The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-01-30

Mrs. Helen Hunt jackson. the author
ess of Pomona" was born at Amhurst,
Massachusetts,, October Is. 1881 From
early childhood Mrs Jackson (then
Helen Marie Fiske) revealed those pecu-
liar traits that have since made her the
most notable female writer in America
since the days of Harriet Beecher
Stoves first production. One who truly
loves Mrs. Jackson's work will not want
to consider her as less than poet, but,
as the above review indicates. her power
as novelist is at once subtle and I'M
pressive. Her poetry is the best that
has been given to America for many
years. She wrote nothing without an
ann and purpose, aud seldom fell below
her subject; for her song flights are sus
tanned with all the fire and beauty found
in the better work of Mrs. Browning
S was, perhaps, too vague at times to
excite that general interest which the
public takes in popular author but to
tuc SCiloidl--lo LiutiSOiI, loI Install
she was of the inspired galaxy, and
wrote without consent or approval of
any earthly rule or restriction, but after
the promptings of the soul. So much
humanity is seldom found in one heart
as is shown in the writings of Mrs. Jack
son. She felt that she was placed here
tn Sipfr fp, tho rirht tn 70,
and to purify: and that she succeeded In
this tremendous task all her living work
VIII testify. A few months ago Mrs
Jackson died from series of diseases
that had made her an invalid many years.
She was hard worker, and her contin-
ual contributions to the magazines and
newspapers will fill several volumes
when collected. She died just at pc |
riod when her work was beginning to re
ceive wider appreciation, and Just when |
the fountain of her genius seemed to
flow more than ever purely from inc,
haustible sources. In person, she was a |
lovely woman, and in nature more than
can be conveyed IN any appelation we |
can find at hand. Her life was quiet and
secluded, she rather desiring that the
world should hear her speak through the
voice that inspired her writings than
through any other medium. For OPP
preston she had the bitterest hatred,
and "}omona' is partially an outcome
of that honorable dislike she took to in
justice in whatever form she saw it ex-
hibited. In learning Mrs. Jackson was
gifted women. T, the per
fiction of her art she brought continual
deep study, and was therefore able to
write upon those subjects nearest ler
heart and for the best good of her cvun-
try tiuently and strongly. For many
years the New York magazines lave
been the resceptacles of her better work,
with the exception o. the few books
published as distinct volum,S several
years before her death. o re of h,r first
of Tllk''-was ard is to-
day far more popular than much of Ler
other work; but it remains for the com
ing 'udents of American literature to
discover the full beauty and grandeur of
her poems and to give her the rank she
properly deserves beside her fellow song
birds. 1t will require a nice discrimina-
ton to tell, however, who her fellow
song birds are and how she must be
ranked with them, as there are writers
Of an older general N who will make
any claim for her iperiority doubtful
and debatabl F. Nick.