by this strife, have prevented the merits of this remarkable book from being appreciated as they deserve.
In 1841, Mr. and Mrs. Child removed from Boston to the city of New York, and became conductors of "The National Anti-Slavery Standard." Mrs. Child, while assisting in her husband's editorial duties, now commenced a Series of Letters, partly for the "Boston Courier," a popular newspaper, and partly for the "Standard," (her own paper,) which after being thus published, were collected and re-issued in two volumes, entitled "Letters from New York." This work has been very popular. Mrs. Child is a close observer, she knows "how to observe," and better still, she has a poetical imagination and a pure, warm, loving heart, which invests her descriptions with a peculiar charm. An English Reviewer has well remarked concerning Mrs. Child:—"Whatever comes to her from without, whether through the eye or the ear, whether in nature or art, is reflected in her writings with a halo of beauty thrown about it by her own fancy; and thus presented, it appeals to our sympathies, and awakens an interest which carves it upon the memory in letters of gold. But she has yet loftier claims to respect than a poetical nature. She is a philosopher, and, better still, a religious philosopher. Every page presents to us scraps of wisdom, not pedantically put forth, as if to attract admiration, but thrown out by the way in seeming unconsciousness, and as part of her ordinary thoughts."
CHIOMARA,
The heroic wife of Ortiagon, a Gaulish prince, equally celebrated for her beauty and her chastity. During the war between the Romans and the Gauls, B. C. 186, the latter were entirely defeated on Mount Olympus. Chiomara, among many other ladies, was taken prisoner, and committed to the chaise of a centurion. This centurion, not being able to overcome the chastity of the princess by persuasion, employed force; and then, to make her amends, offered her her liberty, for an Attic talent. To conceal his design from the other Romans, he allowed her to send a slave of her own, who was among the prisoners, to her relations, and assigned a place near the river where she could be exchanged for the gold.
She was carried there the next night by the centurion, and found there two relations of her own, with the money. While the centurion was weighing it, Chiomara, speaking in her own tongue, commanded her friends to kill him, which they did. Then cutting off his head herself, she carried it under her robe to her husband, Ortiagon, who had returned home after the defeat of his troops. As soon as she came into his presence she threw the head at his feet. Surprised at such a sight, he asked whose head it was, and what had induced her to do a deed so uncommon with her sex? Blushing, but at the same time expressing her fierce indignation, she declared the outrage that had been done her, and the revenge she had taken. During the remainder of her life, she strenuously retained her purity of manners, and was ever treated with great respect.
CHOIN, MARIE EMILIE JOLY DE,
A lady descended from a noble Savoy family. She was employed about the person of the Duchess of Conti, where she was sought
