The New York herald., 1877-03-04
HARRIET MARIINEAU.

DIED.
Bosrox, March 2, 1871
Eight months ago to-day Harriet Martincau-shc
who had been called the nrst woman OF nor sge-diod
peacsaby Ambesde afser twenty-ouc long years OF
pain sud suffering aud brave waiting for deah and IN
few days her autobiography - 20 be pubshsa, and
with the "Nemorials' added By her ir'snd Mra Ma
ria Weston Chapman. There few traits which
more copclusivey prove woman's freedom from all
pesliness than capacity Tor friendship for hnother
woman and u u tho least significant mark Of Har-
ret greatness that she was able 10 sustain
this rotation to Mrs Maria Weston Chapman for almost
forty years. admire her warmly aud love her
as tcndsrly when dying as when she FIRST saw her
moving among tho aboIitionists Of Boston. one OF
their acknowledged leaders. This Is not the
place for eulogy on Mrs. Chapman. Miss Martineau
described her long ago and gave her tho foremost
place among those whom she called ''the spiritual
monarchs Of the age" In autobiography sho says
that her reiation 10 Mrs. Chapman required the ut-
most moral care Tho discovery OF her moral power
and insight 10 mo extraordinary that, while
louged 10 work with and under her felt that Il must
bs morally perilous TO lean any one mind a. could
not but lean on hers Thus far, Whenever We had dif-
fered tand that seldom happcncd) bad found her
right, ami 70 deeply aud broadly right as 10 make me
long 10 commit myself TO her guidance" Mrs Chap
man does NOT seem 10 dare to undertake the task OF
wr,ling iormai suogy OF her Trend, but her rever
admiration brcashe through every line OF her
work and make long tribute or affection TO Mss
Martineau's memory The contrast between the lives
OF the Two women Is picturcsqucy strong
MISS Martneau wrote Mrs Chapman acted. These
wore their points of-dsrcncc; their sympathy seems
10 havo been based their common love OF justice
their devotion to tho redemption OF all tho op
pressed.
THE LIFE.
harei Ia Ia use In q
events In Miss Martncau's life. Encyclopedias and
bog aphical dictionaries reasonably abundant.
Her obituary OF herself published in tho Daily Ncios,
was full and comprehensive, aud her opinions and
much OF her history be traced In her books Con-
cerning her views mesmerism and on theology
there s much curiosity; the history OF her childhood
Is interesting and tho story of her brief romance Will
seem far moro interesting 10 many OF her own sex
than all the tales OF her intellectual trumphs. Mrs.
Chapman heads tho chapter IN tho "Mcmorias'' ent-
tlcd sslnfancy'' with quotation from Andcrsen's s
"Ugly Ducking,n and Miss Mar,lncau's own account
OF her early lie gives one the impression
that tho comparison is perfectly just Mrs. Martneau
was very clever woman, but fond OF power aud in
tensoly Jealous; she was proud OF nor children but
indulgent and II was Harriets lot TO be dis
cplined and that not wisely. The child was mystery
to her family, but could not oil course, suspect or
comprehend the fact, and went blaming herself at
every instance Of incompatiblity. Only twice in all
hcr childhood could she remember to have received
any demonstrations OF tenderness Once, when she
four years old she was taken to an exhibition Of
magic lantern, and when Minerva appeared In a red
dress, at Arst extremely small ana then approach
ing I'll her owl seemed coming directly upon
the poor child, 1t like her night
marc dreams that sho shrieked aloud. A
lady who sat next 10 her took ber her lap and
soothcd her. The other Occasion when, after pass
ing solitary Sunday afternoon in tho garrct, srug
Cling to bear tho torture OF earachc she stole into
the paror, where the OF the family laughing
and talking, and got into dark Her mother
called her and asked what she doing, ana then
she says, Iburst out that my ached SO did not
know what TO do Then she and my father both
called 10 tcnderly and she took me on her lap and
laid her warm bosom. was afraid o spoil
ing her starcned muslin handkerchief with the tears
which would come; but was very happy and wished
ktAat l might never move again. ! was abundanty
obedicnt In act" she wrote, "but the interior rebcl.
lion kept my conscience In state Of perpetual self
torture" Tho Arst words OF encouragement that she
ever rcceivcd camo TO her In the guse OF severity.
She suffering from fly having got into her eye
Harriet" said tho mother, firmly graspsng her Tor
tho operation, IL know that you have resolution, ana
you stand still till get 1t out" The child stood
still, and, whom the obstruction was removed, ran
eagerly 10 the gateway to tell playmate what her
mother had said.
HER INTELLECTUAL Tendencies.
At seven years OF age Harriet mot with 'Paradse
Lost" and in cw months there was not line In 1t
to which she could not Instantly have turned She
sent herself to sleep by repeating it, and when her
curtains drawn back the morning, descriptions
OF heavenly light rushed upon her memory This
was her lrst experience Of moral relief through intel
lcctuai sources, but sho st had "habt OF misery, y
and never begun to outerow IL until she went Ia
school, and learned to forget tho troubles Of the
| heart In the pleasures Of the brain. Even then,
| however she depressed morally, that when
| her schoonaster called upon her mother she spent
| hours OF anguish and apprehension concerning the
motive OF hs visit, although conscious OF not having
committed any fault, and when her mother said thai
| he camo only 10 express his appreciation shc criec
| desperately. Al sixtecn Miss Martincau sen
from home on account of tho state oil hcr health OF
| her s'hcath and tompcr," as she says in her cool
| unsparng fashion. Her homo In the family
of an aunt VINO kept boarding school, and here she
learned tho meaning OF the word "happinoss." 1t IL
| characteristic OF tho woman to own that through
fear she habtualiy untruhul In her intercourse
| with her mother at this time, but sho dropped
| the trick Of ialsehood at onco and forever
| when she left nome. While with hor aunt, sho say.
her domestic affections we're regcucrated and sht
became sincerely and heartily fegious Win some I'M
provsment ol temper consequence, and not litt'
In courage hope and conscicntiousness She studct
hard She became. as sho says walking concordance
| Of Milton and Shakespeare shc could repeat enough
poetry 10 have earned hor bread ls wandering re-
| cter had that avocaton not persisted. She was
| thorough Latin scholar, good musician and wei
grounded in modern languages. She made all he
clothes, except her stays and her shoes, aud never
spent moro than fl2 out Of the flo allowed
I bcr annually for dress. In after years
sho turned her knowledge OF ncedlework
account, and M time OF family distress
made fancy baskets in her leisure hours, II she can b
said TO have had any loisure Al twenty she had hc
romance and tho tale Is best told in her own words =
"a dream, she says, .had passed before me since th
visit OF student friend oil my brother James. wnicl