of her daughter, who is accomplished in several modern languages, as well as in the other branches of a finished education. All these home employments have not been incompatible with energetic labors in the cause of charity. Mrs. Frémont is one of the active managers of the "Nursery and Child's Hospital," and of "The Soldiers' Orphan Home," of which association Mrs. Grant is President. She has been an efficient co-worker in the management of the "Ladies' Southern Relief Association." At her request to Congress, a ship was granted to convey the supplies to Charleston and other Southern ports. In her benevolent efforts, Mrs. Frémont obtains sympathy and aid from many with whom she has been associated in past years; for even political opponents remember her with respect and esteem. If in a railway station she has a moment of recognition and greeting from some statesman who has influenced the country's destiny, she is in no way surprised to receive afterwards a long letter from him referring to past events and the actors therein. She might go, with certainty of welcome, to homes in every State of the Union, and nearly every country in Europe.

The anxieties and trials-transcending woman's strength to bear-endured by Mrs. Frémont in the early part of the war, left their record on her luxuriant hair, which in a few days changed from glossy brown to silvery whiteness. The curious change was so sudden, her acquaintances thought she had covered her head with powder, and some did not recognize her. The

blanched locks do not match her fresh and blooming face; but Mrs. Frémont prefers to wear her gray hair, regarding its hue as the sacred scars of a veteran.

Very few women in the United States have equaled Mrs. Frémont in brilliancy of conversation. Almost at all times her talk is sparkling-flashing, it may be said— with lively wit and picturesque illustration; ornament as unstudied, withal, as the play of a sunlit fountain. Her witticisms are continually repeated in society. It is the great charm of her humor and repartee, that they are perfectly spontaneous. In this kind of splendor she resembles William C. Preston, only her sarcasm is ever playful and good-humored. Had she been an orator, she would have beguiled "attent ears" with rich eloquence, and carried captive the judgment by the vivid force of her word-painting. New ideas start up as she speaks upon the most ordinary topic, and her fancy gives a fresh coloring to all things. She brings the stores of rare culture to enrich the lightest social gossip; but does it without effort or even consciousness. Her appearance and manner are those usually thought distinctive of an English woman, and strikingly like those of her father. Her form is rather above the ordinary height, splendidly proportioned, and her face is very handsome and full of intellectual expression; always lighted up with the glow of a bright spirit and the benevolence of a generous heart.

XXII.

MRS. HENRY W. HILLS has long been celebrated in the society of New York for her rare musical attainments. She was Margaret Shellman; her mother, a Virginian of Huguenot descent. The daughter was born in Savannah, Georgia, where she continued to reside for twelve years after her early marriage. Her uncommon musical talents were displayed from childhood; at twelve she began to improvise, and composed waltzes, which were printed by her master; and from that time it has been her habit to express in music not only the emotions of her own heart, but current events of public or national interest. The poetess, Lydia Maria Child, when a young lady, was invited to hear Mrs. Hills play. She had never been able to appreciate or enjoy music, and fancied herself deficient in the faculty. But the brilliant touch and expression of Mrs. Hills awakened in her the sense of melody. In gratitude for the new-born joy, she addressed to the enchantress some impromptu verses, beginning, "Thanks, Orpheus, thanks;" expressive of her feelings. Mrs. Osgood wrote these impromptu lines on hearing Mrs. Hills' exquisite performance on the piano, in 1841:

"Of old the enchanted lyre,

'Neath Orpheus' touch of fire,

Could charm, 'tis said, the very hills to joy;

Could Orpheus come again,

The Hills in magic strain

Would now in turn bewitch and well reward the boy."

Mrs. Hills has lived many years in the city of New York, where her morning receptions were noted several years ago. This mode of entertainment was said to have been introduced, among the earliest, by Mrs. Girard, the eldest daughter of Governor Sumner, of Boston. The letters of Mrs. Hills, published in the Home Journal, contained excellent strictures on fashion and dress, and were extensively quoted. She described facetiously the competition of display among ladies who dressed for each other, in rivalry or emulation. But her great "mission was the cultivation of music, and the promotion of a taste for the best and highest in the art. N. P. Willis wrote to her, in 1864: "I envy Gottschalk his being within reach of your ears and finger ends; you think aloud so deliciously."-" What happiness your harmony of soul and fingers might give!"

Unvisited in early years by affliction, and endowed with a gift in art which beautified all around her, Mrs. Hills' life passed joyously as a bird's. The fount was always flowing; every emotion gushed out in music. Her improvisation especially breathed airs that expressed her feelings. Her Lament for the loss of the Arctic uttered the very soul of tender sympathy and dolor. Melody is, in truth, the voice of her heart. This intense.

love of the art has had its beneficial effect among her acquaintances, and its influence can hardly be measured. It pervades Mrs. Hills' life so thoroughly that the ordinary pleasures of society have scarcely a charm for her, separated from the progress of music. She often superintends and directs concerts given in aid of charities. Several have been given under her auspices at Dr. Ward's private theatre, in New York, which he opens for charities every Easter week.

The daughter of Mrs. Hills, Mrs. John Schermerhorn, inherited her talent in music. Gottschalk was delighted with her playing of his compositions. Mrs. Hills' grand-daughter, Miss Minnie Parker, has not only the family gift in instrumental music, but a voice of rare sweetness and power. She has achieved brilliant triumphs in her singing for charities, and has been praised in the highest terms by connoisseurs.

Miss Hetty Carey, of Baltimore, was said to be the most beautiful girl in Virginia or Maryland. For ten years she was a reigning belle, especially noted in Richmond society. She married Major-General Pegram, of Richmond.

Miss Lillie Hitchcock was celebrated in San Fran. cisco for brilliant accomplishments and personal graces. She would entertain at one time a circle of twenty gentlemen. She now resides in Paris, having married Mr. Thornton.