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The Works of E. P. Roe
This book was not written to amuse, to create purposeless excitement,or to secure a little praise as a bit of artistic work. It wouldprobably fail in all these things. It was written with a definite,earnest purpose, which I trust will be apparent to the reader.
As society in our land grows older, and departs from primitivesimplicity, as many are becoming rich, but more poor, the changes thatI have sought to warn against become more threatening. The ordinaryavenues of industry are growing thronged, and it daily involves a morefearful risk for a woman to be thrown out upon the world withunskilled hands, an untrained mind, and an unbraced moral nature.Impressed with this danger by some considerable observation, by amultitude of facts that might wring tears from stony eyes, I havetried to write earnestly if not wisely.
Of necessity, it touches somewhat on a subject delicate and difficultto treat—the "skeleton in the closet" of society. But the evil existson every side, and at some time or other threatens every home andlife. It is my belief that Christian teachers should not timidly orloftily ignore it, for, mark it well, the evil does not let us or oursalone. It is my belief that it should be dealt with in a plain,fearless, manly manner. Those who differ with me have a right to theiropinion.
There is one other thought that I wish to suggest. Much of the fictionof our day, otherwise strong and admirable, is discouraging in thisrespect. In the delineation of character, some are good, some are bad,and some indifferent. We have a lovely heroine, a noble hero,developing seemingly in harmony with the inevitable laws of theirnatures. Associated with them are those of the commoner or baser sort,also developing in accordance with the innate principles of theirnatures. The first are presented as if created of finer clay than theothers. The first are the flowers in the garden of society, the latterthe weeds. According to this theory of character, the heroine mustgrow as a moss-rose and the weed remain a weed. Credit is not due toone; blame should not be visited on the other. Is this true? Is notthe choice between good and evil placed before every human soul, savewhere ignorance and mental feebleness destroy free agency? In thefield of the world which the angels of God are to reap, is it not evenpossible for the tares to become wheat? And cannot the sweetest andmost beautiful natural flowers of character borrow from the skies afragrance and bloom not of earth? So God's inspired Word teaches me.
I have turned away from many an exquisite and artistic delineation ofhuman life, sighing, God might as well never have spoken words ofhope, warning, and strength for all there is in this book. The Divineand human Friend might have remained in the Heavens, and never come toearth in human guise, that He might press His great heart of world-wide sympathy against the burdened, suffering heart of humanity. Heneed not have died to ope