The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-05

Mrs Eets "Womsn Of the american RspOl.on y 2 vols.
svo. New York; lsls.-Baker 81 Scrbner
The ragmenary character of these sketches of the
Bile OF the revolution is in great degree unavoid
able, and by takes away from their interest
They remind one, in gancing from bright female to
another oil the laws OF the kaleidoscope in which the
effect is produced by fragments, each OF which, by the
evolutons of the instrument, is perpeuay brought into
new, regular, and beautiful forms, which Tefulgent
under the power OF the light Woman is, indeed, in her
highest true but Kaleidoscope reflection OF mag
She has, in the instances here exhibited all the interest
OF her moral be. gnity and social refinement united with
those great principles of intellectual action which that
contest abundanty revealed for the guidance Of heIo
ism, virtue, and benevolence. There is net in =,
enough of sustained incident capable of public 81 y,
in the acts of every eminent female whose life and death
have yet been the side of patriotism, honor, and
aged nationality; and in gathering these incidents,
there many difficulties TO be met order TO build up
compact biography. Time has carried most OF the
aud the witnesses TO the tomb before the slow steps
of the biogapher have followed in the path The con.
sequence is, that he must CLEAN scattered field where
death itself has swung his busy scythe, cutting down
ruthlessly actor and witness in broad and cruel
sweep.
Woman n fiowerLke in her syaleahd kind
She lives to sweeten life, and bless mankind;
And, dying IN her virtues and her bloom,
Casts life and fragrance even round the tomb.
Mrs. Elle has been assduous and successful CLEAN
plete her descriptions Ii is astonishing to see
in following her pen, how much the patriotism, the hero
ISM, and the ndomitable rmness of the of every
kind of the American revolution, cheered on, sup
ported by the gifted and energetic females of those penous
times The soldier and the statesman had their best
wards in the fixed patriotism and the approving smiles
and voices OF those energetic and sedenying women.
who stood ready all occasions give up oil and en-
dure oil for the of the great of
And well might they thus make sacrifices and low with
the highest sentiments of patriotism in such cause Ii
a struggle in which the elements of social advance
promised to raise her the highest pitch OF human prv
lege The rank and proper influence which education
and domestic plenty and comfort alone promised to fling
over the broad land, stake worthy of the blood
and treasure expended
Womans position in society in America does arise
from her having assumed any part OF the masculine attr
bues and labors of She has shot madfy from
her sphere to enter the of politics religion;
used her influence to bring into admiration for
meretrcious displays 1t is rather by stepping back from
the old worlds standard into the domestic circle and
raising higher standard there that she has risen intel
ectual and social emnence, and raised the moral tone OF
the country with her. 1t is being of thought, OF
reflection of study, Of mental discipline, OF moral dgn
ty, that she has attracted applause and in thus rising in
the scale of mind, all her natural Establishments have
been made subservent to the highest objects of life
1t not probable thai writer in would have
based her sketches of female character, Mrs Elet
has done, simple recital of the facts placed in their
common gab, without throwing about them the
glare OF the description OF drawing rooms leading on
her readers through the fowey of dress and Ell
qlee She writes like historian, and has shown her
Judgment in rejecting, what she often have found
difficult to do, wild, l-youched, fimsy traditions
She careful TO quote her book OF reference, furnish
names which the reader may rely This is merit
Most writer's male and female, would have into the
old system, giving long descriptions OF drawing rooms
IL r L.
and ladies gay" which, the best, could but be pro-
nounced bold limitations of old models of the middle ages
This she has not done, and perhaps at risk-the
literary world" appears have felt disappointed in the
absence of such agremens She has presented series OF
truthful pictures, which, if not highly elaborated, are
well drawn and highly characteristic, and bear their
truihfuness their face The revolution of 1776 with
all its feelings, perls. horrors. and joys and hopes, dance
before us. The great male actors have long known
SO Washington and his Generals" like Napoleon and
his Marshals have filled the canvass till there is scarce
room for enlargement But we here the counterpart
of the picturethe wives and daughters, the mothers
and sisters and companions of great men, There is
freshness and delight in the very conception of the
idea and it is carried with truthful and historic pen
The actors appear after another like the rapid and
vivid creations OF the before the eye, inspire
our patriotism and challenge admiration In each
there is something peculiar In ALL there is char
acter 1t is contribution to our literature of which
herself descendent of the she describes go on
and in her pages others of the noble and high
minded personages of the heroic of our country
:" Go gather more-the field is unconfined,
And leave their bright example for mankind
II might be doubted how far the class of sketches of
which Mary Hart may be taken the type desirable
among the "reminiscences Of women who held up for
admiration, were ii not that the picture is just what it
purports be-a from low and rude life the
widest frontiers-an Indian frontier, where murders
and scalping and wild deeds of barbac fame were ia
miliar every tongue The sketch of Mrs. Gen. Hull
agrees very well with the traditions of her residence in
the far West where the fortunes of her husband placed
her. 1t would think, have been well to let her stand
the fair light she placed without reversing the decision
Of her country in the condemnation visited upon the
fortunate General and this, too, without the production
OF single fact. But these slight defects when
beside such notices recall to the present day the
names of the female who graced the dwellings OF
Washington, Warren, Green, Rutledge, Mott Bache,
Reed and others the elevated list OF the contemporary
daughters and mothers of the revolution.
rT~~s FOR RELATIONSHIPS steamer OCEO-
LA will, the LIST OF October commence her
trips place. leaving Washington every Sunday