The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-05-24
rEnM TIE pREEACE.

rEON THE PREFACE.
If one STRUGGLING sister in the great hu-
mau family. while listening to the history
of my life, gains courage to meet and brave
srvrrcst trials; if she learn to took upon
them "S blessings in Disguise: if she be
strengthened in til" performance of "daily
duties" however "hardly paid :" if she be in-
spirci with faith in the power impaired to a
strong wW whose end is go0d-thcn ! am
amply rewarded Tor my labor.
AHYA Cora NOwATT.
We have read this book though 18th moro
than the interest of romance. The fair
authorrsS herself Is one Of the rarcst of he
roincs. Her eight years upon the stage
furnish a volume of the most entertaining
and instructive experience But this is not
all-uot tn" most interesting portion of her
remarkable book. She begins with her in
fancy, and introduces us TO the bright little
butterfly giri sporting among the ncwcrs of
La CaStdGnc. in FraI &c, where she happcncd
to Ic born. She gives us II brief sketch OF
her family, descendants. on the maternal
side, of Francis Lewis. one Of the heroic
singers of the Declaration of independence
We the follow her in stormy vovamr
across the Atlantic. in which she WAS ship,
wrvckrd. when two little brothers wcr,
washed overheard: one was rescued; hut
"thc other WAS lost" She then naivcly
sketches the history Of her sch Doi-dav ioy>
and surrowS, ending with IN clopcmcnt and
a prccocious marriage. All the details. bot
tragic and comic. arc given with the most
| amusing, often affecting particularly, anC
the Sympathetic reader is unvolnntarily LED
| 10 make her iuvS and sorrows his own
Like every true chaptrr Of chccQurrrd hu
man life. the lights and shadows are rrarl,
equally. often !itiully blended. and we ar,
alternately uovrd 10 tears and laughter
Nctc York Nigr"r.
One ofthc f,.H books which il is difficult
to lay down TIL every page is read, is III,
Autobiography Of Mrs. N"watt. have &C
tually stolen the time which ought to hay,
been appropriated To certain special demand.
TO look through the pages Ui this strang,
volume. To look at any chapter of con
tents, is sure to send Won to the text: an,
tn start with the text i> 10 riyrt your attcn,
liun in spite &C every cNtranrouS CALI Mrs
Muwatt's Autobiography will have per.
manrnt place IN american literature. Eli,
ton after edition will come from the press
Ii will bc the ,Ncitjng theme of book notices
and even Of iaborrd rrvicws-.Nsm C0r.
HGH.
Mrs. Mowatt is certainly one of the clcv.
crest women living In all that she under,
takes she succeeds. and this not so much hy
force of genius as by her womanly tact and
4 degree Of energy that could scarcely bt
expected in so slight and delicate 4 fr IN,
H. hers. she has written good poetry; rood
magazine sketches; the best Of modern \.
mcrican corcIics (Fashiou y n capital po,
ctical drama (.irmand , has taken high raNL
as an actress, and now she has given to til,
world the plcHsantcst bit Of autobiography,
that We have eccn for long time. 1t is ;
frank, simple narrative, with little aiirciatior
and no more cgutism than is always una
N"IdabIc where the narrator is the heroine
Her school days, her courtship and clopc
mcnt, her domestic habits. her rcycrirs, hvl
career aS a pnD,ic reader and actress. at hom,
amt abroad, her widow hood. and every thin.
IL her recent history except her sccun,
c"uri,hiP, Wh!ci, is to take her from purli,
tit'r. are admirably told. Anecdotes abound
in ia" volume and there j. not page thai
does not exhibit the traits OF = truy smart
woman. We shall not be surprised if thi,
book takes the lead of all others in popular
lty this sc"son.-PhiI0. .N0U.
TICKNOR, REED & FIELD.
1875 WASHINGTON St Huston