New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-22
A NEW AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
MISS NORTH'S "RECOLLECTiONS OF HAPPY
LIFE, AND OF THE UNITED STATES.
London. February 10.


- ~. Macmillan und der the title RecOllecuons
- . Uonn, life" is an entertaining book
or.noa il at random, as sometimes docs-lc
;s mt q had way-and came upon sketch oi
ra+ion,listic clergyman in Tasmania, discipie oi
Puckle and of Mr.. Herbert Spencer Inc cieis'
mans wife had brought mp her children Oh '''o
,rnciples lald down in Mr. Spencer pooks' an"
was much disappointed at hearing the 'a''ei vas
O. Garety old bachelor instead OF the ia'ner VI
- nb;Idrenn Pat one would have thought
,pvbodv might see that Mr.. Spencer's treatlsc OH
Education was the work of an am9.tur' '
North knew him. / suppose she knew many peoP''
But think of the courage it takes TO deSciioe 'S
thetic philosopher fidgety ola pacheioi' -
takes some even to copy II.
This lady never lacked for courage. iier oooA
10 full of it, as her life was: ana luil VI o'o -"
ercy of OVERLOOKING lie, and OF orlghha' oi' ~ al"
rate individual views. She como see ''''''s'
doscrihes things. The autobiography is record OF
h.r raseion for travel she visited the Cm'eu
r+otos and devoted part OF a chapter to them' rs
= Lird of tao 70 Canada. She found the Ameri-
COW accent ouaint Yankee stories, In her oplh-
ION cannot be written; it is the dry, pecuiial
u,oy clever American tells them that gives 'ich'
,ba;r CHARM Ice cream, coacoanut CAKES an'
iced gingerbread were all " first-ra'c' Ih's was III
Roston or rather in Jamaica PAN
There are no porters in America accordihs 10
this lady, "but every one is courteous an" '-'
10 Won are civil too" Some of our Ehsi'sh 'l'-
itors sometimes forget to remember THIS coiui'io'
and there is point in the remark that Americans
ON first landing in England must he much s'rucN
nv the want of manners Inc "
Of this observation appears to be the hegNoV y,
English women to make curtseys.' one Ni'n'"
tbe Adamses at Quincy and found Mr. Adams a
in Roston seem to have taken her up The Fields
Mr. and Mrs Aeassz 1.-THE clder-Mrs. Agassiz Is
described as q most agreeable, handsome woman
tho Jonpfellows and many more The TWO
Miss Ionrfellows were two pretty girls WIN
met her in street car, and SPOKE TO her, ana UooN
her to lunch with the poet. The uhchc0h was
worthy of a poet-nothing but cakes ana run anu
cold tea with Jumps of ice in it, Inc poe'
pleased her as we'll as his luncheon; he was q
model poet to listen to and look at, with his sho"
white hair, eager eyes and soft, gentle MANNER
and voice. full Of pleasant, impractical 'aiK quite
TOO good for everyday use. Professor As"'o'N
"spoke funny broken English, and looked en-
tirclv content with himself and everybody else.
Tn New.Yorl, Mrs Botta was Miss North's best
friend "a most charming and cultivated person.
The Eoujtable Life Building put her head IN u
maze: "a perfect palace of Pompeian irescoes' !
Italian marbles and American woods Duu
" there WAS something horrible about the wnole
thing with its defiance of evil-doers or acciueh''
New-York as q whole, was altogether oVer"heI'h.
ing in its constant movement, ughhess' "iu
method There is short note OF WISH 10 our
dear Mr. Ripley the literary critic oil Inc
Tribune" as Miss North calls him. 1t was not
party. but just few friends, and most agfeeapie
for the friends were of the best sort; they wore
only high dresses, and my old, squarecut body
felt almost indecent, the Others were SO oeclucuiS
high After which comes this:
There were many artists there. including one !
who had PAINTED the chief beauties OF NeW-i3rh |
as the Nine MUSES.. tWho was he : lie haa a S"
when in England painted John Bright, C0nleh
and Tom Potter He was an Italian ami s1ld ION
6qt o So6d s SyS AT GoSs
round, with napkin to put on the Knees unu u
them, with tiny glasses OF wne ai n oSncoIote
The quests seemed TO enjoy their picnic supper
after which we walked home again most OF 'he
way" 1890
How long ago it all seems. 1t was in 1871.
And what do YOU say to this picture of Washing
TON life twenty years ago ?-the new American
WAYS, as Miss North was told by diplomatic
people"
The young ladies have clubs among them
selves aud give parties on alternate nights durh&
Mamma he m,n onv ei Ea the privilege Of giving the
supper appearing while it is being eaten, ana
retiring aiterward. Papa is allowed the privilege
OF paying for it, and does not appear aI ~.
These girls 20 out TO other peoples houses under
tho escort of some young gentleman. fas ana mas
sic have dull life of it in unlted o na,"r
asks for the mother only for tho glrlS' aliG re
mother does not appear if she did, she would De
snubled.. and made to know her place very
quickly
This lady had, as you perceive, gift for rapid
generalization. She had letter to Mr.. Fish,
Secretary Of state, who called on her; "a great
massive man with hard sensible head who dld
oil the talking himself Mrs. Grant was "a
motherly kind body" the President, "a Hlost
ho,nclv kind of man" Miss North uses the word
honely in its English sense, domestic. AT hr5t.
things went but stiniy. but when they began 10
find out | was not fine lady-worsbpper OF
WORTH we all got chatty and happy MIS-
Grant told her guest she had no idea Governor
Fish had brought me with him, or she would not
have let me up stairs, but didn't mind now /;
and told Miss North all about her children.
THE two big men talked softly in corner as
IL I were not there She asked to come
again, and Mr. Fish showed her about ana took
her home again
Il wondered if Gladstone or Dizzy would have
taken as much trouble for the daughter Of an
American NJ. F., who brought letter from the
secretary OF an English embassy"
Next day came big envelope with huge g. on
it, and an invitation to dinner The Russell
Gurneys with whom Miss North was staying, were
also asked so we went in state, and were shown
into the blue satin oval room, and General
Porter came and made himself most agreeable TO
US" as his habit is. There were Senators, and
the Secretary for Foreign Affairs" then cane
I'm the President and his wife arm-n-arn," and
"grandpapa toddling in after The President
took in the English lady who was embarrassed but
relieved by finding the great man did not care
TO talk while he ate, and General Porter WAS
easy to get on with on my other side. lie seemed
,,I.n itnL toI In