, 1877-03-17

,nay add that | made considerable progress il
tho study Of Gcrsnan that year."
In the autumn OF 1881 Miss Alartineau deter
mined to write series Of stories whivt
should illustrate the principles Of 70
litical Economy. Realizing the formidable
nature OF the undertaking, aud the grea
chances against its success, she strength
ened herself III the beginning BY making GER
tain resolutions, from which she promised her
self that no power on earth should draw her
away. II was resolved" she says, 1'that, il
the first place, the thing should be done. Next,
l resolved tn eustain nly health under the sus.
peuse, il possible, BY keeping up mood o1
steady determination and nnfaltering hone.
| Next: resolved never to lose my temper In the
j whole course OF the business" All the power
that could be gained by moral determination
the history OF the severe and protractcd trials
which the author WAS obliged to undergo III its
progress forms one OF the most interesting
chapters Of the Autobiography.
| She had planned series which was to include
thirty-four volumes, one OF which was to appear
| every mouth pntil the whole number was con-
cludcd. In December she went up to London
to find a publisher, and for days plodtlcd on
foot-being too poor TO pay carriage-fare-
| through the fog, and rain, and mud, from
one publishing-house to another. Discour-
agculcnt everywhere met her, until at last,
| by agreeing to very hard terms, she induced
bookseller to risk something in printing the
series. On the day when this business was
and Eearlness that she WAS barely able to ac
coulplish the walk to her lodgings, and reelcd
from very giddncss, like one who is Intoxicated.
After lea on the same evening she began writing
the preface to the contemplated work, and I'm
ished it jus. after the clock had struck 2.
Chilled, spent, and hungry, she dared not 60 to
bed from drend ii the reaction OF her rovertasked
forces. Two bitter hours she sat III her solitary
chamber, mcditating upon the scheme on which
all her hopes were Concentrated. ''4As the fire
crumbleu," she states, ~ put it together till
nothing but dust and ashcs remained; and,
when the lamp went out, lighted the chamber
candle; but At last it was necessary to 60 to
bed, and at 1 o'clock went, aitcr crying for two
hours; with my feet on the fender. cried in
bed tn 6, when | fell asleep; but I was at the
breasast-tatle By halfpast ), and ready for tue
The first number Of the series was pub
lisl!ed carly in February, and in ten
days 500 copies had been demanded.
From that day, Feb. IL, 1882, Miss a1artineau
dated her release from pecunary care. Ever
after she had abundant literary employment,
and there was no want OF publishers ready 10
pay literally for the privilege u putting !.cr
WORKS before the people She now re.noycl! to
LoaCon, wni.h was her home for the following
seven years. The series WAS finished in August,
1854. amt enjoyed an extraordinary success, pro-
curing it: author lame and the foundation VI i
comfortable fortune. II mas her. t.. said that,
in the clsuu. twenty-five years, Hiss Atartillcau
earned by Ter writings S50,0o0. The SUN is not
large considering the opportunity for gains
s, Wilt ~ foMes ~ sne auti'or: 9u1 money was
projects. She hal ! mcst solemn sense of the
responsibility OK an author, and never wrote Tin
less to utter what she felt was Important for
soule pottioh o1 tie pub1ic 70 hcar, anti no
peSunlary considcra1 ions modified or restrained
her expression Of what she ielt it duty to say.
ner uaiAls " "osk were through HE very
y slcu1at'e; anu nef hours were regularly appor-
llonea 10 ,iie tasks I'll cach day. enabling her to
acco'hpish an enormous amount While wit
ins tiic Ioilt!cal economy Series, she regularly
oreaA.o:ieg al or hali: past. ma; sitting down
- her ossk' Wrote steau'ly until :. fr,ni this
tlI1e uAlA sue received SlS1Is. tnen ~alkeo TOT
an llour OF more II helSnoofli@ park anti, re-
turning. urcssed lof tue evening, and invariably
alle1"aFa; f:ha!ly, pelofe fetlrlnG, sae read
un.i : eloch IN thc morning. allowing only
IVY or NY au q 1,ali Hoa1s ior see2: ~ NAIL
tan d laoor1ous s1c IKE TINS "ouid try the
plete1y prokc down hers at the end OF seven
years. III alius;on TO the continual rc'non-
stranccs of friends on the subject Of oyer-work,
sae writes ~ the cAutoologFaPhy: authorship
has neser oeet WIN INC matter o. cholte. l
have not done lt 1or amusement, or Tor money.
or lor lame* or 1or any reason but because l
cotlu NOT hclp II. lungs were pressing to be t
sali' anu taere was more or less evidence that !!
was Inc person TO say them. In such |
case II was always lmpossible to uc"llne |
the uuty 1or su:h reasons rs that should |
IKE more leisure, OF more amusement. or more
sleSp' or li91s :1'stula1 Whatever II my INC
Aaa dcpenaca on more leisure and hoilday* 1 |
coH!d not navy taAea II. nat "ahted TO Dc
saa 1lust D: sa'u; lof Tue sake ol Tue many.
"hate'el E1!shL ~ the consequences 10 t0e one
"oIheF conteFheo'
ueu' WIKI Tue pupllca-1on o. Tue hrst three
" lou. Hu'!nels oi tne fottlc:l Economy
series, -,llss N:Htlheau Aau become popular
autnor' ner society was Soueht py the satellites
III lne 1ashlohaoe anu literary circles ot Lou-
aon- = put not II 1ne least were ner feelings or
nef Ma1ihers aHeeled ny the saaden rise from
ooseu!1tl 10 reho"h. Inc lolty principles
~hich GUIDED her action could no more be
u uao'eo ny tue naiiefs ol success than by the
lear OF 1alure or the sting OF Gctraction. When
entfeated " 1rlelids to improve her style OF
lSlil@' III aelcsenceto the fe society into which
sne WAS suddenly Hlteu, she repied that, her
eAoenses oens properly 40 djnsteo to Aer income,
l!erc , WIS no excuse 1or chanEln@. Those who
really eafe1 loI ncr "ould WISH her IN humble
nome III q naFro" street, anu ail the rest OF the
"oria ill:@nt stay away ms d'@nlficd lnde-
peuocnec OF spirit was never IN any degree
l1e1ea.
VI .gst a4,er al aluuous s'1cIeh o. conlantous
u LtpQt, -N'ss Martneau visited the United States
y \: tae autulnn ol 1o5i. Sne spent TWO years IN
n il7 country: turing tue cale1 part ol which she
@ " as "e!ep!.ie tt:l suest ~ 'he most cultivated
y 5o,tles "!E!itn us boundaries IN one Of ler
oi!el.ai Eeoi'olls series sue nao pia!niy cX-
:. ,.'E ~ hel a s'aFeIs: yet,"eli KNOW
~ ~ ~ .n!s ~ aselGu a'c1sons Pot1eans anu p!ailt-
,a - - .e aoutit upeneu tne4l HOUSES ~ tcf, n1'o
s ~ ne. Icy aau ~ eosuplcIe un!lers'ahdllS
II ,re,'. aa nv, " tne ~ suo IN - Anetca