Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-03-21
Adelaide Anne Proctor.

Among the writer's of the present
century whose words have touched very
closely the home and freside stands the
name of Adelaide Anne Proctor. She
was born in Bedford Square, London,
October 25, 1925.
Bryan Waller Proctor, or better known
in the literary world as Barry Cornwall
the schoolmate of Byron and companion
of Lamb, Coleridge and other authors of
the nineteenth century. was her father.
He was greatly beloved by all who knew
him. The young authors found him ever
ready to encourage and aid them in their
efforts. One month after Adelaide's birth
he expressed his delight in sonnet
beginning, "Ohild of my heart, my sweet,
beloved first born" &C.. and later in life
he spe ks Of his daughter being great
comfort to his household.
Adelaide Proctor was fine scholar AMI
at an early age became proficient in
French. Italian and German also possessing
some talent in music and drawing, and
finally added to her other accomplishments
that of a writer All through her life she
was exceedingly fond of reading and
possessed Il retentive memory. Although
very fond of poetry her parents did not
suspect she had any gift in that dreation
until her first poem appeared in print.
In 1858 she went to Turin and entered
into the study of the Piedmontese dialect.
1t was here that she fist professed the
Roman Catholic faith. During this same
year Miss Proctor took her place among
the contributors of the journal, Household
Words, under the name of Miss Mary
Beswick, withholding her own, fearing
that her poetry might be published for
her fathers sake rather than for its own
merit. Ch,rles Dickens was conductor of
the journal at this time and became much
interested in Miss Reswiok, not only for
the merit exhibited in her productions.
but for her promptness and self reliance
Although he did not know who she was
until months afterward when dining with
his friend, Barry Cornwall, and speaking
of this new authoress. did be discover
that his supposed "governess' was
Adelaide Proctor the daughter of his host
She was continually surrounded by
literary people and seems to have been a
favorite with her fathers friends. Dickens
speaks of her being quiet and modest in
appearance and unwilling to say much of
her own productions. 1t is to this we'll
known author that we must turn for most
of our knowledge of her life. Although
many of her poems are tinged with
sadness, yet she possessed a cheerful
disposition and took great delight in
humor. Her life was indeed an unselfsh
and busy one. Like her father her heart
went out in sympathy for those around
her and she devoted much of her time in
visiting the sick, teaching the ignorant
and shetering the homeless, neglecting
her own health to aid others. After few
years her health became impaired and
she was obliged to give up her life of
activity for that of The siek room. Alto,
being confined to her bed for more than a
year her quiet and une ventful life came TO
a close February 2, 1864.
Her works consist principally of a
volume ofbeautiful "Legends and Lyrics,
The first that meets our gaze as we open
the book is THE Angels Story" showing
very plainly that
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