The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-21
JOHN BROWN. "

"John Brown Workingman" George Routledge L.
Sons) is story with purpose. or rather it is an
essay in the form Of story. John Brown is taken
as fair specimen Of an English workingmsn He
is unfortunate in England drinks. is out Of work
and becomes discouraged. There seems to him to
be no future for workingman. Poverty, hunger
aud dirt him in the face. friend in America
writes him of the opportunities in this country and
he breaks away from temptations and misery and
pitches his tent in Lowell Mass. where he works at
his trade of mason for 81 50 . day. He pays 50 80
for his board and lodging and being lays
up money. In the end he marries his iandladys
daughter busting. smart Yankee girl
who knows housework in all its branches and be-
lieves penny saved q penny gained. The writer
thinks that woman who knew how to manage
could get along In London. but he does not to
think that English working women have the same
knack for making both ends meet that is possessed
by their cousins this side Of the water. and them
poor souls they have not such opportunities. for
the love of gin and beer makes away with the greater
part OF their husbands wages. In America the in
ducements toward respectability. and this. the
author thinks is of our strongest holds upon the
working classes. The description Of the manner OF
working Of Mrs. Goodrich and her daughter is
amusing and very true 1t takes thrifty New Eng
and woman to work.
A MARKED LIFE.
Miss Grace CORTLAND. now physician, of this
city, has recorded the outlines Of an event.
full career under the title of "a Marked
Life. the Autobiography of o Clairvoyante."
The novelty of the story lies in her pos
session of what Ii called second sight,"
which enables her to avert impending dangers from
herself and friends and to forecast all of i'm
portant occurrences. She was of gypsy origin, as
her story runs. born on the banks Of the Msumee
River. A. veil covered her face at the time
OF her birth. Her girlh6od was spent upon
the frontier. where her father amassed q
comfortable fortune by trading with the indians.
Her mother died and she married an English actor.
without her fathers consent. They lived in Western
cities for number OF years. and eventually reached
New York. where she describes her husband
AZ an intimate associate Of John Morrissey and
others Of his class. He left the stage
and entered upon mercantile pursuits. but though
very successful he lost the gaming table what
he made in Legitimate business. A large portion of
the story is devoted to their unhappy married
life. The husband goes to the war, is
wounded, taken prisoner. returns to his home,
amasses another fortune In Chicago. is
burned out by the great Are and arrested for COM
plicity in tho Adams Express robbery, acquitted.
attempts to incarcerate his wife In iunatc asylum,
and In finally thrust, to the readers relief,
behind the curtain Of divorce. The clairvoyante
went upon the stage. sailed for England on the
steamship idaho and predicted at the outset of the
voyage the wreck which happened of the
coast of Ireland. In England she wrote "a
Marked Life" which is published by Sampson
Low. Marston, sesrle and Hvington. The narrative
is done In unpretentious style. but its chief In
terest rests upon the exercise of those clarvoyant
powers which the writer firmly but modestly lays
claim.