The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-11
SOME NEW hooks.
A Successful Lire Harriet Martinesus Au-
photography.

sphere OF Intellectual labor similar rule holds
good as regards immediate rcpute and profit.
We have u notable instance in the author Of the
book before us Harriet Md,tinedu's iWobio9-
rdphv tOsgOodl-vhOse mind. however bright.
active. and we'll poised was certainly not of the
| inventive or creative order. whose work in her
day was fruitful. but only as promotivc Of popu-
lar assimilation. and who yet for a considerable
! period was parsonage. almost power in Eng
land. The present generation can hardly be
| expected TO comprehend tho weight and pros
| uge which forty yeats ago belonged 10 the words
| OF Harriet Martincau, since even contem-
pvrary. Judge Story familiar as ho was with
the social conditions of Great Britain. avowcd
himself slow to appreciate one OF her most
eift Give trcatises. The truth IL that Miss Mar
! tineau began 20 write at tlmo when the prin
| cpies and methods Of the new political science
were the exclusive property Of philosophers;
WHICH, however. the public Ignorance OF such
matters rather famed than stncd tho public
aspiration. 1t was in short. the era OF the first
Reform bill. Of the East India bill. OF tho Anti
| Corn law agitation, when the England Of precc-
dent and formula OF privilege. repression. and
monopoly was rousing herself like a strong
man after sleep. and when a few economical
truths pressed home to the general understand
| ing by telling apologize and illustration gavo
issue and direction 10 the pert-up energies Of "a
| nation.
On the whole. Miss Martineau's work belongs
rather TO history than to literature. In the face
Of dlscouracemont and hindrancc OF every
kind she discerned popular want and met II.
but the very aptness and timeliness Of her
achievement atestod It's cphemcral nature. The
author Of the Political Economy Tales" found
her name in everybody's mouth. and her coun-
sol and support solicited by statesmen and Cab
met Ministers. no, because abe had propounded
any novel and pregnant principles. or had in
vested her exposition with the witchery Of n
matchless style. but because her books happen
ell 30 fit with curious eNactness alternative mood
of the public mind. and by reason OF that ad
justment became potent lever OF opinion. We
are convinced that this large hearted woman
did not write for money or reputation. and she
was. therefore. spared the annoyance of less dis
interested persons who see their contributions
TO the common fund Of familiar ideas and the
resulting advance of the average intelligence to
higher plane attended by collapse Of their
own influence. For some time before the life OF
the author closed it had been plain that hcr
work was dono and laid away. like a statute
once pertinent but now obsolete. and that her
personal prestige had dimmed under tho action
Of the same law which strips of dccduous
leaves. We may add that the clear-sighted.
sober minded, and unspoiled public servant
who il revealed to us In these memoirs was not
one 70 ignore or repine over tho fact.
Ono useful thing however. remained - do.
| and that was 10 trace tho story OF her life a
task which the range of her experience and the
qualities OF her mind justified Miss Martneau
in undertaking. We should find ii hard 10
parallel. in other narratives Of the kind, the
candor and equitable spirit. the patient scru-
tiny and temperate opinions which recommend
rat.lu tal ~.
in the perspcacity as well as verachy OF the
writer. Besides the piauant impressions OF
public men aud wo-knOwn people In tho
world OF letters. aud the store OF novel anec-
dJte 10 which w mean to invite attention.
these volumes possess special interest ~ IA
record OF the trials and compensatiOns charac-
teriatic % n literary career. The professional
habits Of this veteran author. who. in spite of
continual il-heath. accomplished an immense
amount Of work aud her suggestions respect
ing the methods aud conditions best adapted 60
Intellectual labor deserve tho careful notice Of
| those engaged In the same vocation. for her
! views will compel reelection even where they
fail 70 win acceptance.
Harriet Martincau was the daughter Of Nor
wch manufacturer. and il Is worth remark that
her family. who were Unitarlans, were dos ,snd-
eel from French Calvinist refugees Her parents
We're al no time rich and exercised every kind
/ ~ -oll-rontrol o. bring up their children quail
Ael to tako care OF themselves. Thoy pin'h'd
| themselves in luXures 10 provide their girls, as
| well as their boys, with masters and schooling
and trained them 10 an Industry like their own
! the boys in study and business and the girls
! in study and household cares. Thus Mss Mar
! tineau Was saved from bving literary lady
/ WHO could not sew" and she tells VI that when.
IN after years. she was " insutad 10y admiration
| Mt ..ft ..I k..l
! ploymenis" she was wont to explain. iOr her
mothers sake that she could make shirts and
| pullinGs, and iron AMI mend. and get her
bread by her needle II necessary (as II once WAS
necessary for a few months before she gained
better place and occupation with her pom. As
regards the education OF women at that epoch
| 'lsO2-ls2Ol We must say that few modern young
| ladies' ENJOY superior Advantages If Miss Mar
uncaus experience may bo taken a. a criterion.
| Al the aga Of she had become sufficiently ia
mliar with poetry 81 relish Par;idise Lost"
aud used to repeat long passages of it she
I lay IN bed. At IL she had read something II
Cicero. Virgil. and Horace. and soon alter
ward took great delight ia Ta,itus." This
/ seems 10 have been genuine understanding
and pleasure. since we are told that she got into
the habit II" thinking in Latin" ami moreover
stood the tost NJ verse making. On one OCCASION
"A master Of tho grammar school took a little
/ book out Of his pprkrt and translated from il "A
| passage which he desired us to turn into Latin
verse" NJ IS Martinrsu's version was precisely
tho sumo "a tho original except one word. and
the passage was from the Eneid. QIite as much
/ attention was bestowed on her French and she
wits carefully taught in music. Then we mud
J. "a little lator engaged in translating the An
NJ is oi Ia titus and Prlrnrrh's Souucts into an
equal number Of English words with the view