at Night, and other poems," in 1834; "The Village Churchyard," in 1835; "The Visionary," in 1837; "Lays of Leisure," in 1838; accounts of her travels, and many occasional poems. She certainly evinces unusual facility in versification, but more care and finish would be an improvement to her style. Some of her shorter poems display brilliancy of imagination, and when her theme is new and inspiring) she becomes impassioned and pathetic. Her poems on America attest the power of her genius as well as the kindness of her heart Lady Stuart Wortley made the tour of the United States in 1849-50. She contributed a number of poems on the subject of her travels to different periodicals, and early in 1851, her "Travels in the United States" appeared. The work evinces a very different spirit from the recorded opinions of Mrs. Trollope and Miss Martineau. Lady Stuart Wortley is a woman of refined manners and highly cultivated intellect; there is genuine goodness of heart shown in her writings; her records of what she sees and hears always bring out expressions of feelings and hopes that do honour to human nature. These give value to her works.
XANTIPPE,
Wife of Socrates, the Athenian philosopher, was remarkable for the moroseness and violence of her temper. It is said that Socrates was aware of her character, and married her to exercise his patience. She, however, loved her husband, and mourned his death, which took place about 398 B.C., with the deepest grief. If we take into the account this true love she felt for her husband, and consider what she must have suffered while he was passing his evenings in the society of the beautiful and fascinating Aspasia, we shall hardly wonder at her discontent. If his wife loved him, it must have been for his mind, as he was not endowed with attractions that win the eye and fancy of a woman; and thus loving him, she must have keenly felt the discord between the wisdom of his teachings and the foolishness of his conduct. That he acknowledged her influence over him was good, is a sufficient proof of her true devotion to him; had he been as true to her, he would have been a wiser and a better man; and she, no doubt, a much milder as well as a happier woman.
YATES, MARY,
A celebrated actress, whose maiden name was Graham, was born about 1737. She made her theatrical débût at Dublin, in 1752; but succeeded so ill, that Mr. Sheridan, the manager, was glad to dissolve her engagement by a present. Necessity urged her to another attempt; and in 1754, she appeared at Drury Lane, London, but was not very successful. On her marriage with Mr. Yates, under whose instruction her talents first developed themselves, Mr. Garrick received her again at Drury Lane, and she soon became the first tragic actress of the day. She also excelled in comedy. She was very attractive in her appearance. Mrs. Yates retired from the stage in 1785, and died in London in 1787.
