The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1874-02-14
MRS. ANN ADELINE BADGER.
The Hilda Of Hawthorne's marble
Faun.o

'She is supposed to have jumped over
boart. near Point Judith from the steamer
running between Fall River and New York,
during fit of insanity, or during period
of mental depression caused by fear of
approaching lunacy." Such is the brief
telegraph announcement of the supposed
fate of Mrs. Ann Adeline Badger, wife of
Rev. Henry Clay Badger, and one of the
recently elected school trustees of the city
of Boston. Mrs. Badger was aged about
forty years, a graduate of Antioch College,
Ohio, and one of a family Of several sisters
noted for their intellectual requirements;
one of whom married Thomas Hill, at one
time President of the Antioch College, and
still later Of the Harvard College; another
is the wife of Professor Pumwelly, the we'll
known geologist and author; and a third is
married to Mr.. Putnam, Of the publishing
house of George Putnam Sons. New York.
Mrs. Badger was at one time, about 1861, a
tutor in the Antioch College, and at the
time of her recent disappearance was the
| pilAolpeai VI d p1lFdGe sCAool liz boStou,
established by her some years ago. That
7 she was highly esteemed is evidenced by the
fact of her election by large majority as
member of the Boston School Committee.
Her family relations are pleasant, as is
shown by references to her husband in sew
eral letters written just before she left, in
which he is spoken of in the most Affection
ate terms. He was called to fill the pulpit
left vacant by the death of the Rev. Thomas
Starr King, ill California, but impaired
health compelled him to relinquish it.
The above facts appear in the notices of
the loss of Mrs. Badger, but in addition are
certain incidents known to but few, the
writer among the number, which invest her
life and her death with far more than ordi-
nary interest. Few of our readers have not
read the "Marble Faun," that weird
offspring of Hawthorne's mournful imagin-
alton. All have there admired the exquis-
| itely exalted character of Hilda, the typical
New England girl, who seemed the shrine
of spirit pure and true, wherein the author
portrayed the fair ideal only known to his
serenest hours. The original Of the charac-
! ter was Mrs. Badger, then Miss Shepherd,
who went abroad as tutor in Mr.. Haw-
thorne's family. She it was who trimmed
the vestal lamp in the town. which finally
went out after 400 years of constant burning,
just as her life has now ended. She it was
who was contrasted with the darker, more
passionate Miriam, and whose subdued
ways charmed as they were sketched.
Hilda, physically and mentally, was the
counterpart of Miss Shepherd, and those
who pernsed the pages Of the book could
not fail to acknowledge the faithful por-
Urasuurc Unv urIg1naI. Inc Marble
Faun'' ended with Hilda q wife. Miss
Shepherd, during her tour abroad, was
betrothed to Mr.. Badger, the two having
been classmates at Antioch, and graduates
while that institution was under the control
Of Horace Mann. Her marriage to Mr..
Badger occurred upon her return, about
1860. Closing the pages of the g Marble
Faun," ;" we fain wonder whether the dreamy
existence of Hllda viii continue, just as we
always wonder what will be the final fate
of all Hawthorne's characters. But now
comes the tragic sequel, and we find that
the sensitive organization of which he made
a heroine, at last, desperate from mental
ills. finds the solace of a suicide.