 'refinement' and culture.

As in so many novels of the period, the poor but delicate and beautiful young heroine is rescued by a rich, handsome young man. In Hill's books both are or become committed 'born again' Christians.

[Roland99]

5. The wannabes, essentially. The prim and proper and pious

[Hortensis]

3. :) They don't write like that any more.

Thank goodness. I was just reading Edith Wharton again after decades, with its pitiless picking at people, observations made without the benefits of what we now know about the way brains and society work.

Yes, we do have an outstanding example of a coarse, weak nature preternaturally sensitive to ridicule always before us these days. Even the kindest character can't avoid it.