New-York tribune., 1874-06-19
A WONdN'S WORK.

MANY wears ago, Margaret Fuller. in her
"Woman in the Nineteenth Century," called
attention to the work and position OF GER
tain Mrs. Sarah Hanna (then bearing her
maiden name) as among the hopeful signs
of woman's progress The OCCASION "hieh
prompted her notice was visit PAID Dy ex-
President John Quincy Adams to school Tor
girls under the care of this lady in pretty
village in Western Pennsylvania. 1t was
long before the time when woman, without
trampling on all conventional rules, could
lecture or speak as freely as man In pubnc.
IL was tho time when one OF our foremost
thinkers presented the Clytie as the type OF
the perfect woman. "Observe that the halr
"coycrs the forehead down to the eyebrows"
said he. "1hc intellect is there; butt IS
"yaiIed of men, This teacher in the quiet
little town had already determined to do what
lay in her power toward unvaillng the hiddeh
intellect. Having something to say to her
guest on the subject of her lifes work, she
said it, and in public, III few well chosen
modest words, strong in sound common sense.
Margaret Fuller recognized both the sense
and tho prophecy which its utterance at that
time conveyed She would have been quick
also to recognize the peculiar lesson embodied
in the future work of this woman; and we
think this work worthy mention here because
it differs from that approved and sought after
by the majority of women now In It's quiet
and sturdy usefulness. without any strain
ing after dramatic effect. She knew, when
choosing her work, apparently what few
women care to know, precisely what
a
not meant to be an artist or author,
or even teacher par excellence; but she had
an exceptional executive ability and peculiar
fitness for managing and controlling the young.
She made her work therefore the founding
and oversight of schools, having under her
charge at one time three large and successful
seminaries for girls. She has educated and
sent out hundreds of teachers and wives and
mothers in unnumbered happy homes cherish
for her grateful affection. The so-called pro-
grcssive refOrmers would complain no doubt
that such training as hers was calculated
to increase the number of Domestic Women
in the country; but in one point her teaching
WAS moro broad and catholic than
their own. Long ago, before humanitarian
doctrines became the fashion, her pupils were
any part of the world which they could help
to relieve Whether it was the Southern
slave, the famine-wasted Frenchman or Hin
doc, or the needy soldier in Federal or Con-
federate prison, she made them real men and
brothers to her girls--nOt vague ideas. In her
way-nOt the newest or most scientific way,
perhaps-she tried to teach to these women
when she sent out into the world a sincere
love for God and their felOw-man.
Next week, as we learn, she gives up the
work which she begun In early youth, and
from all parts of the country her scholars are
going back to say farewell to her. 1t has
been quiet undramatc life. brought to
quiet undramatc close, and we should have
no right to drag it thus before the public
were it not to hint to other women how
large and wholesome may be the result OF a
nOiseess private life when it is vitalized by
common sense, sincerity, and integrity to the
service of the Great Master.