Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-10-18
HOW WIVES NAY HELP THEIR uUS-
BANDS.

HOW WIVES NAY HELP THEIR uUS-
A briuf sketch of the late Madame de La
martina has just been published in Paris,
which tells the world something of her domes-
tic life:
It appears that she copied with her own
hand all Of NJ. DO Lamartine's works, except
"Les Girondins" All of the "copy" supplied
to the printer is in her hand; she kept the
poets own manuscript as precious treasure,
which she knew posterity would value 90
highly as she did. He wrote the poem "Jccc-
Iyn" in a large album which he used for an
account book The diverse faoo Of the Iesves
contained the accounts of the laborers IN his
vineyards, the reverse Was covered with poe
try. After the poem was completed, and ne
gotiations with publisher were carried to n
successful issue, Lamartine, pointing to the
album as he mounted his horse to make one Of
his usual excursions, asked his wife to send il
the printer. She opened it, and seeing at fret
nothing bat the accounts of the lsborers in
tie vineyard, thought there must be some
mistake. She examined further, and found
the reverse face of every laaf contained "JOos-
;yn" She laughed, took the album to her
secretary, and resolutely set to work to copy
the poem. a. de Lamartine thought his work
in the publishers hands, until week after
ward, when, as they were sitting down to
breakfast, she gave him the album and tho
unblottad manuscript of "Jooelyn." The
poet was so deeply touched that he took pen
and wrote the three dedicatory stropheH to
Maria Ann Eliza, which are to be found on
the first page of that work. She copied all Of
VI. de Lamartins's correspondence. She leaves
q great many letters scattered in the hands of
friends, which NJ. Dargand, it il said. is COL
lsoting with visw of publication. Tiey are
represented as written with great talent.
4 still greater service wss performed by the
-ife of Sir William Napier, in the compost
ton Of his great work On the 81 History Of tho
Popinsular War;" In tie Life" Of Sir VIII
liam, recently published in London, wefind 81
interesting sllusion to her admirable zeal ani
ability. when the immense mass Of King
Joseph's correspondence, takon at Victoria,
was placed in my hands, 1 was dismsyed ut
finding it. to be huge collection Of letters,
without order. and in three different languages,
ono Of which / did not understand. Many,
also, were in very Grabbed and illsgible char.
aoters, especially those of Joseph's own writ
Ing, which is nearly Us difficult TO rssd as. Ma.
poleon's. The most important documents
were in oiphsr, and there was no KEY. Des-
pairing Of any profitable examination &C these
valuable materials, the thought crossed me Of
giving up the work, when my wife undertook,
srst to arrange the letters by dates and cub
iects, next to make table of reference, trans-
lstins and epitomising the contents Of each ;
and this, without neglecting for On instant the
care and education of a very largo family, she
effected in such q simple and comprehensive
manner that it was easy to ascertain the orig
iaal document in few moments. She also
undertook to deo;rher the correspondence, not
only succeeded, but formed key to the whole,
detecting even tbs nulls and stops, and 30 so~
curately, that when, in course Of time, tho
original key was placsd in my hands, there
Was nothing to learn. Having mentioned this
to tho Duke of Wellington, he seemed at first
incredulous, observing that meant she had
made cut the contents of come of the letters.
Several persons had done this for him, he said,
but none had over made ont the nIlls or form.
cd key, adding, I would have given EGO 900
to auy person who would have done that for
ne in The Peninsular."