New-York tribune., 1873-02-05
BOSTON.
LITERARY NOTES.

or THE BLUE-STOCKINGS-A NEW CTiLD'S
HISTORY or THE UNITED STATES, BY COL
HIGGINsoN--A NOVEL REPRINTED 10 ITS
AUTHORS GREAT INDIGNATION.
sROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THR TRBuNEl
BosrON, Feb. Am English book, of quaint
rather than exciting interest which Roberts Brothers
have under contemplation, is Dr. Dorans A Lady OF
the Last Century" Having disposed of the Hanoveran
Qneens Of England. the biographical doctor mas now
turned his attention TO queen OF society lot MS pres
ont heroinef il be allowable TO use the word present
about one who can by come back save as ghost
or as memoryqueened right royalty IN her own life
time. II was a long life for woman. We are but
epbemar at bestwe who act little part in the slow
drama OF the world and then disappear forever from the
stage while still the play goes on without u.s. But Mrs
Elizabeth Montagu, the present heroine, as rashly
began say lived long almost any OF u.s. she was
born in l72O and she died and so you perceive
che was literally and altogether lady OF the last cen
fury.
she was educated according TO the traditions or
school founded 1878 for the avowed purpose OF rails
nc women to the dignity and usefulness which dlstin
guished Their ancestresses" by certain Mrs Maklh' IL
ir odd that the WOman's Rights people do not erect
statue 70 Mrs Maxim. at least have Maxim Meda ior
badge Of honorable distinction when one has SPOKEN
well at conventions. She wrote long essay ABOUT the
object Of her school, in which she lamens the light ana
superficial culture OF that day departure from the
better way tue good old times and quotes score oi
ladies Greek Roman and other. to prove tnst "Onen
were formerly educated in Art and In tongues one
says she viii plead for female preeminenee over men,
because to "ask too much is the way to be dened AL
Ar instances OF admirably English women sne
spesks Of:
"The Lady Jane Gray, the present Duchess OF New
rastle who by her own genus rather than any umey
instruction overtOps many grave Gownmeni tne
Countess DOwager OF Huntington, pupil OF MRS.
Makn's own: "wen she understands Lam Gree"
Hebr,u French and Spanish, and what pronoieht sne
is in arts subservient 10 Divinity, in which II durst
would tr Won she excels." The Princess ED2aDetb'
daughter Of Charles the First Ito whom Mrs MAXIM hau
been tutoress years old coui write reau ana
jn some measure understand Latin, GreeE' beoTe"'
Frfel and Italian: had she liked, what miracle she
would nave been OF her sex" Then we have MIS- Ihor-
old Lady Mldmay, and Dr. Loves daughters whose
"worth and exceency in learning is yet fresh in the
memory Of many men," Finally. she describes Qneen
Elizabeth a. the greatest sample OF all
Then IN a Postscript TO the above essay, she informs
fhe reader
If any inquire where this education be performed
smell av he informed that school is lately erected for
dientlcwomen, at TOttenham High Cross, WITHIN lour
miles OF London. on the Road 10 Ware, where Mrs.
Princess Elizabeth, daughter 70 Charles the First.
where, by the blessing of God Gentlewonan may pe
instructed in the Principles OF re"g'o anu ~ s aI
OF sober ana VrtuOus Education more ParucuIaHy
IN all things ordinarily taught in other schools
Half the time she proposes to employ in gaining The
latin and F,rch tongues; and those that please may
learn the greek and He6rer the italian and Spanish: n
Ill which this Gentewoman hath competent knowl
sdge."
After the formidable traditions Of such school as this
Elizabeth Robinson afterward Mrs Elizabeth Montagu)
educated She TO have had strong constitu-
ton and a thoroughly fresh and wholesome nature She
copied the whole Of the Spectator, when she was only
eight years old but she dearly loved fun too and tells
herself that she fond Of dancing as II she had
been bitten by tarsntula. When she was not quite
eighteen went with of her brothers and her Sis
ter eight miles plays and she tells the Duchess
of Portland that After the play the gentlemen all in
ved the women TO a supper at the inn. where we stad
TN two-O-cock IN the morning" You see they were
WIDE awake their time, these faraway grandmothers
Of ours.
Elizabeth Robiuson's tender and lifelong friendship
with Lord Iyttelton well known. They met first when
she twenty, and he about a wear over thirty al
Court assembly ST. James and the cordial regard and
mutual admiration which began then lasted their lives
through In l7I2. when she twenty-five, she mar
ned Edward Montagu. esq, member for Huntingdon"
The gentleman her senior by good many years. but
the marriage TO have been happy. There IS
atmosphere OF tender blent with hair formal
reverence about her letters 10 him. during their married
life which sncularly charming. When they had been
maued two years she wrote him that there were few
moments IN which her thoughts not employed on
bm, and ever in the best and tenderest manner Mr.
Montagu was a very rich man, and Mistress Elizabeth
had her town house and her country house; and every
where she entertained hosts Of noble friends with
gracious hospitality which Of itself should keep her
memory green. Ia the year 1857 the celebrated word
bIuestOckngs' first occurs in Mrs. Monagus corre-
spondence In 1850 she was already giving literary
breakfasts, Of which Madame du Bocaee. charming
French lady, who wrote Letters England, Holland,
and Italy, makes pleasant mention These breakfasts
we're Mrs. Montagu's Chinese Room. an apart
ment hung with paper from Peking and furnished with
inc day
covered with the finest uen gittered with the most ex-
quisi.e China aud was supplied with coffee, Chocolate
biscuits cream. fresh butter toast, and delicious tea
which Inc mistress Of the house herself poured Mrs
M0ntag not the only lady who gave these literary
breakfasts We do not exactly know when they gave
way 10 the evening oOter1cs for conversation with
Brgcat lemonade tea and biscuits but these last had
been two or years vogue before the word blue
stocking" occurs in Mrs. Montagus letters. Boswell,
his Life OF johnson. speaks OF Blue-StOcRing Club"
the truth Is that sucn cu0 existed. The SO
siety OF eminent friends who met Al Mrs. MODtagu's
originally consisted OF Mrs. MOntagu herself. Mrs.
vescy Mrs Boscawcn Mrs. Carter Lord Lytteton, the
Earl Of Bath Horace WapOe, and Mr.. stin g6eet The
ias, named gentleman blue stockings and this,
peThaps may have suggested the sOubrquet which
10 derisiOu, by proane Ousiders-the Phhstnes
Df that epoch-uOt Mrs. MOutagus receptions alone,
INT 20 an assemblies where ladies presided aud scholars
we're welcomed. This inauguration of parties for lit
rry conversation opposition 10 the card parties then
everywhere m vogue, is perhaps, what posterty will
soneest remember connection with our Lady Of the
isst century But she very lovely woman IN her
time. Bath said Of her that there never was and
neveT would be perfect being created and Burke
ufdy asserted that this compliment not al al zoo
,uonc.
what Mrs. NOnagu wrote is little read now, hut her
published letters fun Of suggestion aud bring the
tme IN which lived vivdly before She bad
seeming aectations but they sprdue from her endOw
senis. Not the World would she have been com
mou place az 10 say the shOue. For her the sill
yer Cynthia he'd up her lamp the heavens" But in