River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-10-25
PERE HYACINTHE'S BRIDE.
A Laudatory Account of Hrs. Merri-
man,
Correspondence of the n. Y. world.

SIR So much has been said about
the marriage of Pere Hyacinthe with
an American lady, that few words
concerning this noble Christian woman,
who has exerted such powerful infu-
ence over the great preacher, may be
interesting. 1t was the writer's good
fortune to be personally acquainted
with Mrs. Merriman during her last So
iouru in New York, and many pleas
ant hour was charmingly spent in her
society. In person she was tall and
queen-li like, and the effect of her fine
figure was often heightened by long
trained dresses which hung in graceful
folds, and by antique laces around
her neck and shoulders which
were always arranged in her own
peculiar manner. Indeed her style of
dress was peculiar, and she showed a
striking independence of the laws of
fashion. When she was perfectly quiet
her countenance was not exactly hand
some, but her eyes were very express
sive, and when she spoke her whole
face would light up in most fascinat-
ing way, and when particularly inter-
ested or enthusiastic over any subject,
her vivacIty and animation made her
seem more like French than an Amer
lean woman.
Her powers of entertaining were very
great. A fine hnguist, speaking'sev-
eral European languages with great
facility, she was never at a lossifor
suitable words in which TO clothe her
ideas. Havin~ Travelled great deal,
especially in France, Switzerland, Ger
many, and Italy, and having traversed
the ocean no less than seven times, she
had a neyer-failing store of bright and
witty anecdotes and incidents to re
late of her adventures in one country
or another She was possessed of vast
dramatic power, and would alternately
thrill and delight little audience of
friends with her Rotations. No one
who ever heard her recite the AFRICAN
Slave or Barbara Frietchie could
forget her power. There was some
thing electric in her voice, which was
peculiarly sweet and touching, and she
Nould keep the heaTsr spell-bound
until she finished reading or speaking
Her love for music was almost a pas
sion-especially quiet, strange, weird
like music During one winter in
Rome, Liszt was in the habit OF play
ing for her very frequently, and she
would listen intently for hours. Her
piano at that time was very indiffer-
ent instrument, but the great composer
and pianist would play on, unmindful
Of lts defects, and produce some of the
most sublime melodies aud harmonies.
Les Cloches du Monastere was one
of Mrs. Merriman's favorite pieces, and
she would ask for ii over and over
again. Many "A time has she said at
seems to me as if / could see beauti-
+ ful Swiss scene among the Alps, and
/ hear the bells peal ont from one mon
astery to another. and from hamlet to
/ hamlet, echoing and re echoipg
/ through the mountains. 1t is so natu
raj 80
la addition TO her other accomplish
ments, Mrs Merriman was also
painter and sculptor But far beyond
these social accomplishments were her
noble intellect and pure Christian char
acter. One of the great objects of her
/ life mas been, and is, to aid the cause
OF better education Tor women, par
+ ticularly for the Italian women. She
has never been an advocate of woman
suffrage either by deed or word, but
longs 10 ameliorate the condition in
+ Italy and make them better and
happier Upon her last return TO Eu-
+ rope she went immediately 20 Rome for
thepurpose of founding an international
college foryoung ladies, and SO urgently
represented to leading men connected
with the Italian Government the i'm
+ porta &c of a higher education for
women that the Italian Government
AMI the Roman municipality agreed TO
give a suitable building and ground,
and subsidy of 10, 600 francs, when
ever like sum should be furnished
+ 10y voluntary subscription. 1t WAS in
+ tended to take one of the converts for
the purpose, but the work has been