Friday 13 July 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "I hope George was
pleased with my designs. Perhaps they would have suited him as well had they
been less elaborately finished; but an artist cannot do anything slovenly. I
suppose baby grows and improves. - Jane Austen, Saturday 17-Sunday 18 November 1798
George was George-Thomas Austen Knight born 22 November 1795, so he would have
been almost three years old. It is too bad these drawings were not held onto.
The baby was William Austen Knight who was born on 10 October 1798, so he was just
about five weeks old. It is so sweet, William took over Steventon as curate and
then rector from 1823 to 1873. He followed in his grandfather and uncle James'
footsteps.
Okay let's see how Jane Austen measures up to Caroline
Bingley's estimation of an accomplished woman?
This is a youtube video uploaded by Zippy C3, very clever!
She must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing,
dancing and the modern languages to deserve the word; and their is something in
her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and
expressions. And Mr. Darcy's addition, something more substantial in the
improvement of her mind by extensive reading.
The following are excerpts from A Memoir of Jane Austen by
James Edward Austen-Leigh.
"Jane herself was fond of music, and had a sweet voice,
both in singing and in conversation; in her youth she had received some
instruction on the pianoforte; and at Chawton she practised daily, chiefly
before breakfast. I believe she did so partly that she might not disturb the
rest of the party who were less fond of music. In the evening she would
sometimes sing, to her own accompaniment, some simple old songs, the words and
airs of which, now never heard, still linger in my memory."
So, she could play the pianoforte and sing.
She attended a myriad of balls, so she could dance.
"She read French with facility, and knew something of
Italian. In those days German was no more thought of than Hindostanee, as
part of a lady's education."
So, she had a handle on the modern languages.
"In person she was very attractive; her figure was
rather tall and slender, her step light and firm, and her whole appearance
expressive of health and animation. In complexion she was a clear
brunette with a rich colour; she had full round cheeks, with mouth and
nose small and well formed, bright hazel eyes, and brown hair forming natural
curls close round her face."
It sounds like she had the air and manner of walking down
and she had a sweet voice.
And it is well known she read extensively.
"Her knowledge of Richardson's
works was such as no one is likely again to acquire, now that the multitude and
the merits of our light literature have called off the attention of readers
from that great master. Every circumstance narrated in Sir Charles
Grandison, all that was ever said or done in the cedar parlour, was familiar
to her; and the wedding days of Lady L. and Lady G. were as well remembered as
if they had been living friends.
"Amongst her favourite writers, Johnson in prose,
Crabbe in verse, and Cowper in both, stood high. It is well that the
native good taste of herself and of those with whom she lived, saved her from
the snare into which a sister novelist had fallen, of imitating the
grandiloquent style of Johnson. She thoroughly enjoyed Crabbe; perhaps
on account of a certain resemblance to herself in minute and highly finished
detail; and would sometimes say, in jest, that, if she ever married
at all, she could fancy being Mrs. Crabbe; looking on
the author quite as an abstract idea, and ignorant and
regardless what manner of man he might be. Scott's poetry gave her great
pleasure; she did not live to make much acquaintance with his novels. Only
three of them were published before her death; but it will be seen by the
following extract from one of her letters, that she was quite prepared to admit
the merits of 'Waverley'; and it is remarkable that, living, as she did,
far apart from the gossip of the literary world, she should even then have
spoken so confidently of his being the author of it:--
'Walter Scott has no business to write novels;
especially good ones.
It is not fair. He has fame and profit
enough as a poet, and ought
not to be taking the bread out of other
people's mouths. I do not
mean to like "Waverley,"
if I can help it, but I fear I must. I am
quite determined, however, not to be pleased
with Mrs. ---'s, should I
ever meet with it, which I hope I may
not. I think I can be stout
against anything written by her. I have
made up my mind to like no
novels really, but Miss Edgeworth's, E.'s, and
my own.'"
So, now we add drawing to her abilities and I think Mr.
Darcy will have to change his
number of knowing accomplished women to seven.
I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie
