The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-10-15

THE MoEuxENrro FRANCHISE OsGoop.-we have
received letter from Mr. Osgo0d, com aiming, with
graf justice, Of an ami lie IN the SO ond ssrss Of
Fanny Ferns" sketches, char iDg the friends Of
Mrs. Osgood with neglect Of be. meInoYy, in omit.
ting to mark even With Q simple stone, the place
where she y buried, at Mount Auburn. To those
WHO know Mr.. Osgooc and the affection In which he
holds the memory d bis wife and children, ali
snatched from him Within silge year. 70 those who
know how the oesolstion Of that Bereavement drove
him into distant region, In she vain struggle to
anticipate the relief which only time can brilg, the
attack must seem Wanton and crnel; yet We presume
II was only an inexcussble careIessness- a.
ble be aux the de in erecting the monument Was
ewing II circumstances tnat hal been placed bsfore
tie pubic, end OF which the personal frenos Of Mrs.
Osgood among whom Fanny Fern" numbers her.
SELF, should rot have been i,noT ant.
Soon after the death Of Mrs. Osg,od, number
Of her literary Iienos c!.ueo the privilege Of erect
ing q monument over her grave. Having obtained
the consent Of her tusbssd weo, in this rsspe &,
made sacrifice Of hi. personal ssbes TO what he
eohs'ds red rs due TO her literary reputation they
published the Memorial" q volu me made up a
voluntary contributions fom some Of the heading
witers OF this country aud of Europe, ard an
nounced that tie proceeds would be applied to the
erect on CT monument the grave Of tue sweet.
est OF Ameri an posts. ME-. Osgood soon after went
70 California, whence false rep ,rt reached ms Of
bis death. TIE preporstica ana publication of the
Memorial OF course required considerable time,
81 sill fnrtt er inc was required before the net
lroess os snlu BE- rssi ze'. or toe book, Mr.. os-
guod says, In his letter before US, "che work itseH
/ a grateful monument, which fully appfecis.c'
But baviIg 'eturnea from C.ifornia, and fiadi1g
bat the proposed monument had not been erected,
sho ,hi kirg that, IN waiting 60 10. 4, re had made
ficieIt glirspder sf his own feelings he did
What hc would have prefeIed 20 10 In t1e begin
M Z, .,ectto at his Own expense, and from his oSn
o. On, "A MONUMENT TO the nory Of his wife and
cfi en-, At Mount Auburn, where she had request
ed u be- buried, next o. her mother. This monu-
msnt II about fifteen feet In hc> ht The pedestal,
81 w lite ma be- consists OF plin d, base, die, and
sr nj 10 Zinc feet high. SarTnouut,ng this Ia q
Tyre IN brorze, with five strings four Of EN- broken
as deTe mt lengths TO iuoicAte the different ages ct
which the mother and her three children died. On
tie top Of the Tyre is Wrath Of laurel, cighteen
in hes In diameter.
II o whole u simple light and graceful, aad would
memory II IL erected.
We are not sony that the column which marks
er early fraye was raised By 81, ction, rather than
By admiration. go long - English poetry - read,
the fame OF Mrs. Osg0od Ia secure. Il rests uoon
more enduring structure than marble Or bronze
But OILY those Who knew her in lie, know how the
virtues Of the woman Ifvaed the genius Of the poet;
gra eful, IN character % in person, beyond tho
grsccfulpess Of her sex, and endowed With more
than the lcvelircss Of women No ono has descend
cd to the grave MOI sincerely mourned, and against
ncre can the charge Of neglect be more mjusay
brought than sgainH those who have most reason 70
This monument was erected before the book Of
Fanny Ferns' was published, and would have MeD
erected much earlier bat fof tbe reason which Ne
have stated. We do not suppoRo that ehe sutbor -
the aitacle to which We have refzfed va aotuAted
ny improper motives. She may have intended J: IN
kindness, but II wss certainly very inconsiderats
and very observation-disclosures Journal.