* * * * *

[Illustration]

FROM THE ART-JOURNAL.

MEMORIES OF MISS JANE PORTER.

BY MRS. S.C.  HALL.

The frequent observation of foreigners is, that in England we have few “celebrated women.”  Perhaps they mean that we have few who are “notorious;” but let us admit that in either case they are right; and may we not express our belief in its being better for women and for the community that such is the case.  “Celebrity” rarely adds to the happiness of a woman, and almost as rarely increases her usefulness.  The time and attention required to attain “celebrity,” must, except under very peculiar circumstances, interfere with the faithful discharge of those feminine duties upon which the well-doing of society depends, and which shed so pure a halo around our English homes.  Within these “homes” our heroes, statesmen, philosophers, men of letters, men of genius, receive their first impressions, and the impetus to a faithful discharge of their after callings as Christian subjects of the State.

There are few of such men who do not trace back their resolution, their patriotism, their wisdom, their learning—­the nourishment of all their higher aspirations—­to a wise, hopeful, loving-hearted and faith-inspired Mother; one who believed in a son’s destiny to be great; it may be, impelled to such belief rather by instinct than by reason:  who cherished (we can find no better word) the “Hero-feeling” of devotion to what was right; though it might have been unworldly; and whose deep heart welled up perpetual love and patience toward the overboiling faults and frequent stumblings of a hot youth, which she felt would mellow into a fruitful manhood.

The strength and glory of England are in the keeping of the wives and mothers of its men; and when we are questioned touching our “celebrated women”, we may in general terms refer to those who have watched over, moulded, and inspired our “celebrated men”.

Happy is the country where the laws of God and Nature are held in reverence—­where each sex fulfills its peculiar duties, and renders its sphere a sanctuary!  And surely such harmony is blessed by the Almighty—­for while other nations writhe in anarchy and poverty, our own spreads wide her arms to receive all who seek protection or need repose.

But if we have few “celebrated” women, few who, impelled either by circumstances or the irrepressible restlessness of genius, go forth amid the pitfalls of publicity, and battle with the world, either as poets, or dramatists, or moralists, or mere tale-tellers in simple prose—­or, more dangerous still, “hold the mirror up to nature” on the stage that mimics life—­if we have but few, we have, and have had some, of whom we are justly proud; women of such well-balanced minds, that toil they ever so laboriously in their public and perilous paths, their domestic and social duties have been fulfilled