New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-24
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
LYDIA MARIA CHILD.

This volume of letters covers the period ei 'he
last two generations, during which occurred sono
,f the most exciting movements aud events III our
intellectual and political history. In these move
ments Mrs Child was one Of tho earliest workers
and most prominent figures; and She hveo through
and after the practical settlement and accep'ahco
of many of the objects for which she and her coau
futors had agitated with tongue ana pen. Iior
rnhc relation to these affairs has long been before
the country. The more private and intimate roeoiu
nf the same period and of the movements in whicn
she was most interested Is contained IN 1no'o
familiar letters to her family and friends lnoy
1vopld he an almost complete picture OF the "oin',
no sho was known in everyday intercourse anu
youid have entire and simple unity II t"o u
.hree controversial aud rather belligerent lc'oi' "
Cov,rnor Wise and Mrs. Mason had been oini''oU,
These iar upon the lovely, unconventional '"g
omte new image of the woman, az "llc s''.c w
friend. and introduce those matters III Wni'" v"
were already long familiar with her positioh anu
her achievements. However, the fasmoh ho" 20 ~
give to such collections most miscellaneous on"i
aeter in order probably to preserve some tn'"e 81"
= convenient form which otherwise would not oe
accessible Tins must excuse thcso It" i"i'
Mons letters the brief but touching Biographical
notice and memorial verses OF whittier anu Wv
funeral address of Wendell Phillips all OF Wnio"
full biography of Mrs. Child.
rbero ia n curious device to obtain a portrait OF
Chr tvnical ancestor of any family, by diSsolvlng
md combining rs many pictures as possible oil us
different members by some rapid Photographic pro-
cess The letters of Mrs. Child, written IN HOT
free flowing style during period oil SN'y-tIloo
wears IN all sorts of moods, ON many topics anu "
peope of various character and POSITION IL lhueou
we could gather and combine Their most sa"ent
charactcristcs would make for us her almost per
feet portrait And from this the lines to her lV
erary work her religious and political afiial'onS
md 20 all her benevolent enterprises "oulu 10
easy TO draw. For one feels on lea"hs tn'90
letters that they come from beng IN hafinohy
with itself: all whose manifestations from gHlnoou
20 old ace as story writer. editor historian pamph-
letter. phanthIopst. wife. neieh3or ana lr'euu'
have an extraordinary consistency and resem-
blance. They reveal the romantic and lively tenn
nerament. with an undercuIrent of earnestness ana
a readiness for self sacrifice with which She was
bor, and which received no blight IN her many
rebufs and Inisiortunes, but accompanied hei
through lie to its late and mellowlns close her
activities we're all noble. all for the pnblc goou
and few of them failed of success. But In theSe
letters we are admitted TO her inner and more pr-
vate life which is even more encouraging anu III
e,irinc than her outward history She was always
Of v-orIx vet never complained Of being weary; she
was often very poor but seldom depressed or repn-
ing; and she appears never to nave had any Fer
sonal grievances. She took things earnestly rather
than TOO seriously; seli-sacrce was actually de-
light 10 her aud made her more cheerful and
serene it also increased and enlarged her synpa-
thi-. and its example checked selfish seeking IN
others Asan instance of the latter effect 1t IS well
known bow much her friends and acquaintance
liked TO make her the almOnero Of their charities she
had unfailing gayety and good temper.
She remembered the brightest stores and savings,
and added a charm to them 10y her manner OF mar
ration In the height OF the anti slavery agitation
she could lay aside her weapons, forget the grave
ouarrel and summon the leaders TO contest OF VIII
and badlnage spectator of AN encounter OF this
KIND between herself and Wendell Phillips remem-
bers that no advantage remained with the Keen
tongue of the orator. And the best part OF 1t was
her own relish and delight in the fun. Her laugh
made everybody laugh. In her letters she tells
many an amusing story. reports the neat or
ouaint savings she mad heard TO Mr.. Whittier she
narrates some striking Or pathetic tale with the
dect design of stirring up his Mu,e and furnishing
spgQestive materials. In the closing years of her
married life she dwet Ill the most primitive man
nrr in an almost miniature house. III rem ote
country town, with an aged husband, stlll In ex
uberan spirits full of jokes repartee aud smiles,
writing cheerful letters to friends, doine her own
household work, now sewirs quit for some poor
negnbor. or writing "a book to aid some good cause,
and making her little world happy and Snnshiny,
even to its cats birds and flowers. She was herself
most like the sun. without It's cloudy accidents.
"Ah. there's many beam from the fountain of day
That TO reach us unclouded, must pass on us way
Through tho soul of IA woman"
Her early ambitions were literary, and she hada
natural gift in that direction, which, through the
influence of her scholarly brother, the Rev. DR..
Convers Francis. was cultivated aud fortified by
Tin, best reading. her emulation was stirred by
reading SCOTS novels when they first appeared.
and at the age of twenty-five the result was shown
In her FIRST story, Hob0mok." She continued for
several years her literary efforts with increasing
mower and reputation At twcnty-six she mar
ried Five years later occurred the grand turning
point the choice for good and evil Of her life for
at that period she the most successful and dis
tinguished female writer in our country, with the
promise of still brilliant career before her.
But she joined the antl-savery party, and wrote
- Apneal in behalf OF that class of Americans called
Africans" At once popularity was changed TO in
dignation society rejected her; libraries withdrew
their privileges from her. and tho sale OF her books
and magazine came to an almost TOT al SUSPENSION.
The reader of her letters will learn from them in
what manner these events aHecteu Her own charac-
ter and her more private relations with her follow.
beings In the first place she does not to have
been acutely conscious of the sacrifice she had I'M
doubtedly made Others saw it and lamentcd. AS
far as she herself recognized it she beheld it
through "A long perspective OF nObeT opportunities,
ending not in personal glory, but in the triumph OF
right over wrong. She thought her friends eXag-
gerated the losses incurred by heI departure.
and she looked rather to count up the gains She
says in these letters: Why the word sacrifice
was never conscious Of any sacrifice. now
stimulus seized nv whos being" Besides it is
inn ossible 10 cstmate how much ONES m. II choroc