Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-10-17

7 FOR ALL. L.---Linco.n.
RSDAY, OCTOBER II,
PERE IYACINTHE'S BRIDE.
A Laudnt0ry Account Of Mrs. Elcrri-
MAN.
Correspondence Of the N. Y. World
SIR: So much has been said about
the marriage of Pcre Hyacinthe with
an American lady, that few words
concerning this noble Christian woman,
who has exerted such powerful inAu-
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
jouru in New York, and many q pleas
ant hour was charmingly spent in her
society. In person she was tall and
qucen-like. and the effect of her fine
figure was often heightened by long
trained dresses which hung in graceful
folds, aud 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 vivaclty and animation made her
seem more like q French than an Amer
ican woman.
Her powers of entertaining were very
great. A fine linguist, speaking sew
eral European languages with great
facility, she was never at a loss for
suitable words in which to clothe her
ideas. Having travelled a great deal,
especially in F rance, Switzerland, Ger
many. and Italy, and having traversed
the ocean no less than seven times, she
had never-fuiling 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 al, ernately
thrill AMI delight a little audience of
friends with her recitations. 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
would keep the hearer spell-boupd
until she finished reading or speaking.
Her love for music was almost O pas
slon-especlalIy 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 ct that time was very indiffer-
ent instrument, but the great composer
and pianist would play on, unmindful
of its defects, and produce some of the
most sublime melodies and harmonies.
Lies Cloches du Monastere " was one
Of Mrs. Merriman's favorite pieces, and
she would ask for it over and over
again. Many time has she said cit
seems to me as if could see beauti-
full Swiss scene among the Airs, and
hear the bells peal out from one mon
astery to another and from hamlet to
hamlet, echoing and re echoing
through the mountains. 1t is SO natu:
rail-"
In addition to her other accomplish
ments, Mrs. Merriman was also a
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 las been, and is, to aid the cause
of better education for women, par
ticularly for the Italian women. She
has never been an advocate of woman
suffrage either by deed or word, but
longs to ameliorate the condition in
Italy and make them better and
happier. Upon her last return to Eu-
rope she went Immediately to Rome for
thepurpose of founding an international
college for ryoung ladies, and so urgently
represented to lending men connected
with the italian Government the i'm
porta ce of higher education for
women that the Italian Government
and the Roman municipality agreed to
give suitable building and ground,
and subsidy of 10000 francs, when
ever like sum should be furnished
by voluntary subscription. It was in
tended to take one of the converts for
the purpose, but the work has been
thus far delayed owing to the noa-ex-
pulsion of the Jesuits.
In her religion Mrs. Merriman is a
devoted Christian and sincere advo.
cate of reform in the Church of which
she; is now member. She was former.
~ Presby terian, and was connected
with Rev. Henry Ward Beecher's
church in Brooklyn. When size went
abroad she became O devout Roman
Catholic, and, as is we'll known, pos.
sessed great influence over the mind
and, it would now appear, the heart
also-of Pere Hyacinthe. She Dor.
trayed to him the abuses of the Catho.
lie Church, and has been a most ardent
worker in the cause of church reform
In her family relations she is most
affectionate. Her husband died num-
Der of years ago, and she has had. sole
charge of her son, youth of eighteen.
She also had one daughter, who died
when little girl.
Perhaps better idea of Mrs. Merri.
mans thoughts and life work, as we'll
as of her noble character, can be OBJ.
tanned from the following extracts from
private letters addressed to a very deal
friend in this city than in any othel
way. The first is dated Rome, July
%, 1871:
But the great work Of Catholic reform is be
gun! Dollinger is the head and Hyacinthe i
the heart Of it? There is no hope IN France
our dear Pcre stands alone for truth and co"
science. Italv will join in the movement soon
ard Europe entire, and after that America
But I did not think my predictions cou !,
come quite so soom. I told you, however,
must come to blood, and ii the Gov. .rnnlent j
lot very firm, you will see great trouble. Tin
head of Romanism is crushed in Rome, but tn
tail of tho serpent Is among you," aud viii
live 6 till the sun goes down." after the table
, lay Catholics they are slaves-conscle't tiou
{ slaves--an@ the priests are more slaves tha
they. Even the Bishops are puwerless. Rom
rules absolutely in spiritual thin.s. l sha
remain at my post, where mysterious Prov
dece has placed me; there is SO much wOr
to do III TINS great harvest field, and SO few t
do it. Tlicre are some great and gloriou
souls here. Whiting the aay Of dcliv.ra,cc bu
they must wait in silence and in 8, cret, for
= sentinel stands at every door and every Ike!
f hole! Rome is politically free, but spiritual
, more in bondage than ever, except those r
few who can brave the fury OF the Vatica
and the Pope's exec mmunica tions. My wor
strikes ut the root Of some OF the dircst evils
. first of which is the power of tn" priests ov.
, women! You can have no idea Of this. The
rule family, churcI, and state in this " y to
o great extent. There are so few liberal Catht
II lies that have means i'll Italy that can cXpeG
hot MT ~