Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-01-10
ATLANTA UPON SKATES.
aY GRACE GREENWOOD.

Somewhat more than thirty yeas ago,in
a fine old mansion on the ST. LAWRENCE,
near Montreal, lived General Paul Leroux,
formerly Of the French army, and nevo-
ted Bonapartist. On the final fall Of Ma
poleon, he had ,enigrated to Canada with
his family, and a portion Of his once prince
II fortune. &.
Gen. Leroux was widower, with two
twin children, Henri, Eugene, at your SER
vice, nv reader These two. having lost
their mother in childhood, had spent some
years with relatives in Switzerland. In
that widest country,in the midst OF large
household, herself the especial pet OF her
grand uncle, veteran soldier, Eugenle
Leroux was allowed all the wild and health
ful freedom of a peasant girl AT the age
of sixteen, when she accompanied her faith
er and brother TO the Now World, she
could boast but few lady-like accomplish
ments and aris!ecratic airs; but she was
lovely with the promise of extraordinary
beauty, bewi,ching native in manner, and
rs brave and vigorous as Young Z1ngara.
She was passionate in spirit, t,inpetuous and
wayward; fiery and fearless in her resent
ments; but quick and generous to forgive;
nrdent and devoted TO the death in Der loves
and friendships Henri Leroux was pos
sessed of fine intellect, but was OF deli
cate physical organization; gentle in spirit,
sensitive, s,udous and religious, the fair
beauty Of his face, the subdued tone OF his
voice and his quiet manner all went to rem
der him most remarkable contrast to his
sister. But will not dwell further upon
his character, as his future life is to form
the subject Of subsequent sketch.
On reaching his Canadian home, Gen.
, Leroux procured q governess and masters
for his daughter Mademoiselle Eugene
soon acquired good knowledge Of fEnglish,
and made rapid progress in music, for
which she possessed remarkable talent;
but she Indignantly overturned her en-
broidery-frame, tossed her paint brushes
into the river, and sent her latin grammar
afier them. Her poor governess soon re-
signed in despair all hope of making fine
lady out Of the wild girl ofthe Alps, whom
an indulgent father, good, easy man, per-
mitted to follow in all things her own un-
trammeled impulses
s Our heroine early residence in Switz-
erland had colored her entire after life and
character; and the daughter of n soldier.
she was, perhaps. not unnaturally,z soldier
like and somewhat masculine in her tastes.
She neither trembled, tainted, nor shrieked
with exquisite sensibility and delicate ner-
yousness at the roar Of ordnance, the peal
of musketry,o or the sharp crack Of the rifle.
She loved them rather, and at the CLEAN,
of arms and the exultng swell of martial
music, there ever flashed from her kindling
eyes the bold spirit Of a Joan dare. As
i horse woman she was absolutely unrival-
led in all the Canadas-at least, so said
: her riding master. She could row like
Grace Darling, swim like mermaid, and
ahen her skating,-''her skatinge-Gooe
gracious!' cries my fair reader, in femi-
nine CONSERVATION. Wait bit, honey
and consider. Skating is an amusemen
which has been too long monopolized by
our "natural enemy" as some lady writer
z-Miss Martineau. Miss Hannah Moore
or Miss Robinson Crusoe-calls the sterne
sex. II is graceful, a delightful ant
most invigorating exercise. | speak no
unadvisedly, for in my early girlhood |
too, acquired this singular accomplishment
and now only blush for the false delicacy
which has since prevented me from keep
ing myself in practices.