And from my life its beacon bright? Mine arms I put forth like the blind, Sun, moon, and stars have taken their flight: And now to me 't is starless night. Must I thus grope along the stream Pitying, O Jove, take me from earth! HENRIETTA LEE PALMER. ISS HENRIETTA LEE was born in Baltimore, Md., February 6th, 1834. She enjoyed the advantages of the famous "Patapsco Institute," established by Mrs. Lincoln Phelps, and the educational home of many Southern girls from Maryland to Texas. Miss Lee was married in 1855 to Dr. J. W. Palmer, of Baltimore, author of several successful books of California life, translator of Michelet's "L'Amour," etc., and compiler of "Folk Songs for the Popular Heart," an elegant gift-book published in 1860; and also the author of that popular poem of the war, "Stonewall Jackson's Way." Dr. Palmer is at this time (1871) editing a literary weekly in his native city. Mrs. Palmer's writings consist of contributions, stories, letters, etc., etc., to various New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore papers, and to the "Young Folks' Magazine." She translated for Rachel, "The Lady Tartuffe." In 1858, Appleton & Co., New York, published in elegant style, "The Stratford Gallery; or, The Shakspeare Sisterhood, comprising forty-five ideal portraits, described by Henrietta Lee Palmer." I append a critical notice of this work from high authority, “Atlantic Monthly," January, 1859. "This book is what it purports to be, not a collection of elaborate essays devoted to metaphysical analysis or to conjectural emendations of doubtful lines, but a series of ideal portraits of the women of Shakspeare's plays. The reader may fancy himself led by an intelligent cicerone, who pauses before each picture, and with well-chosen words tells enough of the story to present the heroine, and then gives her own conception of the character, with such hints concerning manners and personal peculiarities as a careful study of the play may furnish. The narrations are models of neatness and brevity, yet full enough to give a clear understanding of the situation to any one unacquainted with it. The creations of Shakspeare have a wonderful completeness and vitality; and yet the elements of character are often mingled so subtilely that the sharpest critics differ widely in their estimates. Nothing can be more fascinating than to follow closely the great dramatist, picking out from the dialogue a trait of form here, a whim of color there, and at last combining them into an harmonious whole, with the truth of outline, hue, and bearing preserved. Often as this has been done, therei s room still for new observers, provided they bring their own eyes to the task, and do not depend upon the dim and warped lenses of the commentators. "It is very rarely that we meet with so fresh, so acute, and so entertaining a student of Shakspeare as the author of this volume. Her observations, whether invariably just or not, are generally taken from a new standpoint. She is led to her conclusions rather by instinct than by reason. She makes no apology for her judgments: 'I have no reason but a woman's reason: I think her so because I think her so." And it would not be strange if womanly instinct were to prove oftentimes a truer guide in following the waywardness of a woman's nature than the cold, logical processes of merely intellectual men. "To the heroines who are most truly women, the author's loyalty is pure and intense. Imogen, the 'chaste, ardent, devoted, beautiful' wife, Juliet, whose 'ingenuousness and almost infantile simplicity' endear her to all hearts,―Miranda, that most ethereal creation, type of virgin innocence, Cordelia, with her pure, filial devotion — are painted with loving, sympathetic tenderness. "Altogether, this is a book which any admirer of the poet may read with pleasure; and especially to those who have not ventured to think wholly for themselves, it will prove a most useful and agreeable companion." MRS RS. SOUTHWORTH is best known among the general public, of all writers of Southern birth. Her numerous thrilling romances have many fond readers in England as well as in this country. Emma D. E. Neville Southworth, as she has informed the world in ar autobiographical notice, was born in Washington, D. C., December 26th, 1818. The eldest daughter of her parents. She has a half-sister, Mrs. Frances Henshaw Baden, who is a favorite contributor to the "New York Ledger," and in connection with whom she published "The Christmas Guest, and other Stories," Philadelphia, 1870. Mrs. Southworth's history is so well known that it is not necessary to quote it here. In 1849 Mrs. Southworth, then a teacher in a primary school in Washington, wrote her first novel, "Retribution," originally written for and published in the "National Era," of that city. This novel was published in a volume by Harper & Brothers, and Mrs. Southworth, who, before the publication of this novel, "had been poor, ill, forsaken, killed by sorrow, privation, toil, and friendlessness, found herself born, as it were, into a new life; found independence, sympathy, friendship, and honor, and an occupation in which she could delight." She has by her efforts achieved competence, and resides in a charming home in Georgetown, D. C. She has a son who inherits his mother's talent. Mrs. Southworth has published more than any Southern writer. She has published thirty-three large volumes in twenty years. I append the titles of her novels: Retribution. The Deserted Wife. The Missing Bride. Love's Labor Won. The Lost Heiress. Fallen Pride. Curse of Clifton. Bridal Eve. Allworth Abbey. The Wife's Victory. The Gipsy's Prophecy. The Two Sisters. Discarded Daughter. Three Beauties. Haunted Homestead. Vivia; or, The Secret of Power. India; or, The Pearl of Pearl River. The Fatal Marriage. The Lady of the Isle. The Fortune Seeker. The Bride of Llewellyn. The Motherin-Law. The Widow's Son. How He Won Her. The Changed Brides. The Bride's Fate. The Prince of Darkness. The Family Doom. The Maiden Widow. The Christmas Guest. Fair Play. Cruel as the Grave. Tried for her Life. May, 1871. IN MISS ELIZA SPENCER N 1867–68, “Mary Ashburton: a Tale of Maryland Life, by Elise Beverly," appeared serially in Gen. Hill's magazine, "The Land we Love." This novel attracted considerable attention. "Elise Beverly" was the pseudonym of Miss Eliza Spencer, of Skipton, Maryland. In 1869, she was residing at New Castle, Delaware, where her brother was rector of a flourishing church. We give from the "Tale of Maryland Life," the following graphic picture of a Maryland farm-house of years ago: "An old-fashioned farm-house in the eastern part of Maryland, ochrewashed into a delicate straw color, a tall yellow chimney peering above the trees, a little attic window peeping out from the great gable end, and where rose-vines are clambering and tumbling over, except where caught by strips of morocco mellowed by time and the rust of the nails almost into the hues of the walls; here and there deep-seated dormer-windows, front and back, where the bees are swarming in at the dishes of dried fruit therein displayed; old gnarled apple-trees lovingly kissing each other over the high shelving roof, and almost covering it with their sweet white blossoms; pear- and cherry-trees mingling their odoriferous flowers on the deep, grassy carpeting of the enclosure; a wilderness of jessamine and honeysuckle growing on the walls; a long, large garden behind, luxuriating in the dear old-fashioned flowers, not forming squares or triangles in stiff, prim lines, but springing up everywhere, contrasting their colors in the richest, gayest confusion, evidently not suffering for want of attention, for the ground about them is carefully worked, and all weeds and briers most promptly removed. No prim walks glistening with sand and gravel, but a rich green sod on which the fruitblossoms lay their sweet little white cheeks, or the lovely pink flowers of the peach embroidered it in charming patterns. In front spread a long enclosure lined with fruit-trees, and interspersed with them, so as to form an almost uninterrupted shade about the house, though the sunlight fell in golden patches on the grass and penetrated through the leaves and branches, glinting and sparkling amid the vegetation till lost in its deepening labyrinths. A well-sweep, suspending an 'iron-bound bucket,' arose from a well on whose oaken sides the green moss of ages seemed collected, and, glancing over into its clear depths, the water looked so pure and cool that it tempted you to drink whether thirsty or not. Then the apple-blossoms fell about it, and seemed to make it the sweeter for their breath. An old love of a picturesque well it was, suggestive of pretty maids tripping there with their pitchers on their shoulders, while the traveller quenched his thirst by their kind assistance." MISS MISS TAMAR A. KERMODE. ISS TAMAR ANNE KERMODE was born in Liverpool, England. Came to Baltimore in 1853. Has resided there since. She has contributed poems and prose to the "New York Ledger," Godey's "Lady's Book," and other papers and magazines, North and South. 1871. "GIVE US THIS PEACE." "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding.” These words fell softly on my ear, and so I prayed — That thou shouldest bear thy cross-then wherefore fear And those who work with patience win at last a crown. |