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says his daughter； 'without ostentation to give any of the proofs I might record of my father's liberality。 Long after they were forgotten by himself； they were remembered by the warm…hearted people among whom he lived。'
Mr。 Edgeworth was one of those people born to get their own way。 Every one seems to have felt the influence of his strong character。 It was not only with his family and his friends that he held his ownthe tenants and the poor people rallied to his command。 To be sure； it sounds like some old Irish legend to be told that Mr。 Edgeworth had so loud a voice that it could be heard a mile off； and that his steward； who lived in a lodge at that distance from the house； could hear him calling from the drawing…room window； and would come up for orders。
In 1778； says Miss Edgeworth retrospectively； when England was despatching her armies all over the world； she had no troops to spare for the defence of Ireland then threatened with a French invasion； and the principal nobility and gentry embodied themselves volunteers for the defence of the country。 The Duke of Leinster and Lord Charlemont were at the head of the 'corps which in perfect order and good discipline rendered their country respectable。' The friends of Ireland； profiting by England's growing consideration for the sister country； now obtained for her great benefits for which they had long been striving； and Mr。 Grattan moved an address to the throne asserting the legislative independence of Ireland。 The address passed the House； and； as his daughter tells us； Mr。 Edgeworth immediately published a pamphlet。 Miss Edgeworth continues as follows； describing his excellent course of action： 'My father honestly and unostentatiously used his utmost endeavours to obliterate all that could tend to perpetuate ill…will in the country。 Among the lower classes in his neighbourhood he endeavoured to discourage that spirit of recrimination and retaliation which the lower Irish are too prone to cherish。 They are such acute observers that there is no deceiving them as to the state of the real feeling of their superiors。 They know the signs of what passes within with more certainty than any physiognomist； and it was soon seen by all those who had any connection with him that my father was sincere in his disdain of vengeance。' Further on； describing his political feelings； she says that on the subject of the Union in parliamentary phrase he had not then been able to make up his mind。 She describes with some pride his first speech in the Irish House at two o'clock in the morning； when the wearied members were scarcely awake to hear it； and when some of the outstretched members were aroused by their neighbours to listen to him！ 'When people perceived that it was not a set speech；' says Miss Edgeworth； 'they became interested。' He stated his doubts just as they had occurred as he threw them by turn into each scale。 After giving many reasons in favour of what appeared to be the advantages of the Union； he unexpectedly gave his vote against it； because he said he had been convinced by what he had heard one night； that the Union was decidedly against the wishes of the majority of men of sense and property in the nation。 He added （and surely Mr。 Edgeworth's opinion should go for something still） that if he should be convinced that the opinions of the country changed； his vote would be in its favour。
His biographer tells us that Mr。 Edgeworth was much complimented on his speech by BOTH sides； by those for whom he voted； and also by those who found that the best arguments on the other side of the question had been undoubtedly made by him。 It is a somewhat complicated statement and state of feeling to follow； to the faithful daughter nothing is impossible where her father is concerned。 This vote； I believe； cost Mr。 Edgeworth his peerage。 'When it was known that he had voted against the Union he became suddenly the idol of those who would previously have stoned him；' says his devoted biographer。 It must not； however； be forgotten that Mr。 Edgeworth had refused an offer of L3000 for his seat for two or three weeks； during that momentous period when every vote was of importance。 Mr。 Pitt； they say； spent over L2；000；000 in carrying the measure which he deemed so necessary。
IV
As a rule people's books appeal first to one's imagination； and then after a time； if the books are good books and alive； not stuffed dummies and reproductions； one begins to divine the writers themselves； hidden away in their pages； and wrapped up in their hot…press sheets of paper； and so it happened by chance that a printed letter once written by Maria Edgeworth to Mrs。 Barbauld set the present reader wondering about these two familiar names； and trying to realise the human beings which they each represented。 Since those days Miss Edgeworth has become a personage more vivid and interesting than any of her characters； more familiar even than 'Simple Susan' or 'Rosamond of the Purple Jar。' She has seemed little by little to grow into a friend； as the writer has learnt to know her more and more intimately； has visited the home of that home…loving woman； has held in her hands the delightful Family Memoirs； has seen the horizons； so to speak； of Maria Edgeworth's long life。 ＇Now published and edited by Mr。 Hare （Nov。 1894）。＇ Several histories of Miss Edgeworth have been lately published in England。 Miss Zimmern and Miss Oliver in America have each written； and the present writer has written； and various memoirs and letters have appeared in different magazines and papers with allusions and descriptions all more or less interesting。 One can but admire the spirit which animated that whole existence； the cheerful； kindly； multiplied interest Maria Edgeworth took in the world outside； as well as in the wellbeing of all those around her。 Generations； changes； new families； new experiences； none of these overwhelmed her。 She seemed to move in a crowd； a cheerful； orderly crowd； keeping in tune and heart with its thousand claims； with strength and calmness of mind to bear multiplied sorrows and a variety of care with courage； and an ever…reviving gift of spirited interest。 Her history is almost unique in its curious relationships； its changes of step…mothers； its warm family ties； its grasp of certain facts which belong to all time rather than to the hour itself。 Miss Edgeworth lived for over eighty years； busy； beneficent； modest； and intelligent to the last。 When she died she was mourned as unmarried women of eighty are not often mourned。
The present owner of Edgeworthstown told us that he could just remember her； lying dead upon her bed； and her face upon the pillow； and the sorrowful tears of the household； and how he and the other little children were carried off by a weeping aunt into the woods； to comfort and distract them on the funeral day。 He also told us of an incident prior to this event which should not be overlooked。 How he himself； being caught red…handed； at the age of four or thereabouts； with his hands in a box of sugar… plums； had immediately confessed the awful fact that he had been about to eat them； and he was brought then and there before his Aunt Maria for sentence。 She at once decided that he had behaved Nobly in speaking the truth； and that he must be rewarded in kind for his praiseworthy conduct； and be allowed to keep the sugar… plums！
This little story after half a century certainly gives one pleasure still to recall； and proves； I think； that cakes may be enjoyed long after they have been eaten； and also that there is a great deal to be said for justice with lollipops in the scale。 But what would Rosamond's parents have thought of such a decision？ One shudders to think of their disapproval； or of that of dear impossible Mr。 Thomas Day； with his trials and experiments of melted sealing…wax upon little girls' bare arms； and his glasses of tar…water so inflexibly administered。 Miss Edgeworth； who suffered from her eyes； recalls how Mr。 Day used to bring the dose； the horrible tar…water； every morning with a 'Drink this； Miss Maria！' and how she dared not resist； though she thought she saw something of kindness and pity beneath all his apparent severity。
Severity was the order of those times。 The reign of sugar…plums had scarcely begun。 It was not； as now； only ignorance and fanaticism that encouraged the giving of pain； it was the universal custom。 People were still hanged for stealing； women were still burntso we have been assuredin St。 Stephen's Green； though； it is true； they were considerately strangled first。 Children were bullied and tortured with the kindest intentions； even Maria Edgeworth at her fashionable school was stretched in a sort of machine to make her grow； Mr。 Day； as we know； to please the lady of his affections； passed eight hours a day in the stocks in order to turn out his knock…knees。 One feels that a generation of ladies and gentlemen who submitted to such inflictions surely belonged to a race of heroes and heroines； and that； if the times were difficult and trying； the people also were stronger to endure them； and must have been much better fitted with nerves than we are。
Miss Edgeworth's life has been so often told tha
