New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-23
MARGARTT FILLER.

MARGARET FULLER ageC a5n Q srll. i i rp
2gS R0hcIts Brothers
TfisonIr inst 10 say that while Mrs. Howe Aa>
dame her work discreetly. she has ~ TINS ioi,he
made an unnecessary contribution to the s"o"'h
stream Of current literal Ire and one when c INV
merely ao cphomcral interest The character ~"
career of Miss Fuller We're long ago dealt WIN pl
o,,,et,pt writers aud this later sketch has It'ic
reason for being other than the dcnmhH' oi
series which already threatens to become 'H'-
some. Mrs. Howe tells Us nothing nc" nor
does she interpret to us III ""!
ell and vital fashion the singularities
of her subjects life and nature Inc "'tv "
"Fo,nous Women" is, after ALL miNnomcr, WIN
the execution of George Eliot and George sand no
woman thus far included in this series has
had that wide celebrity which may justly
be called fame. Margaret Fuller cannot
be cIassed with the two Georges. Her actuaI
influence deep as it was, was pery"-Ne "ilh'n
comparatiyey narrow circle, and I" tE'' t'FS'i
world which had no personal knowledge "i Ii'r II
WIS the performance OF her wor. Iaihor t1Ah INC
yvorI, itself which made her interesting. Pc" poo
Me in these days know much ahoni hI
hooks. which considered ~ lit"rt'aFe were
never important. Her highest literary worn was
the work OF II journalist rational, often pl't"f-
esoue and vigorous in statement aad illustration
"a
the outcome of an enthusiastic spirit and partly
the result Of an imperfect assimilation OF an
alien philosophy. At the time when Margaret
talked and wrote an infinite deal Of solemn nom
scrse peryadcd the culture" of Ncw-Eugland
We can afford to say il now large part
of the transccudental utterancc Of the
neriod was a whceze Of meaningless mVsil-
csm. A still larger part was commonplace
put into original and contentious phrase Pi"t" ana
Marcns Aurrlius joslcd Kant, Fich'e aad iIe1ei III
the singularly mixed school Of the new Athens.
Miss Fuller was not without her share Of RESPONSE
biIity for this undigcstcd - Of stt. luacleu'r
atmosphere her notable talents might have had
healthier play her keen, quick and analytic
mind would have kept within The Wholesome
bounds set for her 10y an early training *
ceptlonallv comprehensive and exact. The critics
If fine future will doubtless hold It, we do that hr
hest work was done for TIE 1RErN .
The daily newspaper commanded cloar and
compact statement as well ~ sound
INDICTMENT. and Miss Fulers work had
greatest value when it was most practical.
As q writer on art she was of small consequence.
Int her literary criticisms often admirable III
their grasp, independence and conscientious
discrimination. If Margaret Fuller he not
| considered through all time famous
woman. yet she ought for long to be
gratefully remembered by her country -woiaeD.
! She opened TO them new path Of learning and Of
Labor and proved to them and to the stronger sex
rs well. that women could tread it in safety and
honor 10 themselves aud in to the world. The way
| of life is easier to-day for every American
/ woman who writes because Margaret Fuller tray
/ crsed it before her.
Mrs. Howe presents no new conception Of the por-
sepalitv of Miss Fuller: there are, indeed, few
people left who can recall it. 1t was personality
| both attractive aud repcfant. With many noble
and lofty ideals, with generous aud unselfsh
impulses, were blended traits less soft than maScu-
line-traits for which the severe schooling Of her
childhood was partially responsible She cOuld
he imperious and she loved TO shine mono
logue delighted her. Many Of her qualities
were 50 far from feminine that the mar
rage she made with iuan younger than
herself and Of q weaker nature sufficiently attess
them. She could hardly have matched with less
Welding nature; nevertheless it must always seem
| strange that a woman 10 whom intellectual com
| panionslip meant so much could have declined to
the level of the rather dull If eente-bearted Ossol
| She ruled him 10 the end A man Of strOn gel
viii might perhaps have borne her 10 death or life
through that last terrible scene on hoard the sink.
| ING vessel when she turned all woman in frantic
nnreason The survivors of the wreck may have
told story framed for their own advantage but il
II he a true one il must be said that nothing
! i'm her earnest and Woodworking life became poor
MARGARET so little rs her leaving 1t. She had per
hans right to refuse the probable chance of safety
for her eff she had not night To refuse IL Tor mel
| husband and her child.
| fl,,.Iie,f,ore