Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-09-27

and fresh water, and the tempting eXer-
cises Of this clean and clear point, have
entirely cured me, and I am lingering
here fattening and strengthening myself
for the hard work before me in New Or
leans, which hope to commence as soon
ss the first frost falls. This hotel viii be
kept open at least until the first OF Octo-
Der, and it is a pleasant place to occupy
IN the performance Of any literary task.
Yesterday went up to Mobile to pay
visit to our distinguished authoTessl
Miss Augusta J. Evans, whom had
never seen, and Of whom ! had never
read any description. found the writer
of Beulsh 80 different from the woman |
expected that think It will be agreeable
20 some Of the m3ny readers OF her works
to give nv Impressions about her. With
out the aid Of photograph, or pen paint
ing, or Of any verbal delineation, ii Is
natural for us to form some idea Of the
personal appearance, voice and manners
Of the author of any work which inter-
ests US. In spite OF the severe criticisms
Of the litersti Of the Hub OF the Uni
verse" and of others farther south, /
confess myself an admirer Of "Beulah,
" Macaria" and " st. Elmo" There are
many high sounding teehnicals-from all
the sciences-in them, which have drawn
down upon their authOress the charge 0f
pedantry; and there is much learning in
them too profound for the cOmprehen-
sion Of critics who have ridiculed her as
q smatterer Of science but let me ask
them to point out blunder that she has
made In astronomy, geology, mythology
or in any OF the sciences from which she
has taken anything to adorn her works.
She has displayed much learning, but
she has not exhibited herself as a smat-
terer, plsgiarist or pretender. Her novels
lash vice, Iittleness and meanDess they
teach virtue and true religion, and eulti-
vate generosity, courage and devotion TO
our countryis cause. None can under
stand and appreciate them but christians
and patriots. They are an abOminatlon
to fools and knaves. Knowing that her
only object is to inculcate the highest and
holiest principles OF action in the minds
aud hearts OF the intelligent youths OF
both sexes in our land, who could not be
reached so we'll ia any other way, and
that there is nothing in all her writings
which can vitists the morals Of mankind
or which the purest saint would be
ashamed to read, write, teach or practlce,
I feel a glow of resentment and the IN
dignation of a christian patriot whenever
l hear her name or works ridlculed OF
censured. I feel towards the traducer
the hostility due to the envious OF genius
and beauty, and to the enemies Of my re-
ligion, and Of "the land we love" A
sight Of the RuthOress, and an hours
cOmpaniOnship with her, have inspired
me with a more chivalrous regard for her,
and made me more prompt to take up
hereafter f" the glove" thrown down by
ladies, dear creatures, can envy with i'm
punity, as far as I am concerned, whom
thew please; and ! can leave fearlessly
such booted and spurred horsemen as
Anna Dickinson and Lucy Stone to the
tender meTeies OF the pen that sketched
Edna Earl's dissertation on wOman's
proper sphere"
Two hours ride on the pleasant little
blockade runner, the Rio Grande, stop
ping at Battles wharf and MontrCse,
carried me to the city Of Mobile. Dr.
W introduced me to Mr.. Evans, the
father of Miss Augusta, whom / found a
hale, healthy, good looking, middle sged
man, and polite and very geutlemanly
merchant In his counting room. be re-
ceived me very cOurteOusly, and informed
me that his daughter was then .lOO'clOek
a.m) visiting the Protestant Orphan
Asylum, but would probably be at home
by noon. A Deuphin street car carried
me to the asylum, where she had been;
but Was informed that she had returned
home. like the Mobile arrangements
for street car travelling much better than
ours. The negroes are not permitted TO
ride inside of them 1t is true the fare
Is double ten cents, but gentlemanly
passes through the cars and
receives the fare, keeps order, and gives
the signal for starting and stopping. At
i0t am. / entered st. Frances street
car for tie four mile post towards Spring
Hill, and requested the driver to put me
OF at Mr.. Evans door. 4 number OF
Messengers were already seated, one Of
whom Immediately attracted my atten-
ton, and there was something IN her
appesraace which reminded me Of Irene
and Edna Earl, and which made me
suspect that the fair Inner Of those
characters was before me but cannot
well tell what 10 was, for she was the
very reverse of the Miss Evans Of my
imagination. IN my fSIly she was de-
picted as 5 tall madonna, or nun-l!ke
woman, black eyed, serious and some
Ehst melancholy brunette, sickiIed
o'er Nith the pale east OF thought" not
ugly, but by no means IFettyl and more
like duenBa than q young donua OF the
Spanish type. She was haoited plainly
but neatly, in blue muslin dress, which
fitted her admirably, and which was
told was cut out and made by herself.
A fashionable hat, trimmed with blue,
suited the dress. Two wells, one black
and the other blue, entirely concealed
hes features, which vexed me, for was
curious to aseertsiu whether the features
they hid corresp5n1ed with the faultless
form Of the lady. She was Of medium
size, small wasted, with a well devel-
oped bust, q neck very fair, and perfect
model for a sculptor. Her hands and
feet were those of g southern lady, very
small and tidy. She looked as If she
would weigh about ll5 pounds, AMI to
the eve Of sn artist resem Oied Powers
Greek slave more than the Venus de
Medicis or the Nenus OF Canova. After
wards / had the pleasure OF seeing her
face to face, and was surprised to ind her
a blonde, with light chestnut brown hair,
soft, expressive and brilliant hazel eyes,
Grecian features, with a nose slightly
squiliue, forehead a little higher ana
broader than Psyche's, cherry red lips
welt cGryed with Cupid's bows, and
slightly uptGTned at the corners, midi
eating a smothereu propensity for fun.
Her cheeks are beautifully tinted Tith
the maiden blush OF health and lnno-
repse, | was told that she was thirty
wears old but how young she looked
[ decided that her age could not be more
than twenty-One. / was amused at her
blue dress, but there is nothing Of the
% blue stocking - about her. She wore
the hlae veil to relieve a temporary in
flRmmation Of the eyelids, caused by too
much reading and writing at night, or
other imprudence ] was told by an ac-
that the affection is not con
stitutional or habitual. / have said that
her hands are small and tidy, but they
are not dimpied. There never was 3
PAINTER, poet, musician CT any ingenious,
industrious or useful woman WiOh dim
pied hands. Hers are beautiful, but
made 10 work as well as TO soOthe, to
knit and sew, to touch the chords Of
music, and to WELD the pen Of genius.
Her voice is clear, soft and melOdiOus,
ana ita tones sink into the heart; and
when heard 1t soothing and cheering
me, l felt myself strengthened for my
work
When I entered the car she was cons
versiBg very earnestly with very grave
and melancholy looking gentleman, with
an intellectual but care-wOFn face. She
raised hsr veil while speaking to him,
but he never looked at her at all, and
with his face half averted and
his ewes fixed on dim vacuity.H When
he left the cars his place was occupied by
q very dignitied but gallant and courtly
old man, who met her gaze honestly
and affectionstely, as # he feared no evil
from goodness. There was something
fascinating about her which everybody
who entered OF left the car seemed to
fesl. All knew her, and in passing in or
out each oae paused to speak to her with
an affection aud reverence which bespoke
the esteem with which see is regarded
by the people of Mobile Of all classes,
and she had something pleasant to say
with q modest smile to all who addressed
hef.
She heerd me ask the conductor to stop
the car for me near lfr. Evans, and soon
afterward, IS the old gentleman l men
toned was about leaving x, she ghis-
pered to him, and he approached ne,
saving, with a courtly bow: Excuse
me, sir, YOU requested the conductor to
stop FOR you ST Mr.. Evans. That young
lady is bis daughter, and will introduce
YOU 10 her II ycu wish me" After
thanking him Tor bis courtesy, | was
soon engaged in a very interesting con-
versation with her. Her kind and frank
address made me feel at once as If WAS