Washington sentinel., 1854-04-05
FROM UNITED STATES.

The WIFE OF BLANNERHAssET.-Let us turn
for a time from the man to contemplate and
gaze upon the person and character Of his
companion. History affords but few instances
where SO much feminine beauty, physical en-
durance, and many social virtues were en-
bodied with so brilliant mind in the person Of
o female.
Her stature was above the ordinary height
of her sex her form wellproportioned and
beautifully symmetrical; her manners of the
most captivating gracefulness, with sufficient
dignity to repel familiarity and command re-
spect. Her dark blue eyes, beaming with love
and affection, and sparkling with life and
intelligence" looked forth from beneath the
long brown lashes, which hung as curtains
to conceal their charms; features of Grecian
mould, embellished by a complexion whose
carnation hue, health, and the hand of nature
had painted. Her hair was of dark brown
color, was usually concealed beneath head
dress of rich colored silk, worn after the man
ner of the Turkish turban.
Her mind was not less polished than her
manners, and the huency with which she wrote
and spoke the French and Italian languages
indicated high degree Of cultivation, which
few, even in this golden age Of science and
letters, have ever attained to. Her taste for
dramatic composition led her to adopt as a
favorite pastime the rehearsal of Shakspeare's
plays. These were usually executed with an
effect which would have done honor to more
professed connoisseurs, and exhibited talent
which needed only cultivation to have won
laurels of lasting freshness in the theatrical
world. Her familiarity with various French
and English authors rendered her an agreea.
bic companion for the man Of letters, and
proved valuable assistant to her husband in
recalling to mind some opinion or expression of
an author which had escaped his memory.
She cultivated, to some extent, taste for
poetry, and produced several pieces which are
still in existence. But it is only in the every
knowledge Of the true character of individuals.
1t was in this peculiar sphere that Mrs. Blan-
nerhasset exhibited an uncommon degree of
excellence, and won the affection of all within
her influence. She adapted her customs to the
society around her, and joined in their amuse-
ments and festivities with all the spirit of one
accustomed to frontier life from earliest infancy.
Riding on horseback was a delightful and
healthy exercise, in which she frequently par
ticipated. At such times she was usually hab-
tied in a fine cloth dress, of scarlet color,
richly bespangled with gold and glittering but
tons. From her downy hat waved :" the grace
ful plume of ostrich" and the rich folds of her
drapery fell gaily over the ianks Of her noble
steed Over hill and through dale, with the
heetness Of the deer, she took her course, and
seldom did her attendant get glimpse of his
sprightly charge until she checked her speed to
await his coming. .....
That she was capable ofextraordinary physi-
cal endurance was frequently demonstrated
by the long and speedy walks she performed,
whether on business or visiting some favorite
friend. She has been known to accomplish a
pedestrian tour, of from ten to twenty miles,
with as much ease as other ladies would make
their usual calls among city or village acquain-
ances. Bounding over them with astonishing
agility, she carelessly pursued her way, as
though tracing the more familiar paths Of the
wild woods.
Although she participated in the various
amusements through the country, and was
the ruling spirit of every assembly, and never
neglected the ordinary duties of her household.
Every apartment received her personal atten-
ton, from the kitchen to the chambers; andwere
duly cleansed and arranged according to her
direction. BY her were the daily tasks of the
servants assigned, while she performed with
cheerfulness the duties deyolving on herself.
In short, like Shakspeares Portia--
"She was indeed rch-soulod creature, in
whom the first germs of womanhood had bossomed
forth, without weed TO check or chill to blight
their growth