New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
uAPJA EDGEWORTH.

hlthouvh Maria Edgeworth is one of the most en-
Caging figures modern hterars history 10 aoo-
ouote story OF her life has until now been pup
lshed Occasional sketches and reviews have APP
reared in magazines and Quarteries but Mrs Oiver
is the first writer who has done biographical Justice
TO delightful author and charming woman.
large part of her volume is made up OF letters anu OF
extracts from the notes of those who met and Wis
tied the sparkling little lady of Edgeworthstown
The reader is permitted to construct from the gen
erous materials provided by the bographer. ana
without much comment from her, his own hnisheu
picture of Maria and her surroundings. Mrs DIVERS
book is as she has wisely entitled strictly study
and it is not only an entertaining but JUST con-
scientious and dlgnifcd one.
Miss Edgeworth had with few exceptions 'he
happiest conditions for authorship Born Vi d
witty sudierly and accomplished race ha1 Enghsn
and half Irish, she had by nature pure taste a
serene and thorough good sense and that rare ioV-
able and uost delightful gift in wOman-humor.
From her babyhoOd she had the advantage OF tie
constant companlonhip OF her father, at once stu
dent, vivacious man of the world and Il clever
and exacting critic. Richard Lowell Edgeworth,
with his four wives, his twenty-five children. his
large estate his lively temperament. and his restless
taste for invent ion found time TO be to his eldest
daughter a never failing friend guide. conhdaht
and teacher. He carefully cultivated common
sense aud thorouglness her, and made her. To
begin " it'll good business woman. by conhdlng all
his accounts to her keeping and allowing her TO ACT
as his agent for many years. In her active lie
among the Irish peasants about Edge" orthslOwh she
made as young girl those studies Of lie ana
character which she afterN ard turned to such good
nccount in her brilliant sketches. Her tfst wish
was for her fathers approval, and until he ded she
accepted him implicitly as the ruler OF hei me- Her
first story was written to please him " hen che was
only thirteen busy and atectionate little person
at boarding school lie had just lost his beautiful
second wife-that HOnord Sneyd once loved by
Andr6-and turned to his young 0aughtei 1or as
traction in the interval of Noong another spouse.
He begged her to SEMI him little tale about the
length of Spectator upon the subject ot "e"r-
osig 1t must be taken from history or romance,
and must he sent the scnnight after you receive
this; and beg you will take some pains about It,"
A voune Oxford student instructed to prepare
n story on the same subject, and when compared the
little Mara's vas proved to be the better oil the
two She used to say of 1t In after years that there
WAS in il a sentence of inextricabe confusion be-
tween a saddle, man. aud his horse She was
ever an imaginative creature and was accustomed
to keep her young companions at school awake
O. nights by the relation of entertaining stories
many OF them original aud some of a gruesome ma
ture that almost lifted the little nightcaps from
their Raxen polls. A good deal of her material WAS
drawn from books into which she plunged. deaf 10
all about her the while her schoOlmates played.
From first to last She is an omnivOrOuo reader as
well as persistent student OF character.
Maria's life as girl and woman in Der fathers
house was one of coaseless industry. Not only dld
she take charge of his accounts aud bis tenants story
after story came from her PEN all from the start
successful and admired. Every one of her early
MSS was submitted to "papa's critical indigna-
ton" which found expression in all manner OF
crooked marks and abusive marginal notes. The
work on Practical Education" the par wrote
together finding all the necessary details in the pro-
dgious family surrounding them What they
preached they practised. Maria taking as active
part IN the wise training of her little stepbrothers
and sisters as did their father. She ever the
beloved and tender elder sister and the deep aifcc
ton which was felt throughout the large household
helped foster the talent and enrich the nature OF
the little novelist. The unbroken harmony which
reigned between Maria and her three successive
stepmothers certainly testified that MI Edge
wOrth's wisdom i0 the matter OF selecting wives
was as capacious as his affections Maria herself
related the unusual fashion in hich the question
of his fourth marriage was discussed between heI
and her father. When first knew of this attach
ment she said " and before was well acquainted
with Miss Beaufort, | own that did not wish for
the marriage. ] had not my fathers quick Dene-
tratiOn into character. did not at first discover
the superior abilities and qualities which he saw
consequently ! did not anticipate any of the happy
consequences from this union which ne foresaw
All that | thought. told him. With the most KIND
patience he bore with me, and, instead Of %ith-
drawing his affection hOnored me the more with his
confidence. He took me with him to Colon, threw
oDen his whole mind 10 me, let me SEQ all the
changes and workings of his heart 1remember his
nnce saving tn me belieVe that IA human Crea-
ture ever saw the heart of another completely
without disguise than you have seen mne. can
never without the strongest emotions OF affection
aid gratitude recollect the infinite kindness he
showed me at this time, the soicitude he felt for
my happiness at the moment when all ms own
at stake, and while all his feelings were in the
agony OF suspense: the consequence was, that no
daughter ever Ielt more sympathy with father
than felt for him; and assuIedy the pains he took
10 make ms fully acquainted with the character of
the woman he loved, and to make mine known to
her were not thrown away" To the last of Maria's
DAYS the pride in her and the tenderness felt for her
by her family never diminished She was as for
tunate too in her friends and acquaintances as in
her step-mothers. The country-seats about Edge
worthstown were owned BY cult vated and agree
able people who formed u delightful society; Mr..
Edgeworth entertained many of the most dstin-
guished pesOnages OF his time and several of his
daughters married men OF talent and Influences visits
in London and journeys to the Continent intro
duced Maria to the acquaintance of many notable
persons, all of whom glad TO bow down to the
clever if plain little lady. For plain she was from
early giThood At school she went through the
usual agonies allotted to young persons at the end
Of the last century; backbOards straiRhtcned hor
iron collars endcavored to give her naughty pose,
and she swung by the neck to draw out
her muscles and increase her growth. All failed;
she remained tiny creature with face attractive
only IN its expression of intellect, vivacty, and
L. Ill ..a.n -.