The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-14
MARGARET FULLER 0SS0lI.
Written for tho Indianapolis Journal.


lhorne, az revealed in the recently.pubished
life of this gifted man, calls again the attention
of literary public to very remarkable charac-
ter. Nearly forty-fve years have elapsed since
Margaret Fuller Ossoli persisted with her family
of the coast Of New Jersey. The tragic end
was, in some respects one not uniting her rest
less life. But when that life went out there
disappeared from the roll of Americas illustrious
women the name of one who, had she been per-
United to live and work as her past had given
promise Of, to the full period OF ordinary life,
would not be known as vague, fugitive charac-
ter, now and then appearing for moment in
current literature, but as a real, powerful force
Great has been the growth of our literary
life since then, and no testimony more striking
has been recently afforded than Oliver Wendell
Holiness retrospect in late Atlantic. Con-
temporary almost with the opening of his first
portfolio was the final closing of hers. Since
then we have entered into the inheritance or
goodly company of master workmen: But for
Margaret Fuller was reserved the task or fruc-
tifving in part some Of these lives, and prepar-
ing the way for the harvest She was New
England GIRL springing from Puritan stock, that
went back almost to the Mayflower Strong
traits of character were bequeathed 10 her by
her fathers line, and gentler ones by her moth
=,
nation. which, as it presents itself. is capa-
BILE OF attaching friends most devoted
or of making enemies most rancorous.
And so, while we have the severe, caustic crit
icisrs of Hawthorne, and the sneers of Carlyle
at this strange. fitting. lean old maid, and the
enmity by Harriet Martineau, we have, as well,
the praises Of Emerson, Hgginson, and James
Freeman Clarke, in words as emphatic as the
others. Her life was. AN intellectual one. From
her childhood DAYS when with the hood of her
oil ed vUith 1on ckxyhi
of the public library, she trudged to her home IN
Cambridgeport, to the completion of her last
work on the History of the Roman Republic
the MSS. of which she was bringing home
with her for publication, her being seemed alb
sorbed in contemplation of ideas expressed in
literature or art And still she was possessed
both Of tender heart, and disposition
capable of severe sef-denial We are
permitted 10 see her, at the age of twenty-five,
gathering her young brothers and sisters about
her fathers lneless form, and, on Bonded knees,
promising God that she would be faithful TO
them. We are permitted TO read letters Oh SIS
terly affection to her brothers containing the
aspirations OF her heart for them. and to know
that at serious personal sacrifice, she contrived
to send them to school. We have portrayal of
her disposition toward her fellow-mortas III
some OF her letters, in which she says ''that II
they are imperfect persons, they are immortal
souls, and treat them as you would wish to be
treated by the light Of that thought AS
teacher, she showed to James Freeman Clarke a
package of letters, in which her children say:
''IYe owe you ever so much for showing Us how
can become something better, We are
still very stupid, but we now feel rs # we
were in the right way and were making some
progress Pray help as TO do more and better.
You have given us courage and taught us how to
90 forward And lastly we see her during the
siege Of Rome laboring in the hospitals among
the wounded and dying, winning their love and
the praises of Mazzini These are but examples
revealing state of heart capable o. winning
enthusiastic love. But still, when think of
Margaret Fuller it is in her literary labors, rath
err A picture of her before me reveals face from
which one would argue clear keen intellectual
insight. The sharp chin and tightly closed lips,
the large nose, high, broad forehead, down
Which. in smooth straight lines her hair is
cembed, indicate. indeed, the possession of what
her biosrapher said, a plain face. But if she
was plain Of face she was brilliant in thought,
to which her work, her letters and her friends
have borne abundant testimony. But if her ap
pearaucc was indicative of great Intellectual
abilities, the training she endured from her
father is equal proof. For he was a severe dis
ciplinarian. aud he subjected his daughter to a
training which, by its physical effects, wrung
from her lips III after years severe denunciation.
What it must have been may readily be inferred
from the following passage, giving an account of
days labors at the age of fifteen: AT this
time she lived, rs always, a busy life-rose be-
fore in summer, walked an hour,
practiced an hour on the piano,
breakfaste at 7, read Sismondi's
European Literature in French till S: then
Browns Philosophy till $3.50, then went to
school for Greek at II, then practiced again till
dinner. After the early dinner she read two
hours in Italian, then walked or rode, and in the
t'ening played, sang, and retired at IL, to write
in her diary" At the age of twenty three we
find her NJ Groton, near Boston, reading Goethe
who was her great idol INLAND Novalis, Tieck
and Richter, dipping into theology, reading
Eichhorn and jain III the original. In these
years al Grafton she studied architecture read
.Herscheps Astronomy" and perused Schiller,
Heine, Alderi, Bacon, Madame dc Stael, Words
worth, and S0uthey ''Sartor Resartus,' Amer
lean and English history, and Jeffersons letters
were also among her diet, until, says Emerson,
''Iier reading at Groton was at rate like
Gibbons And what a life was this, with the
teaching the little Fullers," the sewing for four
children, sometimes without domestic, with
mother often sick, and with sometimes outside
pupils. While residing. at Groton her father
died, throwing her, at the age OF twenty five,
upon her own resources. Teaching with Mr..
Alcott. III his private school, in Boston, lie writes
thus Of her: "She takes large and generous
views of things and her dispositions are sineu-
larly catholic and liberal. She has great skill in
discourse, too; few converse with like freedom
and elegance After teaching for year
at Jamaica Plains, suburb Of Boston,
and here six happy years were spent,
from 1888 to 1874 During this period
she carried on her conversations in Boston,
edited the Dial for two years, and published 4
translation of the Correspondence with Goethe
in the Last Years of His Life the Correspond
ence of Fraulein Gunderode and Bettine Won
Arnm, and the Summer on the Lakes" We
see her in her conversations, surrounded by q
circle of Boston ladies, engaged in conversation
on mythology, art ethics, education, continuing
for five winters. With short introduction
giving the outline Of the subject, she would Ssug
gest the most effective points of view. This
done, she invited questions or criticism, using
persuasion with the timid, kindly ra;llery for
the indifferent Says Miss Sarah freeman
Clarke: she not only did not speak
lies after our foolish social Gus
toms, but she met you fairly. She
broke her lance upon your shield. Encounter
ing her glance, something like an electric shock
was felt Her eye pierced through your dis.
guises. Your cutworks fell before her first
assault. and you were at her mercy. And then
began tho delight of true intercourse. No