The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-10-07
HARRIET HOSMER.
From the Englishwoman's Journal.

Born at Watertown, in the State of Massa.
chusstts, in the year 1881, Harriet Hosmer is
the only surviving daughter of q physician, who,
having lost wife and child by consumption, and
fearing like fate for the survivor, gave her
horse, dog, gun, and boat, and insisted upon an
feA: life -sa Indispensable 70 health, A
rowing, swimming, diving, and skating, Harriet
Hosmer is q signal instance of what judcious
physical training will effect in conquering even
hereditary faint of constitution. Willingly as
the active, energetic child acquiesced in her
fathers wishes, she contrived, at the same time,
to crafty and develop her own peculiar tastes;
and many time and oft, when the worthy
doctor may have fattered himself that bis dar.
ling was in active exercise, she might have been
found in certain clay.pit not very far from the
paternal residence, making early attempts at
modelling horses, dogs, sheep, men, and women
any objects, in short, which attracted her at.
tention. Then, too, both here and. subsequently,
at Lenex, she made coed use of her time by
stHdyipg natural history, and of her gun, by
securing specimens for herself of the wild crea
lures of the woods, feathered and furred, dis
secting some, and, with her own hands, pre-
pairing and stuffing others. The walls of the
room devoted to her special use in the old
house at home are covered with birds, bats,
butterflies and beetles, snakes and toads, while
sundry bottles of spirits contain subjects care
fully dissected and prepared by herself.
Ingenuity and taste, too, are shown in the
use to which the young girl applied the eggs
and feathers of the nests and birds she had pill
fered-one inkstand, in particular, very early
production, evincing mechanical genius and
artistic taste. Taking the head, throat, wings,
and side feathers of q bluebird and hav.
ing blown hens egg, she set it on end, form.
ing the breast of the bird, as it we're, by the
oval surface of the egg, while, through the open
beak and extended neck, entrance was gained
to the cavity of the egg containing the ink.
In fact, no one can look round this apart
ment, occupied by the child and young girl,
without at once recognising the force and in
dividuality of character which have since dis.
tinpuished her. So true ia it that the child is
father of the mans
Full of fun and 1holic, numerous anecdotes
are told of practical jokes perpetrated to such
an excess, that DIR. Hosmer, satisfied with the
progress towards health strength his child had
made, and having endeavored. without success
to place her under tuition in daily and weekly
schools near home, determined to commit her
to the care of Mrs. Sedgwick, of Lenox, Massa
chusetts. Thither the young lady, having been
expelled from one school, and given over as in.
corrigible at another, was accordingly sent
with strict njunctions that health should still be
paramount consideration, and that the new
pupil should have liberty to ride and walk, shoot
and swim, to her hearts content. In wiser OF
kinder hands the young girl could not have
been placed. Here, too, she met with Mrs
| Fanny Kemble, whose influence tended tc
strengthen and develop her already decided
tastes and predictions. To. Mrs. Kemble We
have heard the young artist gratefully attribute
| the encouragement which decided her to follow
sculpture as profession, and to devote herself
and her life to the pursuit of art.
Justly or unjustly, an anonymous squib upor
| Boston and Bostonians was about this time
attributed TO Miss Hosmer,. while practica
| Joke upon physician of Boston was the imme
diate cause Of her being sent away to Lenox
Her health having given her father some uneasi
ness, the gentleman in question, physician II
large practice, WAS called in to attend her. The
rather uncertain visits of this physician PROVED
Q source of great annoyance and some real in
| convenience to his patient, inasmuch - they
| interfered with her rides and drives, shooting
and boating excursions. Having borne will
the Inconvenience some time, she requested th,
gentleman, as q great favor, to name an hon
for his call, that she might make her arrange
ments accordingly. The physician agreed, bu
punctuslity is not always at the command o
professional men. Matters were a. bad a. ever
Sometimes, the twelve O'Clock appointment di,
not come off till three o'clock in the afternoon
One day, in particular, DR.. - was som,
hours after the time. A playful quarrel tool
place between physician and patient, and, o
he rose to take his leave, and offered anothe
appointment, Miss Hosmer insisted upon hi
giving his word TO keep it.
"f I sm alive" said he, :" will be here,
naming some time on certain day.
Then, If you are not here" was the reply
81 am to conclude that you are dead"