Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-02-24

LADY LITERATEURs AT LARGE.

until 2. m.
LADY LITERATEURs AT LARGE.
There is nothing in this world admire so
much rs woman Of talent, industry and
prudence. l refer more particularly TO
women who havo taken to literature, and
owe nothing to friendship for their popu.
larity. Such q woman battles nobly with
the Ills Of fortune, la selfreliant, independ.
Cnt and rarely condescends to ask the as.
sistancc Of her friends In getting before the
public. She feels proud In the possession Of
her gins, but never overrates them. Her
manners indicate the retiring lady; her
whole nature Is sensltlVeI her thoughts nre
fixed on the object Of her ambition. Such A
woman cares but little for tho SNOWY vest.
ments Of that lndcanabie Jade called clash.
lonablc society,"" never forces herself upon
the public. She feels grateful to the press
for what II says Of her, but rarely court, liz
favors. She prefers to walt until public
opinion has passed judgment upon her real
worth, rather than purchase notorlety with
questionable means. am proud Of the
acquaintance Of several ladies Of this do
soriptlon, whose merits tho public have been
quick to recognize, aud whose fame Is Of
real value. These women have done some
thing for our literature. They have i'm
pressed q good moral on many young minds.
am however sorry to say that Washington
has Just at this time q supcrabundance Of
women, who have taken to literature, OF au
entirely opposite character. These dam
sells, too idle to 60 out nursing, and too
proud to take In washing, have for some
time been drifting about loose on the out
skirts Of what Is called fashionable society
number three. They arc extremely light
hearted, and not very heayy-hcadei. Like
q clipper ship they spread an Immense deal
Of canvas for the size Of the hull, and one
IA surprised to sec how they stand up undOr
1t. In fine they dress in full feathers, aud
may be seen on the Avenue of fine aftsr-
noon, dashlng along at brisk pace, Af-
Gcctlng masculine air, and looking very
like a whole millinery shop out for an
airing.
have nj this moment one Of these gay
nuttcrers 10 my eye, certain Mics Philo-
mena, "a she delights In writing herself
down in the Hons Truth Teller. Phno
mena is an exact counterpart OF dozen or 81
Of these brlght-colorod butterflies, who dart
about Washington mounted on the yer,
smallest literary reputation. Miss PhIlo
monA is very severe on our mother tongue
cuts and Stays 1t In various ways, aud serve
Il up with the solids OF her own vanity
Philomena Is, to me, very love OF wo
man. She travels on her pretensionS, ant
makes a good thing Of 1t, too. She know
the value Of examining herself down the pub
Hes big throat, and for that purpose
holsts her dellcately embroidered flag In the
personal column Of the Home Truth. Teller
Rjournal Of high moral character, remark
able as RiIordlng an asylum for females VIII
travel in tho shadow of literature. whel
PhilomenR sails up the Avenue of a I'm
afternoon, her friends Of the Diplomatic
Corps drop her no end OF smiles and bows
moderate crlnollne moves aside with aston
ishment as she gweeps along, and young
Washington turns to take a sly look ovel
his shoulder, whlSh Phllsmcna feels Is in ad
miration Of her literary reputation. sht
has cultivated delicate acquaintance will
the critics, and affects wonderful respect FOL
the press. Mr.. Perkins, OF the DIily Blowsr
Isa dear, good friend. Mr.. Fudge, Of tho
SdtW day Pledge, has said no end Of pretty
things Of her. Wlnows, OF the Weekly CuI
hvdtor, has mounted her literary ability OF
the highest horse, and kept 1t galloplng be
fore the public for the last six months.
have several times puzzled my brain to hut
out the secret of Phllomena's aoquaIntanc
"A 49,
ofllteraturc. A friend, himselfRn acqualnt
auce and admirer of Phllomena, let me Int
1t one day. This friend writes PROFOUND
essays on grave subjects for tho Deg
Thinker, weekly journal devoted to the
interests OF INDECENT booksellers.
lie received letter from PhilomenA ont
day. rayIng how much she admired an eISS!
on thought, which she had been told wal
from his pen. Philomena declared nothing
In this world would afford her more rea
pleasure than to meet one whose mind wa
stored with such rich gifts. My frlent
could not roslst hint so dellcHtsly conveyed
There was alwayF q dash Of gallantry In hi
composition. So, buttOnIng up his courage
lie called one morning, and was ushered b.
IN urchin in livery into sumptuously fur
nlshed apartments, W here she holds her ltSrS
ry court. Miss PhllomenR lives in - street
considers Il necessary TO her literary repu
tatlon, as we'll as her political innuenc
to do so. She was arrayed In q style {
nsgligs quito captivating, and reclined o
the Boftest Of lounges. My friend was SUI
prised to find one Of so small literary repU
taton INDUCING In such splendor. Philc
mona received him with an ease Of name
aud freedom truly surprising. Five min
utes in her company and his native bashful
ness had vanished, and he was as much n
home Us If he had been Congressman ant
an old acquaintance. She admired hi
writings, and made bold to tell him so. III
had not Il more attentive readerl She ha(
several timcs told several OF her friends the
highest object Of her ambition was to write
like him. PhuOmena suggcstcd that pOr
haps he would join her over cup of tea
She had q weakness for ten-it rcfrcshes he
thoughts. She INDUCES In II Just bsfor
sitting down TO write q sonnet for the Hon,
Truth.1sllsr. When old and partlcula
friends call, (she hoPea to call him on
soon,) shey walk out to W--k's, and enJo
u petit sOuptr. They get them up 80 del
calcly. My friend had dash OF gallantr
In him, and could not resist an invitation 1
ingeulously extended. " Tho air 10 refresl
ing, aud If you would not consider II rude,
said he, al should be happy II you woul
honor me with your company people Of
literary turn should consider themselves Of
friendI.n
MT. -, you are, indeed, too kind,
she replied, With low courLcsyj 81 dom
know why ! should not accept your invita-
ton"
"There certainly would he nothing i'm
proper Ia H." interrupted my nIoud,