New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08
MRS. GASKELL'S HOUSE.
MEMORIES OF CHARLOTTE BRoNTE AND HER

From The Woman at Home.

FAMILY.
From The Woman at Home.
The house which Mrs. Gackells name has
rendered famous stands in Plymouth Grove. a
br BAD thoroughfare pleasantly planted with
trees which leads from the suburbs into the
city Of Manchester. The house is of gray stone
commOdious. dOube-fronted, with a gravel car
rage-drive sweeping round TO the front door
ia" trees forming a screen from the road with
pleasant garden at the back. When Mrs Gas
kell first made il her home in 1919. il stood in
semi-rura isolation; now houses abound on
every hand and the tramcars pass along the
road. There still live Mrs. Gaskell's two I'M
married daughters Miss Gaske and Miss Julia
Gaskell ladies who are keeping up the traditions
Of their celebrated house in delightful man
ner, and to whose kindly courtesy am indebted
for the privilege Of becoming acquainted with
it's contents and literary associations
Never surely were bographer and Biographical
more closely connected in the public mind than
are Mrs Gaske and Charlotte BrOnte To
mention the one suggests the other IL was
during a visit 10 Sir James and Lady Kay
Shuttleworth. at Brery Close near Winder-
mere. in the autumn Of 1880, that Mrs Gaskell
first saw the author Of Jane Eyre "a little
lady in a black silk gown" who sat and worked
away and hardly spoke" Before the visit ended
the two became fast friends, and the following
year Charlotte Bronte paid the first of her
memorable visits to Plymouth Grove and hence
forth the house and its inmates have many a
kindly mention in her letters. In 1876 she came
again. and this time passed a week under Mrs.
Gaskelrs nosDitable roof II was pleasant 10
sit in the drawng-room where she had sat ana
listen to Miss Gaskell she called up her child
hood memories Of the visit.
Miss Gaskell told that the impression
which she retained Of Charlotte Bronte was OF
a dainty. brdlike creature. very delicate In ap-
pearance slight In figure. with tiny hands ana
feet very large gray eyes. silky brown halr ana
a shy, tmd manner. At times. when strangers
were not present. and she at her ease. she
would become quite impassioned In conversa-
ton using her hands 10 accentuate her re-
marks Miss Gaske recalls hearing Miss
Bronta described the acting OF Nine. Rachel.
whom she had recently seen in London. and in
order TO illustrate some attitude Of the actress
Miss Bronte clinched ner fists. The aroused
passion which thrilled through her fragile body.
and the action OF cnching the fists. made a
lasting impression on Miss Gaskell. then a tiny
child. She had also vivid recollection Of Mr..
Bronte in his last years. she accompanied
her mother 20 HawOrth when. after Charlotte s
death. Mrs Gaskel visited the moorland parson-
age to gather materials for the Life" Mr..
Bronte confined 10 his room at the time.
and Miss Gaskell recalls the vivacious manner
! with which ne received them and what pictur-
esque figure he made sitting propped up in bed.
| his snowy white shirt showing up his handsome
face and fine head He talked necessarily. telling
story after story and spinning yarns like a
| Napier full OF point and vivid colOring. 1T was
easy 10 understand" said Miss Gaskel where
the Bronte sisters got their genius from. Miss
| Julia Gaske had also story TO add regarding
| Mr. BrOnt9. When my Sister and were visit
| ing in the neighborhood Of Haworth parsonage.
| che said. I'VE had occasion to into a little
| jewellers and clockmaker's shop there. and
| the owner Of IL told us that old Mr. RrOnte who
| was then in a dying condition. had sent his
| pistol To him 10 have a new spring put 10 the
| trigger which would enable him TO fire 1t of
| more easily. Mr. Br0nte. should explain. had a
very violent temper. and was In the habit OF
| firing of a pistol to relieve his feelings; and
| even in his dying state he could not abandon
| the habit and had sent to have the trigger made
sudicienily easy for his weak hand to press II.
| Ne died three days after this incident re-
lated 10 us and believe fired his pistol 10 the
| last.