The Magnolia gazette., 1881-12-23

Of England's most brilliant wits and or
ators.
In the words Of the celebrated John
Wilkes, Mrs. Sheridan was "the most
beautiful flower that ever grew in Ma
ture's garden" She was model Of per-
feet symmetry; her form light and airy,
vet graceful and dignifed with features
cast in natures finest mold, and uncom-
monty expressive when lighted up in
conversation or in singing in the latter
especially she looked the embodiment
of ones conception of an angel, and all
who saw the portrait of her by Sir
Joshua Reynolds, wherein she is repre-
sented as Saint Cecilia, were Of the
same opinion.
In addition to being singer of the
highest class, Mrs. Sheridan possessed
q knowledge Of true musical science
"The favorite song written by her
husband when It's night and the mid
watch is come, was set to music by her;
and she composed the music for the
popular pantomiIne Of Robinson Crusoe,'
and other pieces" She was likewise
gifted with delicate poetical power,
which found expression in several pieces
full Of tender grace and musical ca
dence.
On his marriage Sheridan refused TO
allow his wife to sing in public; he de-
termined to support her and himself by
his own exertions.
He resolved to strain every nerve TO
acquire wealth; but, alas for his own
peace and happiness, he knew little Of
the art by which, when once gained, it
is TO be kept"
Another great fault in this wonderful
ly-gifted man, which added thousand
fold to his pecnniary difficulties and the
anxieties of his wife and friends, was his
habit of procrastination-"a always put
ting off till tomorrow what ought to
have been done to-day"
No wife was ever more thoroughly de-
voted to her husbands interests than
Sheridan's. She entered completely in
to all his pursuits; shared all his tri-
umphs and all his anxieties; and what
anxieties they were
She was forever helping him in his
literary laboIs, in his theatrical man
agement, in his Parliamentary career.
Moore tells us " As the wife OF the
dramatist and manager, we find her cal
culating the receipts of the house, as
sisting i'll the adaptation OF her husbands
opera, The Duenna, and reading over
the plays sent in by dramatic candidates.
As the wife of the senator and orator, we
soc her with no less zeal making ex-
tracts from state papers, and copying
out ponderous pamphlets, entering with
all her heart and soul into the details Of
elections and even endeavoring to faith
ON the mysteries of the funds"
When Sheridan delivered his magnifi-
cent Grafton OF four days duration, on
"The impeachment of Warren Hast
ings," iii Westminster Hall, her pride
and exultation were beautiful to witness.
In letter TO her sister-in-law concern
ing this grand event she says
" ! delayed writing till / could satisfy
myself and you by sending you the news
of our dear Dicks triumph--of our tri-
umph, may call it for surely no one
/ in the slightest degree connected with
him but must feel proud md happy. II
is impossible, my dear woman, to con-
yey to you the delight, the astonishment,
the alteration he has excited in the
breasts Of every class of people. Even
| party prejudice has been overcome by
display of genius, eloquence and good
ness which no one with anything like q
heart about them could have listened to
without being the wiser ana better for
the rest of their lives. What must my
feelings be? You only can imagine"
In the year 1892 Sheridan lost his
| lovely, jealous and accomplished wife.
"This beautiful mother of beautiful
| race" of whom ii was said that every
one admitted TO her presence felt that
there was divinity about her." died of
consumption in the thirty eighth year Of
her age.
In her were united so many charms !;
! she was SO gifted by art as well as by
nature that she surpassed the ordinary
beings Of earth. She was a ministering
angel TO Sheridan, and from the mo-
ment she died he became an altered
! man.