, 1870-08-07
SKETCHES OF UNCOMMON WON
EN-,

Written for Tie Chicago Tribune. |
Last gear the Ecrotution published tho lar |
gcst part Of u work written in 17a2 By Mary
Wolletonecraft, and entitled a Tindication
Of the Rights Of Women" Many who read
these extracts expressed desire to know more
Of tho Autlor's life, and, fuling myself Of thAt
number, epur1e1 on by i curioe1ty awakened by
the perusal Of tho entire work-a work advo-
eating the principles advocated ly our female
agitatc.e now nearly eighty years later-I set
about the collection Of all that WIS accessible
in the public libraries OF this country concern
inE the career Of this woman, and now, for the
qualification OF those interested like myself,
give the rcsult Of ms researches
LII reading Hogga 8. Life Ut Shelley" 1nen-
tion il there made OF William Godw1n's
'4Iife OF Mary Wollstonccraft.'' Surprising
this to contain all that desired. I sought the
book, but found il to bo owned, with but one
exception. in this country, by private iulividu-
als, and therefore its contents difficult OF NC
cchs, The encyclopedias are contradictory in
their opinions OF tho talents aud character OF
this woman, their statements being Mn1o gen.
e1alIy in accordance with their religious bins
For instance, A1. Allibone, in hls remarkable
"Critical Dictionary Of English Literature
gives what Mrc. Caroline DAla, in recent work,
terms tho popular conception" Of this woul-
m. That Mr.. Allibone'a estimate OF her chat
ac.er is An unfair one notlc need be told who
are ut all conversant with her history: aud,
| moreover, il must bs affirmed that his strict
| u1eB upon her opinions show n bigotry quite
| Inconsistent with 30 delicate an occupation ~
that Of giving to tho world an unprcjud.ce.i
| account Of the lives aud merits OF eminent
| man and women.
Mary Wollstonecraft was nn Englishwomau
Of the middle class. Her fntAer was univer-
sally declared by Lis acquaiutances to he a
man Of uugoycrnable temper, SacilAsine anu
thriftlces. 1t is sail that ho was 10 cruel iu
his family that Lis daughter was dis
gustel, and often compelled to nto.
test with great a1mncas against
his unreasonable treatment Of hor mother.
oppression and weak worna.l's submission,
! without the possibility OF an appeal to tho lau
or public o1l1iou to alleviate her condition, il
;; wss natural il,st Thoughts on tho subject oi
: Nomane WRONGS should larc commenced Will
her growth md strengthened with he
strength
! Little il related Of her carly habits. but tn
conclusion may safely be arrived at that worl
wa- tic chief buriuess Of hex young Ito. .
rocs parents. with limited educational advant
; alce, compelled 10 face the necessities Of ltfe
with no time to indulge n the faucies or senti
e ncutalit;es Of yonth. it is mxttor of surpris
that her nature did not becomo hs1l
: and her life continue as begun
mere toiling, plodliug cx.stonce. Th,
her natural eu1owmenta were OF Z supetio
!, age. from the fact that she attracted the Al
tention aud gained the respect OF tho mos
y learned men OF the locality In which shc lived
- - Among them was Dz, l:cha-u Price, who Vrut
q several works on the JUSTICE Of the American
| mil In a <4f1
=, wEo knew how to appreciate his talents III
- =. friendships Of her youth we're well selecte
:, and firmly adhtred to. An Auattschmeut forne
- for n young girl similarly encountered ~ he
- self with the self-imposed responsibility
=. educating and helping maintain yonng
I brothers and sisters, u IN Instance which h,
~ ~. few parallels III the history OF Woman'a fnen
= = chips. This young lads, Fanny Hood, n
~ herself opened school at Islington, who're Il
~ gcttlenets OF dispoxition, humility and grA
" 81 pe14on Of the former. And the perseveEan
r. and strength OF mind OF the latter, soon trt
"a about them numerous Patzs'nago- AIT
en sn tvoyears Of the closest conI'anionshir, Fan
~ Blood married, leaving The school to Ma
ing for her own and her fa.nily'e support, /
= father having become utterly dependent, =
~ keems never 10 havo forgotten the claims
~ those friends outside her family circle. Fau'
u threatened NTH consumption, went to L,sbs
'eo hu1 ing to check her disease. but her reno
%, r1tller inc1e..cd her malady. Mary abandon
ua ever, thing, borrowing money to detray her
ns, pe1,ees, much against tho wishes OF frc1l
i ~ that she might ca1y into practice her proi
" kions Of friendship in time Of DISTRESS as '
~ ~ IA prosperity. Here thc remained until
en friend i death, and this experience furnisl
et. The material for romance entitled - Nal
.'s !. which frrt drew public attention upon her
~ tbosthip, although she had previously z
as atr lislel work entitled Thoughts on The Z
|, Gallon OF Daughters"
ey's Upon her return to her school, finding t
arc III her absence itu numbers had materially
lied cfested and that the family we're in sore ne
wal md That her nervous t5stetn had ssbecome
ons de1snGed that not eufhcien, heart was left
hing 20 Alen,rt to re-eetAbliah tho institution.
and accepted The position Of governess in I.
and Spending he. earnings for her family Gu
kasc fully and without stint, until ioril Einrs,
lea,s ongh left England. Tho publication of
best two previously mentioned wozle, aud the Q
rout, her employ uens in tle celebratea publi1l
uine house Of Nj. johnson, that bepcvo
ao|v man to whom al lovers Of Co,
,uor will feel gratitude, BECAUSE, vixen the sal
sad or the lubIl.he1's expectations, Johnson
ards, Ecnted N1. Cowpc5 with one thousand pol
d OF over aud Move their agreement lie was
uors, the publisher Of Tom rAiues religious vi
~ 1t for which he WAS Threatened witls prosecu
tie liia magazine. tie Analyttenl Asrhro. was
etc. tanned 81 n1i,ere defending similar sentiu
r eth. The to these employed upon tie Westminsie,
llars. rit,r o! tho present day. Mary VOLS
roai crafts occupation now became plcasu1ab
Nor her. he1 lAcor peinE ef1tiet' %. the tfAhea
, ac- o. oeiH3nt I1encu Auu AtauAu cssa5s io
tic 1HrNU-
meat 1t ID said OF her At tMn time that hhc
tho 10 book LOT mere annfement.-hot eve
has et1y-etudyipg only those works which
1te1s, addressed 10 the nnoefsta;dih8; she 90
vash- tasted sulma sooo Or h"o*ed nefsei
4ali's common uecessanes OF Nie: tnat sne my
ody's the better able to pursue sone ensme u =
4, 600 ncvolence: tnas sAe seiaoa M ~
Uoet emuscrpcEt- Hes usoA uG<e we -
ntry, coa1tc cloth, euch he "As kEeu Mota "
pvt women in England, black NoFssea sloes q
- tho and beaver hat-clothtd WAlca Weth CO
lrand crcd hardly decent ia her situation In
the To her eietcra eho WAS then giving uht
ssey's ! educational advantages the country ant