Dr. Elsie Inglis / by Lady Frances Balfour.

  • Balfour, Frances, Lady, 1858-1931.
Date:
[1918]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Dr. Elsie Inglis / by Lady Frances Balfour. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    thing seemed to appreciate one another’s good quali¬ ties. They were very different, and had in many ways a different outlook. I remember Jessie saying once, “ Elsie is so exceptionally generous in her attitude of mind, it would be difficult not to get on with her! ” They both held their own opinions on various subjects without the difference of opinion really coming be¬ tween them. Elsie said once about the arrangement, “ It has all the advantages of marriage without any of its disabilities.” We used always to think they did each other worlds of good. I know how I always en¬ joyed a visit to them if it was only for an afternoon or some weeks. There was such an air of freedom in the whole house. You did what you liked, thought what you liked, without any fear of criticism or of being misunderstood. ‘ I do not know much about her practice, as medicine never interested me, but I believe at one time, before the Suffrage work engrossed her so much, she was making quite a large income.’ Professionally she suffered under two disabilities : the restricted opportunities for clinical work in the days when she w’^as studying her profession, combined with the constant interruptions which the struggle against the medical obstructionists necessitated ; secondly, the various stages in the political fight incident to obtaining that wider enfranchisement which aimed at freeing women H