Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-14
HARRIET mARTIxEAU.
Biographical sketches Of her
CstempBraries.

This lady has done more IcdI sSlfAS0
"a modern society than younger people
are aware of. Her books on political
economy sowed the seed which issued IN
tbe splepdid harvest of free trade. Her
books Of history raised the Level OF
modern thought. In politics she has
alvsys stood in the foremost rank OF re-
formers. Her calm, philosophical mind
saw wears ago the results at which the
world has only nov arrived. In Amer
lean affairs she has been the cleavlng
friend Of freedom through all manner Of
obloquy. Indeed, she Is as well known
in Massachusetts,, probably, as IN Lon
don. For great many years she mas
lived in he beautiful little house, d" The
Knoll" at Ambleside, 8 confirmed in
valid. unable TO 20 out Of doors, and
rarely leaving her bedroom. But her
nen has never been inactive, and l sup
pose no living writer has large circle
Of people Of mark among his or her
correspondents.
Twice the Government of the day has
souoht TO induce her to accept pension,
but She has steadily refused, believing
that her independence would be com
promised we're she 10 yield. She Eas
been the friend of the most noted per-
sonages Of Europe for the last forty
wears. and has q singular faculty OF
both reading character and Of describing
81. This power she has put in force IN
"a number Of remarkable sketches about
:, bo -nbI;sbad bv Messrs. Macmillan,
entitled q" Biographical Sketches-lo0Z-
68.n The idea Of this york, Miss
Nartineau states in her preface, was
suggested 10 her BY Mr.. j. K. Robinson,
manager Of the Daily NsJrs and the
book comes through the press under
his Judgment and care. Martineau 5
enthusiastically clear and picture
like. The mirror Is held Up to some
forty-efsht personages Of w0rid-Slde
reuown, gud the effect Is more striking
than is usually produced by the elaborat te
memoir.
CURRER BELL.
Miss Martineaus kesollections OF
Charlotte Bronte are touching. She
says:
= The account Of the school in Jane
Fvr.' is only toe true. The Helen oi
that tale is-not precisely the eldest SIS
,er who died there-bnt more Ike hel
than any real person. She Is that SISTER
with a difference. Another sister ale'
at home soon after leaving the school
and il consequence ofits bsrdshlps anc
.C,rrer ReU' Charlotte Bronte) wa
never free, while there for year ana
\sf). from the gnawing sensation, o
con. .,equent feebleness, Of downright hun
Ger I'd she never grew an inch iron
H., time She was the smallest Of Wo
meD and If was that school whlcI
stunted her growth
WHO WAS JANE EYRE?
otIsne Eyre was naturally aud uni
versally supposed 20 be Charlotte her
self. bat she always denied 1t, ealml
cbeerfully, and with the obvious sineei G,
;tv which characterized all she said. IN
declared that there was no more grouh
for the assertion than this She ono
told her sister that they were wrong
even morally wrong-in making ihe
heroipes beautiful, as a matter OF cours'
They replied that 1t was impossible
make a heroine interesting on oth'
terms. Her answer was, l will prov
70 YOU that you are wrong. l will sho
70 YOU q heroine as small and as PLAIN
mvselfwho shall be as Interesting as an
Of yours. Hence Jane Eyre, sa
she. in telling the anecdote but she
not myself. any further than that. !
the work went on, the interest deepen'
10 the writer. When she came to Thor
field. she could not stop. Being shoE
sighted 10 excess, she wrote IN htt
sauare books, held close TO her eyes, al
lthe first copy) IN pencil. On she WeL
writing incessantly for three weeks
which time she was herself IN fel'
which compelled her 10 pause. The r.
was written with less yehemence, al
with more anxious care the world adj
with less vigor and interest" "
CHARLOTTE BRONTE MoDEsTT.
n She could crafty her singular !
ssry, in regard to the publication Of Il
remarkeble book We sll rememt
how long il was before We could lea
who wrote it, and any particulars OF t
writer, when the name was reveal
She was living among the wild orksn .
hills. with father who was too mu
absorbed in his studies, to not
her occupation in a place where new
papers we're never seen Cor where
never saw any, and in house VIII
the servants knew nothing about boo
manuscripts, proofs, or the post. WI
she told the secret to her father,
carried her book in one hand and
adverse review in the other, to save
simple and unWorldly mind from T
expectations of fame and fortune wh
she vas determined should never be
aims Of her life.
an her deep mourning dress
ass Ouaksr's-xith her beautiful b