The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-08
A CULTURED BosToNlAN.
The Life ana Literary Work of Mrs. Edna
ID. Cheney.
Especial Correspondence J

Especial Correspondence
BosToN, June 3.-Airs. Edna D. Cheney,
of this city, who has just published sequel
10 Ibsens play, "a Dolls House" under
the title of "Noras Return" is n very in
tcresting figure in Bostonian life. Her
home is in the beautiful suburb Of Jamaica
Plain. which is the old family residence OF
the Ticknors and where Claiming also
used to live. Mrs Cheney's maiden name
was Edna Dow Iittlehale. She was born
in Boston in 1924 In 1855 she married Seth
with one child, Margaret, who grew up to
be a gifted and beautiful young woman
and died some four years ago in all the
brilliant promise Of her life. Miss Cheney
was one Of the few women admitted to
study at the Institute of Technology, Of
which Gen. Francis J. Walker is president,
and her memory is preserved by the Mar
garet Cheney Room" an apartment fur
nished with articles closely associated with
her, and which is dominated by fine por
trait Of the llmented friend and pupil.
Mrs. Chency's life has been wholly de-
voted to philosophic and literary research
and work Her early w0manho0d was
passed under The most stimulating infu.
ences. She was member Of one of those
famous conversation classes which Marga-
ret Tullerinstitutedi in the decade Of ls3O-40,
when the peerless Margaret" led a tran
scendcntal talk which made itself the
fashion Of the hour in Boston. There was a
regeneratiye sort of gospel in the air. The
transcendcntalists held that the earth
the soul the earth Margaret Fuller held
infinite faith in her own spiritual capacity
and that of others. Mr. Claiming said OF
her:
Margaret cherished trust in her powers,
a confidence in her destiny, and IN ideal Of
her being, place and influence 80 lofty as
to be extrayagant. In the morning hour
and mountain air Of aspiration her shadow
moved before her. Of gigantic size. upon
the SNOW white yapOr. This high priestess
Of culture found no dcyo;ee at her shrine
more ardent and more receptive than Miss
Iittlehale NOW Mrs. Cheney. The watch !
word Of tile hour Was individual develop !
ment and enlightenment. Emerson, Mr.. |
Alcott, James Freeman Clarke and DR. !
Hedge were the early friends and com |
panions OF Mrs. Cheney. An accomplished J
scholar she grew up in an atmosphere OF |
choice scholarship and thought.
Her literary worl. has been more distinct |
i've in quality than great 10 quantity. She |
has written q book called "Glelnings In |
the Fields Of Art" sue has translated |
many Of the poems of Michael Angelo and |
collected these, with other TRANSACTIONS |
prepared expressly for her, into volume
which is a valuable contribution TO con
temporary literature
Mrs Cheney IS leading member of tho |
New England WOman's club, and, in the
absence Of its president, Mrs Howe, usu-
ally presides over its meetings. She Is an
officer too in many prominent organiza-
tiOns, and is one of the most influential
members of the Free Religious association,
a body of radical thinkers which is the off
spring of Theodore parker's teachings, and
whose meetings have been, until recently,
held in the Parker Memorial hall. This
ediicc has now been sold, passing into the
control Of the city, and the Free Religious
has, ut present, no local habi-
alton. OF Emerson Mrs. Cheney often
speaks ~ 9Th. strongest, the most spirit
ial and the most intellectual" influence Of
ler life.
In writing an imaginary sequel to ID
'en's celebrated drama, Mrs Cheney has
attempted TO reconcile Nora's acts and as
by showing that she must learn
he lesson Of truth and the responsibility
If life in serious service for others. This
equel is thrown into the form of diary
Kept by Nora, and while il is not dra-
matte or asimaginative piece of writing,
t invites careful consideration by its clear
lelineatiOn of ethical law.
Its eloquent plea for individuality finds
witt response in the heart Of the Boston
Probably in no other city in the
World is the Independence of the in1ividu-
Ility of woman so marked as in the
modern Athens. The Boston woman loves
Ter own way-nOt out of feminine willful-
less, nor still less of any conscious or in
entional seliishness, but because she is
Irmly and nationally convinced that it is
he very best and the most enlightened
way in the world In which conviction the
observer must confess she is
Usually correct. Lillian WHITING.