Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-22

the tables, smoking everywhere, splitting
continually, and dressing something after
the style Of the cowboys of to-day. What
she really said can only be seen in her book.
The Effect Of tho Criticism.
Her book had great effect in reforming
the "minor morals" and in modifying the
usages of society. Dickens american
Notes" excited similar storm of indigna-
tion, and had like effect in toning down
Yankee boasting and pretensions. 1t is a
pity that cri. .icism, ridicule and satire have
had SO little effect upon smokers, tobacco
spitters, and others who show their ILL
breeding in public conveyances and public
places. Mrs. Trollope, with her powers of
satire and ridicule, could hardly have been
too severe on the selfshness of such men as
defiIe palatial railroad cars, beautiful halls,
and even the precincts of the magnificent
capitol-to say nothing of churches and
schools, with their ahominable nastiness.
But, after all las described by Rev. Timothy
Flint, clergyman in Cincinnati, during
Mrs. Trollope's residence in that city, she
was not so worthy Of yirulent abuse as has
been made out by those who resented her
criticisms SO strongly as to give token that
the cap fit. Her picture, as drawn by Mr..
Flint, presents her ''as a person of short,
plump figure, with a round, ruddy Saxon
face and showing the British woman's usual
inability to dress tastefully. She was ro-
bust and masculine in her habits, as evil
denced by the fact that she had no fear of
the elements and by her recklessly expos
ing herself in long walks to the fierce
meridian sun or the pouring shower. She
had travelled in France and Italy,
and knew the language of both these
countries, and moreover was acquainted with
the most distinguished men and women of
genius in England. She was perfectly well
posted as to anything that concerned the
atr1cals, play-going and play-writing pco-
pie, and as she had seen everybody and knew
everybody in Europe known to fame her
conversation was remarkably interesting.
She was exemplary in observance of the
higher duties, amiable in the highest de-
gree with the people about her in Cincin-
natl, bount1ful to the poor, and an angel of
mercy to the sick" This picture of Mr..
Flint's is very different from that painted
by her critics They represent her as
loud-mouthed, vulgar, audacious woman
bitter, inscriptions and unfeminine.
Her Income Was Assured.
Until she wrote this book in her 5oth
year she had never earned a shilling. She
was brought up to luxury, and with expec-
tations of great wealth She had never ex-
pected to become the breadwinner of the
family. However unpopular her book was
in America, it made hit in England and
saved her family from ruin. She was paid
81, 900 for it, and from that moment she re-
ceived goodly income from the product of
her brains. None of her books are heard of
now save that on America, and only rare
copies of that are to be found, but they
served her purpose of supporting her fam
lily. Mr.. Trollope, the father. was always
in debt. He knew as little about farming
IS about educating his children. His son,
in his autobiography, tells that he was
off by no pleasures. But he had no
faculty for getting on in the world
'The touch of his hand seemed
20 create failure" While Mrs. Trollope
was in America with part of the family he
1ad charge of the education of Anthony,
whose novels were afterward to delight the
English reading people. In school Anthony
vas a Ounce, and owing to the family
poverty his clothes subjected him to ridicu1e
md contempt. He became q pariah, and
,wing to the cruelty of his school fellows
ne suffered agonies. He was big. awkward,
ll-dressed and dirty. In telling of his
at Harrow, when schoolboy, he
eems to take pleasure in the thought that
Dr.. Butler, who thought the school dis |
raced by such dirty, disreputable boy as |
while DIR. Longley, who |
lever said an ill-natured word, became |
Archbishop of Canterbury. But with all his
schooling, Trollope confesses that when 26
7ears old he did not know the multiplica-
ION table and could not do a sum in long
livision.
She Was . Heroic Mother.
In reading the story of his life by the |
an fail to be struck with the heroism of the |
mother, as compared with the incapacity of |
he father. When by stress of debts the lat |
er was compelled to live in Belgium to keep |
ut of the bailiff's hands, his wife and chill |
rem followed, and her labor supported the |
amily. Hardly has anyone written books /
o amuse and interest the public under such |
ireful distress. With sick husband and |
wo beloved children doomed to the linger-
ng death of consumption to take care Of
be yet had the family living to earn. Her /
on relates that she was up at 4 in the
,orning writing a novel, and finished her
ay's work with her pen before the world
-as fairly awake.
With this story in mind it hardly re-
uires the testimony of her son to show
nat she was unselfsh, afectionate, ener-
etic and industrious. If her many books
id not come up to high measure of ex-
ellence, as say the critics, it is certain
1ey were popular at the time, and that
ley should be written at all under such
1verse circumstances md stress of sorrow,
indeed remarkable.
The heroic virtues of many hitherto held
contempt are coming into view. Tom
aine's patriotism and aid to American in
ependence are now more dwelt upon than
is infdelity, and yet children used to be
ught that Paine was near akin to the
evil, his name is not found in text books
history and his services in the Revolu-
on have received but little recognition.
S time weakens religious persecution and
e spirit of the age inspires men more and
ore with the charity that thinketh no evil,
ere will be much less of misjudgment
ID mud-throwing. Mrs. Trollope's case is
example. BESSIE BRAMBLE