St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-08-27
Pen Picture of Notable Woman

To strangers who visit Boston there
is no more interesting figure than that
of Miss Elizabeth Peabody, who now,
at the advanced age of more than so
years, holds her place in intellectual
circles and unites much of the enthusi
assn of youth with the experience of
age. To the interest of her own life is
added that of an historic past, with
whose notable people she has been so
closely associated. The sister of So
phia Hawthorne, and the one friend
who, more closely than any other, COM
pretended the peculiar genius of MAJ
thaniel Hawthorne, and the associate
of the leaders of thought 80 years ago,
her life has embraced a remarkable in
telIectual panorama. Among the many
interesting references that are made to
Miss Peabody no picture has perhaps
been so graphic rs that given by Mar
garet Sullivan in the Chicago Herald.
From session of the School of Philos-
ply at Concord, Mrs. Sullivan writes
Looking over the shoulders Of those
before me saw most interesting
head at the extreme left of the plat
form. 1t would have compelled Oh
servation in any place, in any age. 1t
is aged 20 or 50. 1t is bowed and
white. Its squareneSS gives the idea
of strength, and its rOundness that of
symmetry The white hair is parted
in the middle aud lies in firm lines on
either side. We see it three fonrths
front and the whole face is covered
with soft, silver down, becoming
short siIken silver fringe around the
chin. Is it MANI Is it woman? The
brow is broad and low, strong and
sympathetic. The head is posed like
II prophets dreaming, and the closed
eyes are yelled behind interlaced white
lashes that make segments of silver
circles under the rhine of the eyebrows.
The mouth is firmly closed and the
mild lips are colorless and rigid. There
is no light of mental action. But a
Michael Angelo wOuld have been star
tied 10y its sculptured power. Dead it
might be, no ray escaping the prison
of its sight; living, thinking, Animal
ed by IA clear and beautiful soul it must
be, for never We're such lines of life, in
seeming total uhc0nsciOusness, such
placidity, refinement and peace, ex-
cept from nObleness of nature, illumi-
mated 10y unenfeeblr d Intelligence. Man
il might he the cOuntenance is brave !
enough Woman it may be, by its !
sweet graeiOnSness.
IL is a woman, dressed with the care !
less ease of age her soft, white hands !
cIasped III her lap, her posture immov-
able and slightly dropping, the effect |
of her face, attitude and an-pervading |
repOse that of "a sleeping seer, utterly |
strange to strange eyes, without clew /
to her identity.
Describing Miss Peabody's speech !
Mrs. Sullivan says:
She assumes position little more |
upright, and is fully interested in the |
discussion now in progress, the theme !
of which Is the way tn bring up chill
dren. Several Of the philosophers
have spoken she is about to speak
The little hands draw the wrap more
closely around her shoulders mild,
melodiOus voice with faint intermit-
tent hOarseness, not harsh, but frosty,
fills the room. All eyes are bent upon
her, all ears are intent. She talks
about children as one who might have
brought up generations of them and
loved each as though there was only
one; and it is at once apparent that
she has heard the. entire essay. She
would have no sharpness with them.
Their love. of truth, their duty to be
Dbedient, their necessity of guidance
by their elders, justice TO each other,
she would develop by careful watching
Of individual traits the strengthening 4
1f right; the suppression of wrong
to be yigilantly conducted 1
~ teachers and parents All this and