New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-21
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

.nx, ,ro,, sroNFcRAPT LETTERS TO INLAY
WITH PREDATORY dSsri ME TSotSeT. D' y
The editor of this volume has already taken
.,o,o nosition before the public the apojogist oi
Norv Wolstouecraft In the memoir OF that celepa'o
parsonagc contained in his recent biography VI "ii
Codwip he presents her in lightintended 10 soften "
nreiudces under which she has suffered ana 10 '''o
tbe impression OF her character as that OF Noh"
" mere sinned against than SHINING" Mary Wollstone
craft /" he remarks, Gran counter TO the customs -
society. vet not wautony lightly but Win ioie-
thoupht in order 10 carry out moral theory NS'o'
and relieiously adopted. Her opinions save on one
point were those which most cultivated "o"e" Nv
hold She loved much and suffered much sHo 10
the real enthusiasm Of humanity beIore INC "o,
were known which designate leenhs o"
from common; and like many more, who mink Always
fathers rather than self, she has been one OF inc
martyrs of society" The work by which she IS pes'
known TO readers In genera. NlndloaVloh Vi '
RIGHTS OF Woman" is described by MT Idu'
as In fact plea for equality OF euuo""o"
tetU cen the sexes. 1t was protest against "o'na"
botpe deemed only the psything OF man, an assertion
that intellectual companionshp was the chlei cohu-
ton Of happy marriage In Maintaining these lue'.
she assaied not only the theories Of Rousseau but OF
several popular English clergymen, "whose WORDS
were as a gospel 10 the average Enghsh matron'
She did not attack the Institution OF marriage nor me
pr1pciples Of religion She did not even dlrecuy can
mi
moderate Liberals for women and their WORK. " Ire
.nect marriage she says, the foundation OF almost
avery social virtue" Soon after the publication OF ls
book she went Paris in 1892 having reaeheo INC "e
Of thirtyhye without any trace OF romance SUCH 40
comes INTO most wOmeDs lives at far earler
period" In the Spring Of 1898 she became acquaueu
with Inlay an American military officer, who had leIt
the army and was now engaged in eommerclA specu-
tauons in Franco He was educated, accomplished
man. and at that time successful in commerce. anu
had cont siderable command OF money. HIS Kindness !"
Mary Wolstonecraft made favorable Impressions SHo
soon gave him sincere Affection and consented 10 Do
come his wife Noegal ceremony however, passed De-
yeen them, and in the existing state OF pohtF
"a, affairs in France Mr.. Paul asserts that a
,eeal marriage was certainly difficult. and appa-
rentlv impossible. Long after this PERIOD "hen
Imlay's affections had ceased. he Entrusted her
with important business negotiations ana spcuAs
NJ her in legal document as MARY INLAY, my best
friend and wife," document which in the opinion OF the
editor "would in many aud countries be con-
sidered az constituting marriage" 'NO one says ne
"can read her letters without seeing that she was
pure Ligh-minded, aud refined woman, ana that she
considered herself the Of God and man. as I'M
LAYS wife" Her mistake, he adds, was In supposhg
that one woman could undo the consecrated custom Vi
ages. and set herself in opposition to the course OF
socotv and not be crushed by it. She made also the
fatal mistake OF Judging ImSy by her own standard ana
thinking that he was true and eefdenying as herself
The letters which arc here reproduced extend over
period OF about two years. and exhibit the various
phases OF her life with Inlay from the ardent oeVouoh
md transparent confidence OF its commencement 10 the
SORROW and bitterness OF close The perusal OF them
IS like witnessing experiment of vvisecion' present
Ing scene of misery anguish which harrows up the
feelings but produces gracious or heathfu erect
Its work to inname a morbid curiosity revealing
strange and tragic emotional experience, which may
serve Ms a warning. but not as an example