The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-03-17

common-placcs of popular opinion. In
one of her journals she writes:
"Very early in life, in the Chamber OF
Death, I prayed: sGive me the truth;
cheat me by no Illusion 0, the granting
of this prayer is sometimes terrible to me;
yet nothing but truth will do"
A little anecdote will illustrate her man
ner of dealing with offenders.
81 have had from an eye witness
note of little scene that passed IN Dos
ton, at the Academy of Music. A par
ty had gone early, and taken an excellent
place to hear ono of Beethoven's synpho-
mics. Just behind them were soon sea-
ted young lady and two gentlemen, who
made an incessant buzzing, in spite OF
bitter looks cast on them by the whole
neighborhood, and destroyed all the mu-
steal comfort. After all was over, Mar
paret leaned across one seat, and catching
the eye of this girl, who was pretty AID
well dressed, said, in her blandest, gentlest
voice, May speak with you one mo-
meut?" "Certainly" said the young la
DIV, with fluttered, pleased look, bending
forward. 81 only wish to say" said
Margaret, 'that trust that in the course
of your life, you will not suffer so great
degree of annoyance as you have in
tiicted on large party of lovers of mu-
sic this evening. This was said in the
sweetest air, as if to little child, and it
was as good as a pay to see the change
of countenance which the young lady ex-
hibited, who had no replication to make
to 80 Christian blessing"
Such truth speaker is worth more
than the best police. 1t is a rare thing
to find great noble soul who can speak
the "right word at the right moment,
qualify the selfish or hypocritical act with
its right name, and without any loss of
temper hold up the offence to the purest
daylight"
come now to speak of Margaret's
browning grace-her religious character.
No person whom | have ever met, or Of
whom have read, has appeared to me
more profoundly religious than she. Her
Journals, her letters, and her life, were full
of humility, piety, and prayer. That she
experienced that change called regener-
alton, or the new birth, we have no doubt.
Her testimony on this point is clear
Emerson, with whom she was staying at
this time speaks of her as shaving passed
into religious states, which did not i'm
press me as quite healthy, or likely to be
permanent"
The fact that she was the intimate friend
of Emerson - that she was closely con-
nectcd with the movements of the Trans
cendentalists in New England-that for
two years she edited the "Diar'-the
organ of that party, has led good many
strict Orthodox people to doubt the sound
nt IS of her religious experience. A tran
scendentalist she was, in the full meaning
of that eloquent, but much abused term.
Her religion did indeed transcend the
religion of commoner and meaner minds.
She was "piIgrim from the dollar ous
world of creeds and rituals, to the temple
Of the Living God in the SOUL" The
peaceful "benediction of God sounded
forth to her in flowers AMI stars, thr' o
the poetry, art and heroism of all ages,
in the aspirations of her own spirit and
the budding promise of the time" If to
he Christian, it is necessary to be a
Sectarian, met iiics. assuredly she was not
one. But that religion WHICH looks rever-
emily to God and lovingly on man, which
cares for the temporal as well as eternal
good of our fellows, that religion which
permeates every path of life, and sheds
sacred light on every duty, that religion
which tempers joy and softens sorrow,
that religion which pur;fes the heart and
sweetenst life, that religion which knows
the blessedness ofloving God as God, and
hating Sin as Sin, that rel;si IN which
feels the sorrow that ever springs from
Earth, and the consolation which dcscends
TO meet it from above-this religion was
Margaret Fullcr's. Whether hereto or
orthodox, it is rolgion of which the
world stands very much in need. Hor-
ace Greeley speaking of her says:-..I
mover met another being in whom the
inspiring hope of Immortality was so
strengthened into profoundest conviction.
She did not belieye i'll future and unend-
ing state of existence, she knew it and
lived in the full splendor of its dawning
light"
/ am aware that l have but imperfect
" shown to you the character of this won
dcrful woman. would rather have kept
silence and heard another speak of her.
for most assuredly she is richer than my
tongue.
With glance at her life in Europe l
shall close.
In the Spring of 1916, rich in expert
ences, rich in friends, and rich in culture,
heralded by her reputation as a scholar
and writer, Margaret departed for Eu-
rope. She was joyfully received, and found
ready access to such society as that of
Wordsworth, De Quincy, DIR. Chalmers,
Carlyle, Mary Hewitt, Joanna Baillie and
others like them.
In December she went to Paris where
the best literary society was open to her,
and she became the friend of George
Sand and Beranger, Here she had fire.
quent opportunities of hearing the great
aetress-RAcHEL, and her criticisms are
almost as grand as tragedy.
She says of RachePs eye: 1t was
magnificent to see the dark cloud give
out such sparks. each one fit to deal
separate death"
In May 1s47 she went to Rome
Here new worlds of thought and beauty
opened to her. She was warmly wei
coined by Americans resident there, among
whom was Crawford, the Sculptor, and
she found easy access to the best native