New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-08

Woolson-"A q. W." OF The Boston Jo"Tho'' TO-
could hardly give the book peasanter letter OF n'ro
ducton than by copying the following note 10 inc pun
lishers from the beloved Poet OF Amesbury'
AyEsBURY, II mo. 49, 1871
Messrs ROBERTS BROTHERS: am glad 70 iear ~, ', v
YOU are about TO publish volume Of essays Oy any my
friend Abba G. Woolson read the pers as they nrst
appeared with lively interest They seemea 70 VIZ ise
fully written yet with certain robust
timely and suggestve-ther language clear iehc'ou''
and plant tue authors requirements. considered
words OF woman, 10
subjects of general interest but as well as
the rights of her SEX cannot but believe they Win n
favor with large class OF readers avn u,ryy,yR
| friend '0 "
NJ, ,o0,or, o,rn preface she says that in portray
inc the different phases of woman's life she has strven
not 10 depic the woman Of the past gorlheu ny INC
poets or sentimentaized abou by the fohahcerSi p'
the live woman OF to-day with her strange cohtrae-
ons her fantastic caprces, and her NINA eagerly ques
tonnR every principle which society has been Duit
The writer has brought TO her task an intellectual Tram
ING OF rather remarkable thoroughness for woman,
Quick wits clear head, and sound heart she writes
OF what she knows and testes OF that she has heard
and the world Of will do well to receive her W.T.
ness She opens her picture gallery with view OF the
schoogrl-a portrait of such remarkable fidelity thatit
is 10 be hoped tnts will not be toned down by time 1t
would be real loss 10 the world If the Girl, rs
Mrs Woolson pictures her, should become an ex
tnc species Do you not her. with that Knot OF no
bon In her butonhoe, that peculiar toss to her scarf
Ell ds and the hatbrim dipped at an unexpected anger
81 considers Curtis the Adons OF literature certainly
she does and goes hear him las do whenever he
lectures She likes picked mesbut that is one OF the
tastes think which follows youth with flying feet"
over gum-drops and tafy she discusses her IA
vorite heroes and airs her views Of life. she
has a beau-ideal, of course; and OF course,
he dark hair and melting dark eyes, and souched
hat and since the ordinary occupations OF life would
bette hun, he lives kisd OF reckless, Robin Hood sort
nuial lilo NJ
not expect marry him. that is of coursetoo frownng
fate and parents with stony hearts forbid 1t suits her
very well picture herself the victim OF misplaced
attachment; but meantime she her afy and learns
her essonsearns them WELL too; quite as well as her
/ brothers, for whose dnler wits she entertains
| secret compassion, never realizing IN her young
audaety the profound superiority of the masculine
| mind II she loves anything better than picked
lines it is Secret, with bigS. The most trfing Incl
dents are confded to her schoOlmates under pledges
seals which would put to shame the solemn foderOi
of Masonic Lodge wonder she is accused of being
unable TO keep secret in after years. What would YOU
She has kept them too many and too much, in her
yout-no one has unlimited powers in any single direc-
ton An 1.-THE, blithe. bCnny lasse we all know You
well. sadeyed women, who were like you
once. turn away from your picture with
starting tear-hard-hearted men, who loved just
/ such another lass, less than hundred
/ years ago. mutter something bitter under their mus
/ taches, and smoke extra cigar. But kittens VIII
grow into cats and schoolgirls will graduate into young
| ladies' Turn fortune. turn thy wheel"
The next portrait-that OF the young lady-is not so
/ winsome picture Mrs. WoOson feels for her deeply
and sketches with free hand the emptiness and ann
lessness of ordinary life. Having left school and
entered society," she feels herself in world, and
not suggested by any of her former preparations
The girl who dropped out OF her classes two years
ago and left school dlsheartened because she was nor
blessed with brains enough for study ana who was ptled
inferior being, doomed 10 lifelong mortihcaton'
bursts upon her in this domain, smiling ana reg
nant; and in presence OF her airy selIpossessen her
ready rcparees, her graceful maneuVers 10 eHect Sly
purposes, our little graduate finds herself admirlnG
Since intellect goes for nothing, and externals for
cOquetry, and unabashed assurance under AL cOnpl-
mens, taught US at school WY did we not % ra
tice bows and handshakings instead OF Ringing bean
bags each others heads to develop our muscles ms
is the knowledge that would have fitted for the
| sphere TO which we are called"
The sketch Of her gradual deterioration, her wasted
powers her unqualified ambitions, her restrained and
shutin life has truth; take issue with it,
as ANYTHING like universal statement. To say nothing
about society as it ought be-as would be- II ali
were Just and generous and all women much in earn
est as Mrs WOosOnI think society just as 1t is offers
us fair proportion OF women who are worth knowing
II it be their energies often die out and their
| acquirements often rust out for want OF use,
! it is also true that young men who go early
10 business are often engrOssed by II as TO have no
time for other culturesO tired at night that poet or
scientist, metaphy charms in vaiD charm he
| never wisely.
should like to pass review, did space and time per
NIT the many subjects which Mrs Woolson discusses
If one does not always agree with her. at least one Is
compelled always respect her. for her conclusions are
the result of earnest and thinking Her ideal Of
/ wOnanhOOd Is noble. she would have all women pure
not only, proud and strong, and fearless. II she
expects much OF her sstersexpects them to add TO
all womany graces, all manly strength-at least is
4 hatfe IN npct tOO
at fly higher than those which seek no loftier
mark than the weatheI-vane "A neighbours wOodshed
little book published in London which has found its
way over here and offers itself TO the consideration Of
American publishers Stories in Precious Stones" by
| Helen Zmmern. The stories founded on the old
Eastern superstition that particular gem belongs 10
each month the year. and influences the fortunes Of
those born in that month. If you are Aprl-bOrn, the
deep blue sapphire belongs TO yOu and its office is TO free
you from enchantment, aud make you kind and
! gentle Of nature. The light blue turquoise
| insures prosperity in love TO the sons and
! daughters OF bleak December. The agate belongs to
june and makes its wearer invincble in all feats Of
strength beside nsurng long life. health, and pros
peIity. And so we might 60, Miss Zmmern does
through the calendar; for she tells tale for every
month in the year, in which its appropriate gem
sparkes. These stories quite too pleasant TO be
wasted on the English and will probably he brought
| out by some Boston publisher.
A. X Loring has q faith which Is really pathetic in
that Newburyport ghost Let school committees declare
and denounce Lorng Is THAT the boy" is
vertable messenger from the world Of spirtsthat MISS
Perkins Is haunted and not headachy-and that nobody
deuded but the wseacres who think they have solved
the mystery In the strength of this great faith he las
made a little book, with pictures in tia good thing to
put under your pillow, If you want to see ghosts for
4. N.