New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-10

was fifteen years old at that me and the next hteen
years of life mostly passed In Warrington 1he
Academy numbered among It's trustees, tutors ana
scholars, celebrated in literature art ana the
sciences; and etia found there the fresh dehght Oh
thoroughly congenial society Lucy Aken-whose briei
biography OF her aunt OF the sources TO Wcn We
indebted for knowledge of herspeaKs OF 'nese
hfteen years at Warrington probably the happiest
as well the most brilliant period OF mrs' par
bauld's life. She at this time possesSeu VI
great beauty OF which she retained the traces W
extreme old age. Her figure was slender her compleA
ion exqusitoy fair, with the bloom OF perfect hea'h
her features were regular, and her dark oiue eyes
beamed with the sparle Of wit and good humor. During
these years her close intimacy with Dr. and Mrs. Priest
ly was great source OF pleasure, and Dr. friestley
wrote in his own Memoirs" that Mrs Baroauid hsd
told him it the perusal of some verses OF ms
which first induced her TO write anything IN verse; VI
Dr. Prestly Mrs Barbaud finely said that he followed
truth "as a man who hawks follows his sport-at ru
speed straight forward looking only upward, and re-
cardless INTO what difficulties the chase may lead him.
large number OF Mrs Barbauld's letters are given
in these volumes: ana she certainly deserved 10 'ac
high rank as letterwriter. In 1871 her brother John
Aiken NJ D., returned to Warrington 10 settie mhsei
there as physician, and he speedily discovered the
merit of his sisters poems and undertook the SELECTION
revision and arrangement of them for the press. The
book was published in 177s when Miss Aiken was 81;
and it went through four editions In the first year Vi IL"
publication The Of the poems led the author 10
collect her prose articles and before 1773 was over
small volume had appeared with the title OF misceia-
peous Pieces in Prose- by j. and L. Akin. These articles
were Intentionally printed that no one could tell
whether any particular paper was by the brother or e
sister This led to odd mistakes, one OF which
Rogers thus reoounts in his Table Talk
eat dunerparty where was Fox met Akin Akin NJ
Akin said Fox alludng to the volume written partly
by Akin and partly by his ssser Mrs nnt;nnsI Fo9
.yonr ESSAY Against Inconsistency In our Expeeh-
TONS That replied Akin is my SISTER r,itm
fions 'That' answered Akin. is also my sister D.
Mr. Rogers adds Fox thought 1t best TO say 10 more
Miss Akin also successful writer OF aiegores'
for which style OF composition she had graceful gift
peculiarly her own
In May 177l, at the age OF 81 LBtita married the
Rev. Rocbenont Barbauld Dissenting minister, nj that
time IN charge of small congregation at Palgrave Ill
Sussex where. also, he presently established boarding
school for boys in which his wife proved herself mos'
able assistant. Mrs Barbaulds marriage thus made an
important change in her occupation leading her from
that time TO devote herself to the instruction and
entertainment of very young children. The Barbauds
were peculiarly fortunate In their scholars. Two
of the eight with whom they began this school were pos
sessed of very mental gifts One was Sir william
Cell afterward the eminent antiquarian. lie was one
OF the Youngest in that infant class for whose use Mrs
liam Taylor OF Norwich, well known in after life az the
author of an able and valuable work English Syno
nyms and also by his spirited and admirable trsDsIa
lions from the German. He used to call Mrs. BarDaud
the mother of his mind and indeed, she devoted her
self with truly moherly care 10 the culture ana the
entertainment Of her young charges. Dr. johnson, IN
one of his il-naured moods was growing about the
education of women and Illustrated MS haiahgue ny
vicious fling at Mrs Barbaud
Miss Akin WAS an instance of early cultivation, but in
what terminate In marrying little PresOY
parson who keeps infant boardngschoo 80 that all
"'' To suckie fools and chronicle small beer.
This "a ana TINS Is dog,
with four legs and tail see there! you are much pet
ter than cat or dog, Tor you can speak sa s
bestowed such an education on daughter ana had dis
covered that she thought OF marrying such fellow,
would have sent her TO the Congress.
| At other times, however when no was more amiaby
disposed. he expressed his cordial admiration for the
cheerfulness with which Mrs Barbaud descended from
| personal ambition practical and unsel6sh duty In
1910 Barbauld wrote, behalf OF herself and her
husband TO brother, DIR. Akin, begging earnestly
for one of his children for adoption She used one argu
ment at which fathers and mothers OF families would
| smile. She wrote:
Though it makes a very material difference in happi
ness whether person has children no children 1t
makes, apprenend little or none whether he has three
or four six because four or hve are enough To
exercise all his whole stock of care ana Affection We
| should gain. but you would not lose
This argument the tender plea of his beloved
| that he granted her petition and Charles Rochemont
Akin al the age of years. sent TO his amt 70
be her adopted son. From Mr. and Mrs. Barbauid he
received the most devoted care and attention,
which he aterward repaid by being at once the pride
and the comfort Of their declining years. For
his use Mrs Barbauld wrote her Early Lessons which
were the inauguration OF new era In childrens
literature Indeed suitable books for children al
most unknown before Mrs. Trimmer and Mrs. BarDaud
gave theirs TO the world. Between nursery tales OF
spre and goblin and The Spectator, there was scarcely
middle ground Mrs. Barbauld's writings for children
perhaps did real good than any other OF heI lit
erary undertakings; and think, formed quite as i'm
portant a factor any other in her well-earned
celebrity
In l777 and 1878 Mrs. Barbaulds letters full OF
brightness and of interest she tells now she laughed
al Sberidan's School for Scandal and how she wept
at Miss MOre's tragedy. Percy" She describes
Mrs Montagues new house, and discusses book writ
ten to prove Fasta coward In their vacations the
Barbauds pleasant journeys in various parts of
| England and Scotland. The Winter holidays they
| used to pass in Lond0n and they met
| there men and whose names still
| celebrated for their Wit and their genius. Con
corning all these people, and the scenes among which
they figured Mrs. Barbauld gossipped delightfully."- both
IN her ettersand her diary In 1885, finding that they
were in need OF and relaxation, Mr. Barbauld
signed pastoral charge mp his school, and took
his wife on continental tour which they both enjoyed
and they were convinced by every fresh experience
became true-hearted English folks, that England
the best land the sun shines o. Marseles, Madam
struck pretty little balance of accounts-thus:
| Advantages Of Trdoeling. Per Contra.
| July and a southern Flies heas, and all Pha
I breeze. raOh's plague Of vermin
Figs almonds. etc. etc. No tea. and the very name
| OF teakettle unknown.
Sweet scents in the fields Bad scents within doors.
| Grapes and raisins. No plumpuddiDg
| Coffee cheap milk. MIX az dear as coiiee.
Wine dcmi- the bottle. Bread three the half
| penny roll.
Proyepcal songs and laugh PrOvencal rOughness and