DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62133#0107
JUSTINa’s VISIT.-A GROUP OF ART-SISTERS.
91
■which at times becomes somewhat morbid, yet earnest, per-
severing, with a constant aspiration after the spiritual, and
a firmer, much firmer faith in the Unseen than either of the
others. Cannot you see how great must be our usefulness
to each other,—our influence upon each other? We have
been all three struck by this; we have felt our peculiar
individualities come out in strongest contrast.
What schemes of life have not been worked out whilst
we have been together ! as though this, our meeting here,
were to be the germ of a beautiful sisterhood in Art, of
which we have all dreamed long, and by which association
we might be enabled to do noble things.
Justina, with her expansive views, and her strong feel-
ings in favour of associated homes, talked now of an Asso-
ciated Home, at some future day, for such “ sisters” as
had no home of their own. She had a large scheme of
what she calls the Outer and Inner Sisterhood. The
Inner, to consist of the Art-sisters bound together by their
one object, and which she fears may never number many
in their band the Outer Sisterhood to consist of women,
all workers, and all striving after a pure moral life, but be-
longing to any profession, any pursuit. All should be
bound to help each other in such ways as were most
accordant with their natures and characters. Among these
would be needle-women—good Elizabeth-Is, whose real
pleasure is needle-work, whose genius lies in shaping and
sewing, and whose sewing never comes undone,—the good
Elizabeth! how unspeakably useful would such as thou
be to the poor Art-sisters, whose stockings must be mended !
Perhaps, too, there would be some one sister whose turn
was preserving, and pickling, and cooking she, too, would
be a treasure every day, and very ornamental and agreeable
would be her preparation of cakes and good things for the
evening meetings once or twice a month. And what beau-
91
■which at times becomes somewhat morbid, yet earnest, per-
severing, with a constant aspiration after the spiritual, and
a firmer, much firmer faith in the Unseen than either of the
others. Cannot you see how great must be our usefulness
to each other,—our influence upon each other? We have
been all three struck by this; we have felt our peculiar
individualities come out in strongest contrast.
What schemes of life have not been worked out whilst
we have been together ! as though this, our meeting here,
were to be the germ of a beautiful sisterhood in Art, of
which we have all dreamed long, and by which association
we might be enabled to do noble things.
Justina, with her expansive views, and her strong feel-
ings in favour of associated homes, talked now of an Asso-
ciated Home, at some future day, for such “ sisters” as
had no home of their own. She had a large scheme of
what she calls the Outer and Inner Sisterhood. The
Inner, to consist of the Art-sisters bound together by their
one object, and which she fears may never number many
in their band the Outer Sisterhood to consist of women,
all workers, and all striving after a pure moral life, but be-
longing to any profession, any pursuit. All should be
bound to help each other in such ways as were most
accordant with their natures and characters. Among these
would be needle-women—good Elizabeth-Is, whose real
pleasure is needle-work, whose genius lies in shaping and
sewing, and whose sewing never comes undone,—the good
Elizabeth! how unspeakably useful would such as thou
be to the poor Art-sisters, whose stockings must be mended !
Perhaps, too, there would be some one sister whose turn
was preserving, and pickling, and cooking she, too, would
be a treasure every day, and very ornamental and agreeable
would be her preparation of cakes and good things for the
evening meetings once or twice a month. And what beau-