New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-14
r.scARyr FULLER IN sEw-YoRK.

ed an offer to become constant cohtIio
u,or 70 The Tribune. Mr.. Greeley thus
records his recoflections of his friend in
communication to the Editors Of these
Memoirs
Nv first acquaintance with Margaret Fuller
vas made through the pages OF The DIAL The
lofty rance and rare ability OF that work. aud IT'S
nm. American richness OF culture and rlpeness OF
thought, naturally filled the mt audience, though
few. with high estimate OF those who were
known as its conductors and principal writers.
Vot I do not now remember that any article,
which strongly impressed me, was recognized as
from the pen of its female editor prior to the ap-
nearance OF The Great Lawsuit afterward ma
tured into the volume more dstlnctiyey yet not
ouite accurately entitled Woman in the Nine
teenth Century | think this can hardly have
failed to make deep impression on the mind OF
every thoughtful reader, as the production OF an
original, vigorous, and earnest mind. Summer
on the lakes which appeared some time alter
that ESSAY, though before its expansion into
book. struck me as less ambitious in its aim, but
more graceful and delicate in its execution and
as one ~ AZ 49,. - lost graphic dellnea.
ffY s Ye ever given of the Greas "a. -
Prairies and Of the recedlng oaroarlsh'' A'o
ran;div advancing, but rude, repulsve semi-clvll-
;zstion. which were contending with most un-
eoual forces for the possession OF those rich lands
I Still consider Summer on the Lakes unequal
ed especially in its pictures of the Pralrles and
of the SUMMER aspects Of Pioneer LIE.
Yet. il was the suggestion of Mrs. Greeley
who had spent some weeks Of successive sea-
sons in or near Boston, and who had mere maze
the personal acquaintance OF MISS ruIel, ana
formed very high estimate and warm a"ach-
ment for her--that induced me, IN the autumn OF
1914. TO offer her terms, which were accepted,
for her assistance in the literary department OF
The Tribune A home In my family was In
cluded in the stipulation. was myself barely
ACQUAINTED with her, when she thus came 10 re-
side with US, and | did not fully appreciate ner
nobler qualities for some months afterward.
Though we were members OF the same mousse
hold. we scarcely met save at breakfast and
NV time and thoughts were absorbed IN duties
and cares which left me little leisure or inclin-
alton tor the amenities of social intercourse.
Fortune seemed to delight IN placing US two IN
relations of friendly antagonlsm-or rather, 10
develop all possible contrasts IN our Ideas ana
social habits She was naturally inclined 10
luxury and good appearance before the world.
NV pride, If / had any, delighted In bare walls
and rugged fare. She was addicted 10 slrong
tea and coffee both which | rejected and con-
temned, even in the most homeopathic dlu-
lions while, my general health being sound,
and hers sadly in paired, | could not fail to md
ia her dietetic habits the causes OF her almost
habitua illness and once, while we were stlll
barely acquainted, when she came to the break
fast.tabe with a very severe headache, was
tempted to attribute 1t to her strong potations OF
the Chinese leaf the night before. she tod me
quite frankly that she declined being lectureo
on the food or beverage she saw ht to take
which was but reasonable in one who had ar
rived at her maturity of intellect and hxedness
of habits So the subject was thenceiorth ia
city avoided between us but, though words
were suppressed, looks and involuntary gestures
could not so well be and an utter divergency
of views on this and kindred themes created a
perceptible distance between us.
Her EARLIER contributions to The Tribune were
not bar hat and ! did not at irzt prize her aid
so highly as | afterward learned TO do. She
wrote away freshly, vigorously, but not AWAY S
clearly for her full and intimate acquaintance
with continental literature, especially Germin,
seemed TO have maned her felicity and readl-
ness Of expression in her mother tongue While
| never met another woman who ronversed
more freely or lucldly, the attempt to commit
her thoughts to paper seemed TO induce a SIN
cuiar embarrassment and hesitation. She could
write only when in the vein; and this needed
often to be waited for through several days,
while the occasion sometimes required an I'M
mediate utterance. The new book must be re.
viewed before other journals had thoroughly
dissected and discussed It, else the ablest
criuque would command no general attention,
and perhaps be, by the greater number unread.
That the writer should wait the flow of inspira
ton or at least the recurrence of elasticity of
spirits and relative health of body, viii not seem
unreasonable to the general reader but TO the
inyeterate hack horse OF the daily press, accuS-
toned TO write at any time, on any SUBJECT, and
with q rapidity limited only by the physical abil-
ity TO form the requisite pen-strokes, the notion
OF waiting for brighter day, or happier frame OF
mind, appears fantastic and absurd. He would
as soon think of waiting for a change In the
moon. Hence, while realized that her contrl.
buttons evinced rare intellectual wealth and
force, | did pot value them as | should have
done had they been written more f1uently and
promptly. They often seemed to make their
appearance . a day after the fair"
Her love of children was one of her most
prominent characteristics. The pleasure sac
enjoyed III their society was fully counter
poised by that she impaired To them she w IS
never lofty, nor reserved, nor mystical; for no
one had ever more perfect faculty for entering
into their sports, then feeling, their enJoyments.
She could narrate almost any story In language
level TO their capacities. and in a manner calcu-
lated 10 bring out their hearty and often bols-
terously expressed delight. She possessed
marvellous powers of observation and imita-
tion or mlmlcry; and, had she been attracte d
10 tne stage, would nave Oeen the nIsL dSNeSs
America has produced, whether in tragedy or
comedy. Her faculty of mimicking was not
needed to commend her to the hearts OF childfea,
but il had its effect in increasing the fascina-
TORS of her genial nature and heartfelt Joy 10
their society To amuse and instruct them was
an achievement for which she would readily
forego any personal object and her intuitlve
perception OF the toys, games, stories, rhymes,
&c. best adapted TO arrest and enchain their at
ten,ion, was unsurpassed. Between her and my
only child, then living, who was eight months
Old when she came to US, and something over
TWO years when she sailed for Europe, tendrils
OF affection gradually intertwined themselves,
which trust Death has not severed, bu. rather
multiplied and strengthened. She became his
teacher, playmate, and monitor and he reouited
her with prodigality OF love and admiration
l shall not soon forget their meeting in nv Of
fee, after some weeks separation, Just before