The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-09
HARRIET MARTINEAU.
Mental and Social characteristics of Sin
gularly-Gifted Woman


James Payn in the INDEPENDENT.
To my kind friend at 1.-THE Knoll7 I was in
debted not only for my INTRODUCTION to Lake
land-for in her company, as will be narrated, 1
explored the whole of it-but even for the Sc
lection of a lodging. She was as good an au-
thority upon small practical matters as though
she had passed her life in attending to domestic
affairs. In her youth she had been famous for
her plain needle-work, and made, not only her
own Clothes but even her shoes; and when,
from illness, she had ceased to write she applied
herself to Berlin woodwork, in which she at
tanned a great proficiency. She took great in
terest in things about her, knew something ofall
the lodgings in the neighborhOod, the extent of
their accommodation, which afforded the best
view, and in most cases even their terms. At
that time tastes were more simple; and persons
who, like DR.. Syntax, came in search of the
picturesque, were content with cleanliness and
LONELINESS Nevertheless, the whole district
even then laid itself out for ''the visitors" The
irruption of the cheap t1ippers which Words
worth feared Though he did write 1.-The Excur
sion) had not yet Gomez but in summer and au-
tumn, the district was thronged with strangers,
who generally made a considerable stay in it.
When any of these were clergymen, the local
divines got them to preach for them and l re
member at Bowness Church curious incident
arising from this circumstance There had been
a good deal of dry weather in the north, and an
Oxford man who occupied the pulpit began to
read the prayer for rain, when the clerk pulled
at the skirts of his surplice.
''You mustn't read that, sir he whispered;
1--WE don't want it.
"But it's prayer for a good harvest my
man." responded the minister.
That's just it; the visitors are our harvest,
and want none of your rain.
l need not say that this occurrence amused
Miss Martineau (who had her own views about
the rain-fall) not a little
GAS to lodgings" she said. Though I am sorry
to send you so far afield, there is nothing more
suitable for your purpose land was sorry to see
she smiled, for l knew that it was the idea of
my coming to Lakeland to write poetry that was
again tickling her; it seemed like opening
small coal store in the heart of Newcastle) than
the farmhouse at High Close. 1t is an out-of-
the-way spot but commands more charming
views than any house save one in WestmOre-
land"
Upon this spot has since been built lordly
pleasure house, with grounds to match, but when
l lodged there it was a very unambitious dwell
ing, with a noble sycamore for its sole garden
nament, and bull that loved its shade and made
the composition of verses under it moat haz-
arodus operation, The house was en- TIE summit
of Red Bank, between Grasmere and the Lang
daes, and in addition to the whole stretch of the
latter valley, with its well-known' Pixies, looked
forth on Dianas looking glass las Loughrigg
Tarn was then called) and Windermere. Many
a time did Miss Martineau bring friends to see
that view while | was there and diate on it to
them with ever-fresh admiration; but am afraid
had very little to offer them in the way of re-
freshment beyond what Wordsworth had recon-
mended. To herself however, eating and drink
ing mattered nothing; she had no sense of taste
whatever "Once," she told me with smile,
when l was expressing my pity for this depriva-
tions of hers, Il tasted a leg of mutton, and
it delicious l was going out, as it hap
pened, that day to dine with Mr.. Marshall, at
Coniston, and am ashamed to say that looked
forward to the pleasures of the table with con
siderable eagernesS but nothing came of it, the
gift was withdrawn as suddenly as it came"
The sense of smell was also denied her, as it was
to Wordsworth; in his case, too, curiousy enough,
it was vouchsafed to him, she told me, upon one
occasion only. HE once smelt bean-tield and
thought it heaven" 1t has often struck me that
this deprivation of those external senses for she
lost her hearing very early may have had con
siderable influence in forming Miss Martineaus
mental characteristics; but if it turned her at
tention to studies more or less abstruse, and
which are seldom pursued by those of her own
sex, it certainly never hardened" her. Her
heart was as kind and gentle as though the songs
of the birds and the sigh of the sea had fallen not
only upon open ears, but upon ears attuned to
them, while her patience when conversation was
going on about her in which she was so we'll
fitted to join, but could not was touching to
witness.
She could never understand why deaf people
should so often be considered morose and impa-
tent while those who so afflicted with
blindness enjoy reputation for the contrary
virtue An acquaintance of hers once explained
it to her in a manner entirely satisfactory to him
self "Blind people, my dear madam, being en-
tirely dependent upon their fellow creatures are
obliged, for their own sakes, to be always civil
and agreeable to everybody"
II see" she answered, Withdrawing her trum-
pet from her ear Ito show the conversation was
closed) and pressing one tooth tightly on her lip
as her habit was when displeased "a very char
liable view"
Once onlydid ever see her exhibit any active
indignation. 1t was soon after her translation
of Comte appeared, all the proceeds of which
and considering the nature of the work, they
were considerable-she sent, by the by to that
philosopher, whose affairs were at that time in
far from fourishing condition. In proportion to
her admiration of his theories, she despsed
those of the metaphyscians who Ibid not know
what they thought and at this inOpportune
epoch a metaphysician of celebrity happened to
call upon her She asked him to luncheon, and
in ignorance, believe, of his hostess having had
anything to do with Comte whatever, he blum
dered upon the dangerous topic. | gave him
hint of his peril but it is very difficult to stop
metaphysician or perhaps was beneath his no
tice At all events. he delivered quite a lecture
against Comte and his creed. When he had
quite done Miss Martineau put this question to
him with chilling gravity:
pray, sir, have you ever read Comte"
The wretched metaphysician changed color,
and stammered out: well, yes; at least, l
have dipped into him.
Dipped into HIM" exclaimed Miss Martineau,
with intense contempt (which reminded me,
nevertheless, of Mr.. Swivellers condemnation of
the practice of slipping beer). NO sir you
have only dipped into some review of him.
When you have looked at that shelf yonder,7
and she pointed with her trumpet to the book
case behind her, you may then say, for the
first time. that you have seen Comics works.
1 am obliged, for the most part, to tell what I
remember of Miss Martineau in place of letting
her speak for herself (which would be far better