The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1867-05-01
THE FEMALE SECRETARY:
LOVE IN DISC u ISE.

Alone in the world! alone in the great
city of Paris, world in itself! alone, and
scarcely hvre in my purse!
Such were my reflections as turned away
from the now empty house in which for
two and twenty years | had dwelt with my
Door, wastefui, uncalculating father. My
father was scholar of most stupendons at
minments, particularly in Oriental litsIa-
tpre, but perfect child in all that relates
to the rdnary affairs of life. Absorbed in
his studies he let his pecuniary matters
take care of themselves Consequently,
when death suddenly laid him low and de-
priyed me of my only friend and protector,
his affairs were found to be in state OF
inextricable confusion. His effects, includ-
ing tn noble library of Eastern lore which
it had been the labor of his life to collect,
were seized and sold to pay his debts, and
were found to be insufficient.
My mother had died when was child,
and my father had educated me himself,
pouring into my young and eager mind the
treasures he possessed. l was--I say 1t
without boasting--a prodigy Of learning,
but in al that relates to domestic economy,
as to the ordinary attainments of woman,
| was ignorant as my father himself.
fingered near the house until the sale
was over aud the last cart load of goods
had been removed. Then repaired to, q
wretched garret in the Rue due Temple:
where had found a refuge, and where
could, by the exercise Of my talents, re
plenish my prrse and procure oetter
lodging. Here sat down. and took calm
survey of my position, and questioned. my
self as to what employment l was fit Tor.
OF the usual feminine mpllshments
I possessed none; could neither draw nor
paint; ! could not play note of music on
instruments. could sing, it is true. but
knew nothing of the science of vocal mu
sic: [ did not know word of Spanish, or
Italian, or German, or English; even with
the literature of France | was but little ac-
ouainted; but could read the cuncltorm
characters of Babylon and Hersepohs. as
readily as youread this page. Sanscrlpt,
Hebrew, Arabic, Syriac ard Chaldiac flowed
from my tongue as freely as a nursery
rhyme. AS an instructress Of young ladies',
therefore, | could not hope to find a liveli,
hood, but as an assistant to some learned
man or body of men, | knew that my at
tainments would be invaluable.
Full of hope, therefore, and with cheer
full heart, / set about obtaining situation
Hearing that the Oriental department o
the Bibliotheque du Roi was about to un'
dergo some alteration, and that an assis
tant librarian was wanted to rearrange aDt
recatalogue the books, | applied at once TO
the situation. | was closely examined a
to nv qualifications, and much surprise wa
manifested at the proficiency | had attalne'
| in these unwonted studies, bat my apphca
ton was refused, because was woman.
| next answered by letter the advertise
ment of distinguished sarvant who wa
about to undertake the translation Of tn
Sacred Vedas and was in wait of an amau
ensis. To this received the following re
ply,,,, =. 1r ,,o,,r .t,,;nn,.r
in the Sanscript are such rs you represeu
them, i am convinced that you would e5
actly Suit me, were you young man. Blu
| am d bachelor; there is not single ft
male in my establishment; your sex render
it impossible for me to employ you as m
amaHuensis." y ~. -aga
daunted, applied successively TO the Sc
ciate Asiatique, to the librarian of the Ii
stitute, and to two or three private ind
viduals of more or less note. From all {
them received the same answer-the stu
alton was not for a women.
Meantime the few frances | had at m
father death vanished one by one. TIL
woman from whom hired my room be
came clamorous for her rent. had, fe'
superfuous articles of clothing. dispose
Of them at the MGnt de Piete, and thu
kept the wolf from the door little longcl
When they were all gone, what should
do? = w
l persevered in my quest for employmen
1t was all in vain. Many persons added il
suit to their harsh refusal of my apple,
ton, accusing me of being an impostor; Fl
who ever heard, said they, of young gi
like me being acquainted with these obtru
studies? Day after day, week after weel
plodded on through the mire and dir
: for it was winter, the weeping winter
Paris, and the obscure and narrow street
(traversed by filthy kennel in the cent,
81 sidewalks, though wi lsh my research
led me, were in a dreadful condition. Ar
eyermore the question recurred to me, wb,
shall do? I &
AS day after day passed. ard still no ope,
ing appeared, thought Of the river, rolir
darkly through the heart of the city,
whose silent tide 80 many poor unfort,
nato has sought q refuge from present mi
: tery. One day, as in the course Of my De
.. egrination l pissed the Norge, l saw Il
! dead body Of young woman which ha
, been taken that morning from the river, nm
laid out for recognition by her friends.
; / looked on her livid, bloated face, b,
drenched and tattered garmehts, her Ion
dark hair hanging in DARK matted masse
and streaming over the edge of the table .
+ which she lay, my heart was moved wit