The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-08-13
Margaret Fuller.

49, SAAS oSoSAOA Va luC 1OuCOIQ SCHOOL OF
Philosophy last Friday there was an inter-
esting conversation on Margaret Fuller.
those who had known her giving their rem
iniscences of her life and character. Mrs.
Howe having been prevented by illness from
lecturing, Mrs. Cheney accepted the posi-
ton OF leader of the conversation, saying
that she could only hope to be the stick
thrown in the water around which all
things crystalline.
Margaret Fuller was one of those great be-
ings whose influence still lives. 1t was a
most powerful and blessed influence giving
the power and value of life. She was con-
scious of great suffering, ye. she always felt
the infinite power of life. Life, the emana-
ton from great souls made literature yalua
bic to her. Her own life, her cheering.
blessed influence cannot be expressed in
words. Once she asked me, SIS life rich for
your No one had more to struggle with
ID her own nature than she. She knew her.
self perfectly and spoke of herself with rig
or. She was queen; she walked the earth
like queen A little anecdote illustrates
this. Once, when a child, she was ordered
out of dancing school for misconduct. She
tossed her head and walked with proud step,
and the teacher said, '.Miss Fuller Won shall
not walk so superb. You think yourself
General Wellington
Miss Peabody said that when child.
seven years old, she had great contempt
for every one else. She really thought she
was princess, not her own fathers and
mothers child. But he wholly overcane
this feeling of pride.
Mrs. Cheney continued: Patience became
the watchword of her life. Once in CEN
versation she spoke sharply but afterwara
made sweet apology, saying she had lost
her patience. The sublime lesson of wait
ing' was one of her favorite phrases. Her
religious experience was very deep. tender
and estate made strong by this very strur-
gle with self She was critic making crit
cism the relation to the universal. Often
her severe criticisms offended Others. vet
they came not from personal feeling, but
from her ways of looking at things. She
never could have been a romancer because
she could not round anything out, but her
power of narration, of describing character.
was very wonderful She loved personals
ties, delighting in new persons, especially in
the young. Young women went to her.
Miss Peabody spoke of her intercourse with
gentlemen, which she greatly enjoyed but
she enjoyed the intercourse with young wom-
en- as much. She had remarkable educa-
lon; her father was very strong. He taught
her Latin, and finding her very remarkable
became very fond of her. When Margaret
was twelve years old she received the profess
sors of Cambridge. Her habit of endeavorino
to put herself in relation with opposite minds
was of great benefit. especially in converse
tion.
Mrs. Cheney speaking of her education.
said she entered so much in the classic life
that sometimes she couldn't sleep. Every
thing was vitalized, 1t always troubled her
that Diana was Hecate, and the goddess of
purity, but she made the meaning real. She
lived in Greece and Rome. She never stud
led Greek. but she knew the literature of
Greece, Rome and Italy while Young. Ger
man came later, when Goethe became an
inspiration of her life. Still. her love was
the Italian. She once said: 81 ought to have
been born in Italy"
Miss Peabody and Mrs. Cheney then con-
tinued the conversation as follows: Her in
huence in Rome was great. There is a
wrong impression in regard to her marriage.
The delcacy and fineness of her husbands
nature gave her trust, repose and happiness.
William Story said that Ossoli's nature was
moral nature, understanding and feeling
everything in the highest way, though he was
not highly intellectual. OF course the mar
riage came like shock of surprise to all, vet
when we know all the circumstances it
seems truly noble. Margaret was not who'll |
ly intellectual; there was nothing greater
than her devotion to her family She went
to New York about 1840, and there became
interested in nationality. Once she laughed
at the Poles, but she became afterward very
enthusiastic At New York she met new
people, yether life in New York is very curl
Gus. She gave all her money to poor nov
elist once to assist him in publishing novels.
But economy was not one of her virtues.
She was brought up in profusion, but after
ward she was obliged to feel stern necessity.
Once she had plan of going to Europe |
and her father promised her the money if |
she would educate her brothers. This she |
did, giving great deal Of time In the day |
time, receiving company in the evening |
Then her father moved to Groton, and che |
was obliged to do the work of servants, thus |
having no time for study. Miss Peabody |
said she advised Margaret to write for the |
press, and she then wrote an article which |
was given to Mr.. Palfrey. He thought it was /
a splendid article, but refused it because she |
had said Wordsworth must be put under the |
pillow and he put another author under his |
pillow. When Der father died and the |
mother was in despair, Margaret rose from |
a great fever and did what was to be done.
Then it was found that the estate was in a |
poor condition, and she would not take the |
money which she had earned to go to |
Europe. But she was terribly agitated, for
she felt as if her ideal was given up. She |
disiked sewing, saying that she thought |
sewing decidedly immoral. Some one re-
marked that she was a miserable sewer,
which much amused the audience. She had
been revelation to her father and had
me appreciation of her mothers character,
though the idea was common that she did
moi nave the filial regard. Mrs. Fuller was
Ioyely fehgious character. As teacher
in Providence Margaret's loftiness of charac-
ter came out. When she was asked what
salary she would have, she said, "How much
do you give the Governor of your Statep A I
teacher deserves as mueh.' She was a fell
low-learner with her scholars Her first
teaching of literature with young ladies was
very delightful to her. Her great religious
experience was in Italy.
She had a great love of music, Beethoven
symphonies being world to her. One day
she was in the odeon, and young lady an