New-York tribune., 1903-07-25
Il WOM4N'S LETTERS.
Margaret FuIIer's Romantic Friend
ship.

LOVE LETTERS OF MARGARET CARE TIT FpLfLER. fid5st
16mo, pp. DDS d. Appleton & Co
The letters printed in this volume were writ
ten during the period which their brilliant au-
;hor spent in New-York as a contributor to the
columns of this journal They were addressed
to a certain James Nathan. a man of about her
own age, who had come from Germany fifteen
years before TO trade in the New World. The
context shows that early in their acquaintance
he had struck note of intimate discussion on
themes of the heart and soul and that the
woman's sympathetic nature responded quickly,
not only to this but TO a following note Of per-
sonal affection. 1t evidently seemed genuine
10 Margaret for she presently addressed her
correspondent as 'Dearest"-but only TO retreat
afterward to a soberer term These are only
selections from the letters which she sent to
him daily by a ''boy-page." and his own ac-
count of their friendship, written thirty years
ago is of the vaguest; but the materials at
hand would seem to show that the man, moved
il part, perhaps, by vanity, had sought 10
awaken In an attractive celebrity a romantic
sentiment which he had no intention Of let
ting out Of the region of moonshine. SEN
tence in friends letter. included here, sug-
gests that he was already promised in mar
rage to a maiden of his own ancient faith in
Germany. However this may be, he returned
to Europe in years time, and that Margaret
was disilIusioned as regarded his sincerity is
apparent from some scornful words IN her
diary. set down in London several months
later To her expression of contempt she
added: II care not. l am resolved to take
such disappointments more lightly tkon have
I ought not 10 regret having thought other OF
humans than they deserve
These pages offer new testimony to their
writer's fine qualities-to her arge-mindedness'
her pure-heartedness, her abounding charity
the pride blent with humility. the honesty OF
nature which inspired reliance on the honesty
Of others From this point of view the letters
are interesting; as purely intellectual perform
ances they are of no great account. The traits
tbev reveal to us have been shown and chron-
icled elsewhere and the unprejudiced reader
must be of the opinion that a man cf delicate
feeling and refined taste would have Withheld
from the world Margaret's share of the cor
respondence well as his own. Various pas
sages and letters he has told us, he DID so
withhold. and the shallowness of his feeling for
the woman he professed to admire and rev.
erence is proved by the incompleteness OF MS
sacrifice You had better leave my letters"
wrote Margaret when he was about TO sail
They have been like mamma. possible to use
for food in their day, but they are not i'm
mortal. like their source. Let them perish! Let
me burn them Keep my image in the soul
without such aids and ii will be more livingly
true and avail you more; and elsewhere she
begs him not TO speak to his kindred of her,
except outwardly," to American acquaint-
ances She adds 4 want the mysterious tie
that binds us remain unprofaned forever,
and that if in this cruel, fatal sphere we are
in we have to bury the sweet form Of the Past,
should do il quite alone. we the only
ones that could appreciate its budding charms,
-snrY-
Then we would weep together and part, and go
our several ways alone but we would tell no
man. Promise me this" Perhaps he prom
ised this to the sister of his SOUL; but, if so,
he did not fulfil his promise.
There some curious illustrations in the
letters of Margarets calm belief in her own
powers and her own mission. She con-
WINGED that there are in every age a few per-
sons in whose lot the meaning of that age is
concentrated. and that she was of the few
in her age and sex. I feel chosen among
women, ! have deep mystic feelings in myself
and ntimations from elsewhere. I could not if
] would put into words these spirit facts; in
deed. they but swelling germs yet. and
all ] do for them Is to try do nothing that
might blight them" This belief Of hers evoked
from observers in her own day much sarcastic
scofflng, as well as enthusiastic adherence but
her career was. in truth, effective as few fem
mime careers have been It led the way to new
intellectual opportunities for women it helped
TO broaden in many practical directions the
scope Of their endeavors ii suggested nobler
sympathes and ideals. II has been recorded
Of her that she studied and thought with the
seriousness of one upon oath. and that in her
teachings the spirit which giveth
life" Something OF this spirit too abides in
these so-called love letters. and in far their
publication need not be regretted.
Mrs Howe contributes TO the volume a grave.
womanly preface, and it is further enlarged by
the inclusion of copfous quotations from the
familiar "reminiscences. Of Mr. Emerson and Mr.
Greeley. A much idealized portrait serves as a
frOntispiece