Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-09-25

IstAsS1o .c1ss.xs..sSSsss-l q enjoyment
of the world of
make-believe. Deaths In the family,
sorrow and fluctuations of all kinds,
the struggle to make way In the
world by teaching and serving as gov
erness, the necessity of acting as
mother to the family, all were a part
of the intense life of Charlotte.
In 1916 the three sisters issued n
small volume of poems under the
names of Currer, Ellis and Acton BELL.
The book was hardly noticed mt the
time. The three sisters each began n
novel. Emily's "Wuthering Heights"
and Anne's "Agnes Grey found pub
fishers, but "The Professor of Char
Iotte remained unaccepted until she
had made her name famous with other
works. She threw herself into the COM
position of "Jane Eyre" which was
published in 1S47. 1t took the reading
public by storm, the literary sensation
of. the day was "Who Is Currer Bell:'
The answer did not come till "Shirleys
had been published I'm 1910, when the
author became part of the great
world of letters. "VfIlette," her last
book, came I'm 1853. The next year she
was married to the Rev. Mr.. Nichols;
she died the year after, when success
and happiness should have crowned her
life.
beginning with the life by Char
Iotte's friend, Mrs. GasIxelI, the three
sisters have been the subject of In
Vulnerable books and articles.
A T HER very birth Jane Eyre
~ was left in the cold lap of
- charity. Her aunt-in-law, Mrs.
Reed of Gateshead Hall. kept the or
phan ten years, during which she was
subjected to such hard, fixed hatred
that she was glad enough to be packed
off to Lowood school, semi-charitable
Institution for girls.
Her career there was very honor
able; from pupil she became teach
er. She left it to become governess of
sAdela Varens, the ward of Mr.. Ed
ward Rochester, at Thornfield Manor.
There she thoroughly liked her situa-
ton: The grand old house; the quiet
library; her little chamber; the garden
with its huge chestnut tree; and the
great meadow with its array of knotty
.horn trees, strong as oaks.
If Mr.. Rochester had been a hand
some, heroic-looking young gentleman,
Jane could never have felt at ease
with him. But he was a sombre,
moody man, with broad and jetty eye
brows, decisive nose. and grim, square
mouth and jaw; and in his presence
the plain little governess felt somehow
happy. Yet his character was beyond
her penetration; she felt q vague sense
of insecurity.
He confided to her that Adela Va
rens was not his child, but the daugh-
| ter of a Partisan dancer, who had de-
| ceived him, and deserted the little
girl. SO much he told her; but of the
strange shadows that passed over his
happiest moments, of his apparent af-
lection for Jane Eyre along with his
Withholding from her some secret
grief, she could make nothing.
Then there came most mysterious
| happenings to Thornfield. One night
Jane Eyre found the door of Mr.. Roch-
ester's room open, and his bed on fire.
She managed with great difficulty to
quench the flames, and rouse him from
the stupor into which the smoke had
Plunged him. He advised her to re-
main silent as to the affair.
Later Mr.. Mason. from Spanish
Town, In Jamaica, arrived at Thorn
| field while Mr.. Rochester was enter
timing a large party. That night
yane was awakened by a cry for help.
When she reached the hall, the guests
were aroused.
Mr.. Rochester, candle in hand, was
descending the stairs from the third
| floor. "a servant has had night
mare" he said.
Thus he persuaded the guests back
into their rooms. But all night Jane
twas obliged to attend Mr.. Mason, who
/ lay In bed on the third floor. badly
/ wounded in the arm and shoulder
From scattered hints Jane gathered
/ that a woman had inflicted the wounds
A doctor was summoned. and before
morning Mr.. Rochester had spirited the
wounded man away in coach. with
the doctor TO watch over him.
Then Jane was suddenly summoned
to GatheShead, to her aunt. Mrs Reed,
who lay dying. Mrs. Reed gave her a
letter. 1t was from John Eyre. in Ma
leira, asking that his niece. Jane Eyre,
come to him, that he might adopt her,
as he was unmarried and childless. II
was dated three years back. Mrs. Reed
had never attempted to deliver 1t to