Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-03-31
MISO@lhIh MNTo
GRACE DARLING.

This name is familiar one. Every person
who can remember as far back as the year
1888, will recollect the daring transaction OF
this heroic girl, which gave true fame to the
desola,e rocks, called the Staple Islands, of
the northeast coast of merry England. On
the 9Th Of September, 1888, the steamer For
iarshire, proceeding from Hull to Dundee,
was wrecked on these crags, and thirty-five to
forty persons persisted i'll the waves. Those
who escaped to the rocks were saved by Grace
Darling, and her father, at the imminent risk
OF their own lives; the latter, though an old
seaman, hestating to set out on the exped-
ton, until toldby his daughter thatifhe would
not accompany her, live or die, she would go
oy herself. Thus, by her own noble and gen.
erous intrepldity, saving the lives of nine per-
sons. Hewitt, in his "Visits to Remarkable
Places" gives the following sketch of the per-
sonal appearance OF this brave girl, in connec-
ton with certain incidents in her life, rendered
interesting by the great event which has given
celebrity to her name. Graceresides with her
father, at Longstone lighthouse, one of the
most distant of the Staple Islands, the old man
being the keeper of the house. At this lonely
dwelling she is surrounded on all sides by per-
pendicular rocks of black whinstone, and ever
turbulent leaping waters.
'Grace Darling is perfect realization of
JEANNE Deans in an English form, as it is
possible for Il woman to be. She is not like
any of the portraits of her. She is a little,
simple, modest young woman, should say
five or SIX and twenty. She is neither tall
nor ha ldsome; but she has the most gentle,
quiet, amiable look, and the sweetest smile
that ever saw i'll person of her station and
appearance. You see that she is thoroughly
good creature; and that under her modest
exterior lies spirit capable of the most ex-
allied devotional devotion SO entire, that dar-
ing is not so much quality of her nature, as
that the most perfect sympathy with suffering,
or endangered humanity, swallows up and an
initiates every thing like fear, or self conside-
! ratIon-putS out, III fact, every sentiment but
ITSELF The action that she performed was so
natural, and so necessary to her, that it would
be the most impossible of things to convince
her that she did anything extraordinary. The
applause which has been the consequence of
her truly gallant exploit; the admiration which
ran through the civilized world, for even from
Russia there have been commissions for per-
sons to see her, and send accounts of her, and
pieces of the rock on which she lives these
and the foolish, though natural avidity of the
mob OF wonder lovers, who in steamboat loads
have hocked thither, filling that tall lighthouse
several stories high; the attentions of the great
and tiiled-none of these things have made
her any thing but what she was before. The
! Duke and Duchess of Northumberland had
her and her father over to the castle, and pre-
! sened her with gold watch, which she al
ways wears when visitors come. The HUI
name Society sent her most fiattering note of
thanks, which is in the house, framed and
the president sent her a silver tea pot-but
none Of these things, nor the offers of marriage
which followed her notorleiy, and the little
| fortune, about $500, which was subscribed
for her, or given III presents, have produced in
her mind any feeling but a sense Of wonder
and grateful pleasure.
| "The house is literally GRAINED with pre-
sents OF one kind or another, including con-
siderable number of books. She was offered
go night to appear at the Adelphi in a
sceue of the shipwreck, merely to ST, III a boat;
| but this, and all similar offers which would
have enriched her, she has steadily declined
was afraid shonld not see her, as her father
said she disliked meeting strangers that she
thought came to stare at her; but when the
old man and | had little conversation
! lie went to her room and soon came down
with smile, saying she would he with us
soon. We found Grace allerward, sitting al
her sewing, very neatly, but very simply
dressed III a plain sort of striped printed gown
with her watcl-seal just seen a; her side, ant
! her hair neatly braided She rose very mod.
esdy, and with Il pleasant smile, said, "Iiow
do you DO srp Her prudence delights one
We are charmed that she should so well hav,
supported the brlliaucy of hes heroic deed. A.
have sad, she has had various offers FOR mar
rage, but none that were considered quite tht
thing; and she said No. TO all. One was from
an artist, who came 10 take her portrait. Tn
Duke Of r northumberland told her that he no
ped she would be careful in such affairs, a
there would be sure to be designs upon he
money; and size told him that she would 10
marry without bis appreciation.
"But the most Characteristic thing is, tIa
all the common people about, and particular
the sailors and fishermen, deny her all meri
A young girl whom ! once asked about he
said "Pooh, ~ NOT worth vhilc going OF