Section 83. THE POWER OF BEAUTY.
Reading edition
In one of the worst parts of London there is[1] an institution[2] which I visited. In one room I found about[3] thirty-five men listening (S. 16, N. 4) to the teaching[4] of the daughter of a small shopkeeper[5] in[6] the neighbourhood. She was one of the prettiest women (S. 16, N. 10) I ever saw[7] in my life. I noticed that the young girl was quite alone with those rough[8] men, and said to the superintendent[9]: “Are[10] you not afraid to leave the pretty young girl alone with all those men?” He replied: “I[11] am.” “Then, why don’t you go to her?” “You mistake[12] my fear. I[13] am not afraid of their doing her any harm. They love her so much that they would lick[14] the ground on which[15] she walks, but I am afraid[16] that some[17] person may step in, who, not[18] knowing the manner of the place, may[19] say something impertinent[20] to her; and if he[21] did, he would not leave the place[22] alive[23].”—Lord Shaftesbury.