AN INVALID SPEAKS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21808, 13 June 1936, Page 17

AN INVALID SPEAKS

l*t Glorious Bondage of Illness. By ftmna Allen and Unwto, Ltd. 224 pp. (6/- net.) "Having to use words instead of •uads is like being forced to take to heavy walking after having "Wwn the intoxication of flying, •*t in the eyes of the musician, •ttUStomed to the delicate purity •t music, words seem tainted with •"aething coarse, even indecent." *&*. Pastorelli was forced by illW** to sacrifice not only a brilliant Musical career, but the most exquisite satisfaction life had given **• She may despise words but ( *• has used them with the same JJ r, ce and poignancy that marked "* musicianship. For many years *• has spent more days in bed than **** <rf it, and for four years has not *ft her couch. A painful affection <**&« heart has chained her down. «» active mind and sensitive perfJWjons caused her to write this ■■k, which, at her friends' solicitat"H «he has published. It has two **te the drama of an invalid's en--5* B> *nt and the drama of the JJ* »It In the latter phase she fl* how she overcame the first gfWaett of rebellion and dcsolat3*nd gradually served her Tp-wJceship to the conception of J* a mutilated life can achieve JF* .way of living. Her courage 3**Wrttual strength were remarket we discovered a sympathy for S,*°"yown multitudes of those Z™* *>y life, and she found that the Christian faith, Jljw clings to that, humanity raised by loving service. X- hi!!!! tilat tne work tnat imJES* ** slavery is seen from JR*2»*« of illness as the only Fortunately, Mme. remained sensitive to ** kept a clear mind, she in a realm of and she had the love of

friends. These kept her wishing to live. Looking at her environment and those she sees from her sick-bed, she sees things to regret. Do those in good health devote strength and time and activity to their spiritual development as they must do who have no health or strength? The healthy are obtuse; they cannot understand the ill, they cannot be aware of the refined senses of the suffering, nor of their own awkwardnesses. “They understand much better the invalid who bemoans his lot, recriminates, and gives up all attempts to fight his ills than the one who gets the most out of his limited possibilities.” Mme, Pastorelli is - truthful and clearsighted, if nobly philosophical. The sick are not, she declares, always stainless, heroic victims, nor can they always bridle unruly tongues and tolerate the stupid chatterer and hollow optimist. This is a book for the well rather than the ill; the healthy will learn how coarse and unperceptive they sometimes are; and they may learn to prepare for troubles that are likely to come. The ill will regard Mme. Pastorelli as a champion and as an cncourager.