The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1859-10-20

4
once dlscerned the sterling merit of their
contributor, reached forth to her the hand
OF friendly welcome, spoke those words of
kindly encouragement which are so CRATE
ful and precious to the heart of the timid
asplrant, and challenged for her writings
the public favor, which they have since
enjoyed in 10 stinted measure. In the
recoHectlOns of those eminent men. we are
sure there can be few brighter passages
than the effective sympathy which on this,
as wen as on numerous other occasions,
they have accorded to the modest efforts
of youthful genius.
Among the poetical pieces which at
tracted the greatest share of admiration,
may be reckoned the "Ariadne," the
~ Horseback Ride" and ''Pygmalion. -
/ they were succeeded by various compost
/ tons IN prose, which at once attracted no
uee, plqued curiosity, and made the name
OF ''Grace Greenwood" a prime favorite
among the numerous popular contributors
to the wldcly-circulated magazines of the
day. In connection with other literary
labors, she was the editor of the eI.ady's
Book for a year Her first volume. en-
titled ''GreenwOod Leaves" was brought
out in 1880, by Ticknor, Reed & Fields,
OF Boston. 1t consists of collection OF
tales, sketches, and letters, showing the
genial powers and exuberant vivacitv Of
the writer to singular advantage In 1851
she published volume Of Poems" and
an admirable juvenile story-book, called
History Of My Pets" A second series
OF ''GreenwoOd Leaves" was issued the
following year, and also another Juvenile
work, called "Recollections of my Child
hood Each of these excellent works for
the perusal Of young people Though not
without charm to readers of every age)
has been received with cordial delight as
well IN England as in our own country.
In the spring Of 1852, Grace was ena-
bied to carry into effect q long-cherished
desire to visit Europe. She passed about
fifteen months in England, Scotland, Ire |
land, France, Italy, and Tyrol, gratifying
her native love of art by the sight Of its |
choicest specimens in the galleries Of the
Oid orld, gaining fresh materials for |
poetry IN the scenery and suggestions of a |
foreign land, forming an acquaintance with
several of the most attractive celebrities
IN literature, and enlivening the social
circles III England in which she was
warmly received by the resistless attrac
tons OF her wit, piquancy, originality, and
oung American freedom from the smooth
petnfactlons Of European society. She
returned from her transatlantic tour in
August last, and has since prepared re-
cord of her travels, entitled 'Haps and
Nilshaps OF u Tour in Europe" which will
soon be issued i'll Boston, by Ticknor,
Reed & Fields. This volume, it may be
predicted, will possess as great an interest
for the public in general. as any of her
previous works. With her acuteness of
observation and never-failing flow of spir- 5
is, she IS singularly adapted to give liy- i,
ng, daguerreotype sketch Of her impres- |
'ions, and has doubtless imbodied in this t
a series of salient comments on
ife and society, as it passed under her
quick and penetrating eye abroad. c
In October, 1858, she commenced the /
publication of ''The Little Pilgrim" a f
monthly juvenile issued in Philadelphia a
" Mr.. Lippincott, which bids fair to prove s
S great tavorite with young readers as b
he collection Of stories heretofore prepar- d
d for their entertainment. C
In the writings of Grace Greenwood we Y
discover the perpetual influence of her Y
ersonal character. There are scarcely Fl
ny authors whose productions are so much C
he expression of their own individuality s
'ree from the trammels of artificial liter t,
ry taste, acknowledging no allegiance to
he absurd restrictions of the schools, loy- a
to the spontaneous inspirations of ma "
lre, she dips her pen in her true woman's t.
cart, and bodies forth those fresh, beau
ful, and vigorous creations, which are 81
ever the fruit of conventional training, Fl
r of timid, crouching imitation Her u
rose writings are peryaded by the genu- az
le spirit of poetry. Her poetry IS the c;
utterance OF highly imagina- m
We nature. The latter is usually more te
'refully elaborated, but both are free, c,
npulslve, often careering wildly in i'm
etuous flights, but always stamped with 10
le impress OF purity and = generous pur-
Dse. In her freest strains, she sings as sy
le wild bird sings. The bobolink in
over field is not more merry than she is
her mood Of froic gayety. At other CT
mes, her song gushes forth in plaintive al
elodies, ike the sweet, sad warblings of til
e nightingale. But this is never her d1
sbitual state. Her temperament is too ST
,nial, too vivacious, too full of love for
created things, to find content even in
e daintlest sweetness Of rapt melancholy. no
er healthy spirit always rebounds un-
II the excitement Of nTeeiouS human -