92 Ellen Key By hard work for her own economic inde- pendence and to help her family, she resisted her nattiral disposition for contemplation and solitude. Having so far conquered that she was able to express her thoughts, she was moved by pity for the suffering of others to become their interpreter. Her decidedly ethical personality threw off the fetters that were a hindrance on the road which seemed to her the only right one. Her action in de- fending those who were on trial for blasphemy caused her to be proposed as candidate for the Folk-Riksdag. But, thinking herself unsuited for practical politics, she refused to accept the candidacy. With a well-nigh imperturbable consistency she has resolutely held herself aloof from public discussions and congresses, heedless of the numberless opportunities thus offered her for expressing her opinions. Only when forced by a deep inner conviction has she come forward, alone, and independent of parties. We have mentioned that Ellen Key, urged by Fru Adlersparre, first began to write original articles, under the signature E-N, in Tidskrift for Hemmet, where they at once attracted attention. Her first article dealt