The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-11-08
Fanny Fern.

maintain her incognito, and a proper de-
ference for the obligations OF courtesy
which are as binding in literary as in so.
cial lite) forbids our doing what would
otherwise be an equal qualification to our
readers and ourselves. With regard to the
personal history Of Fanny Fern we feel
similar constraint. We shall, therefore,
only touch, and that lightly, upon such
points as. under the circumstances, may
be referred to without the slightest viola
ton Of propriety.
Not many years since, Fanny Fern was
living-no matter wherein affluenoe.
No home need be more lovely, no famil,
more happy. than was hers. Ample wealth,
devoted love. cultivated intellect. refined
taste, and a fervid religious spirit com
oined to make that home whatever GOULD
oe desired on earth, and excited the re-
spect and admiration of all admitted to
the happy circle. Bat suddenly a Dol,
fell. Death came. The husband and IA
ther was smitten down. The widowed
mother and the halt.orphan children were
Left 10 fight the battle Of life alone. Adver-
sity succeeded adversely. Poverty followed
in the dismal train, and illness and want
had the afflicted family at their mercy.
The mother struggled on as best she could;
but we all know how hard il is for lady
to find d'employment which will enable her
to obtain livelihood even for herself.
much less for a family of children. The
female teacher generally receives only
meeg ger, salary; the copyist pursues an un-
certain calling; the seamstress can at best
earn but miserable pltance. And so, at
last, after bitter years, the widowed moth.
er, from sheer desperation. took to her
pen, and another and q bright star was
added to our literary galaxy.
Fanny Ferns first article was written
and published in July, 1851. 1t was i'm
mediately copied far and wide. Each sue
ceeding piece met with similar favor;
until most OF the newspapers Of this coun
try, and many British periodicals., were
regularly enriched with her articles. But
while she was thus furnishing amusement
receiving an adequate reward. Whsnev-
or q woman is obliged to 60 into the world
and earn her owr living, she has to under
GO trials and difficulties Of which man
can, perhaps, form no jus, ides. A deli.
oate, sensitive lady cannot, for instance.
call at newspaper offices to solicit en-
ployment, or offer an article for sale,
without being exposed to annoyanoes
which TO her are painful, but which nan
might not observe. A refined lady can Ill
brook the iuqui.ing gaze and impertinent
stare Of hangers-oD; nor can she bargain
| for proper remun neration, nor call again
\ - ~ fo,,l III
fair weather. And then it is often assumed
that woman should be paid less for her
labor than n man for his, though hers be
equally valuable; and it is only after she
has acquired q commanding reputation
lat she can ordinarily obtain jus, equiv
| alent for her productions. And thus. for
many months, the compensation which
Fancy Fern received for her writings was
not al all commensurate with their value.
| For articles which were worth fifty dollars,
and which would have commanded that
sum had she known better how to sell
them, she often received but tenth Of tina,
amount; and during this time her income
was tar from being sufficient 10 maintain
herself and her children comfortably. Blu,
with unyieiding perseverance,, and her
trust in God unshaken. she worked on un-
til she triumphed over all obstacles. earned
name OF which she may well be proud,
secured an ample fortune, and won the
increased respect and love Of those who
knew her best. Il is. perhaps. needless to
remark. that she now commands the high
EST psices paid TO writer's in this country
In examining Fanny Ferns writings
even the esilies, Of them, one is struck
with the evidence they exhibit tina; tho wri.
ter understands her own powers perfectly
or, rather. that she knows positively fha,
she can do certain things better than they
have ever been done before. Though thi:
is unquestionably the case, she doubtless
often achieves more brilliant iriumphs tn AN
she anticipated; in other words, she is
probably often surprised al the excellence
OF her own articles. She never makes Q
mistake, because she never attempts wha,
she can not successfully achieve. This
fact has been manifested throughout hel
literary career. A. first her articles were
mere paragraphs, and contained generally
only one clearly pronounced and adrnira
bly, developed idea. No words we're vast
ed. The idea. or tact, or principle sough
10 De presented, was UlsuHCUy stdtcu dHt
clearly worked up in every attractive and
telling phrase possible (as Beethoven
worked up the theme of a symphony
but then the article was brough, to an i'm
mediate but artistic conclusion. Will
practice her confidence seemed to increas,
and she struck ou, into bolder paths
Having tried and proved the strength o
her pinions, she took loftier flights ant
: continued longer on The wing. Relieved
Of pecuniary embarrassments. and sur
) rounded once more with the comforts o
life, she wrote with greater freedom, ant
> certainly gave to her articles polisl
which some Of her earlier pieces did no
possess. Her latest productions are mod
els of style and composition. HART
MANY true heart. that would hav
: come back like dove to the ark. ate
its first trsnsgression, has been frightene
beyond recall by the angry look and me
!, nace-the tsunt, the savage charity OF q
unforgiving spirit.
:. The man who to the utm ost of his powe
r augments the great mass OF public and in