The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-15
ITO be continued
CHARLOTTE BRONTB.
BY MARY GooDELL.

There are always those ready to write
the history Of great men and women
those standing expectant, waiting to
chronicle their great deeds and clothe
them with undying fame. Such wom-
en- as Joan of Arc and Charlotte Corday,
women who have departed from their
usual position and seem to be of differ
ent natures from their sisters generally,
are more eagerly taken as the theme of
the historian. Invoking the aid of Clio,
his muse, and soaring with her through
the realms of fancy, forgetting, mean
while, the realities of life, he is filed
with enthusiasm, with admiration; he
rejoices to record their mighty deeds,
their heroic actions. And, the soft
glamOr of romance over all, he places
them upon the pedestal of fame, as
heroines, as models, as almost more
than mortal. We find this tendency to
hero worship developing itself especially
in this age. We also find a tendency to
elevate this nearly unnatural character,
TO the depreciation of true unobtrusive
greatness which seeks not high-sound-
ing titles aud great notoriety. True
greatness need not exert itself to be
known. Its influence Is feltas naturally
as the genial influence Of the sun. A
woman whose life is spent in trying to
benefit others, whose motives are pure
and unsellish, need not fear lack Of sp-
probation. She will be loved and hon.
ored by her family, her friends, by all
who know her, IL she Is not known to
the world at large. Among the many
such women who have lived We find
Charlotte Bronte, one who 10 known to
many, but perhaps not 30 widely
as some less deserving Of honor. She is
perhaps better known as the author OF
"Jane Eyre" this being her most cele-
brated work. The history Of this wom-
ans life, her writings, and especially
her character, are interesting because OF
her hardships and sufferlngs, her
peculiar temperament, the cultivation
Of her intellectual powers in the face OF
so many difficulties, and her wonderful
genius. Her home was I'm the northern
part Of England; 1t was known rs
Haworth Parsonage, situated in the lit
tie village of Haworth. Left mother
less at an early age, and her father not
allowing her to associate With the vii
lage children, her life was very lonely
and 1t was life tending to cultivate q
thoughtful disposition. Her father waE
a minister, and is described as having
been very eccentric. He subjected his
children to a severe course Of discipline
which told upon their character as well
as their health In after life. or her life
at school and difficulties in gaining an
education we will say but little, as time
will not permit lengthy detail. Hel
school life was attended with much suf-
fering, as the schools were In unhealthy
situations, and not well regulated. She
attempted teaching, but on account oi
poor health, failed. Still, in spite Of al
these difficulties, she succeeded, by
studying and diligently applying all o.
NSa saASf iu gaining BOou cuuCakiOu
: When she was not at school, she re,
maiued at home cheering her father, at.
tending to her home duties, and devot.
ing her leisure hours to study and writ
ing, though longing for better oppor.
/. tunities Of developing her mind, ye
never replning or complaining Of he
hard lot. She reminds one Of som,
sweet flower, seeming strangely out o
place among the bleak, barren hills o
> Haworth, yet cheering all by Its beauty
and fragrance.
Although she had written both pOetr,
and prose from an early age, on almos
, every variety Of subjects, and will
marks of considerable genius, she diC
not succeed well In any Of her writing
: until the publication of "Jane Eyre
In the publication Of this work In ls4
: she more than realized her fondes
: hopes. It was reviewed IN the mos
! celebrated literary magazines Of Eng