| This blog explores social attitudes in Jane Austen's time, discusses her novels, reviews forgotten 18th century novels, and throws some occasional shade at the modern academy. The introductory post is here. My "six simple questions for academics" post is here. Spoilers abound in my discussion of these forgotten novels, and I discuss 18th-century attitudes which I do not necessarily endorse. |
CMP#225 The mysterious deaths of EKM's teen cousins
Frontispiece for Ellinor. I suspect this is a reused etching from an older book. I've uncovered more information about the life and family of obscure writer Eliza Kirkham Mathews (referred to in this blog as EKM). Her aunt Sarah Strong lost her husband Richard in 1786, when her children were still young. But he seems to have left her financially secure, as compared to EKM's mother Mary, whose husband George was also an apothecary. Although raised in genteel circumstances, EKM was poverty=stricken and alone in the world, receiving very little help from her better-off relatives. EKM left her native Devon and ended up in Wales, working as a teacher. There she met the youthful comic actor Charles Mathews who was struggling to make a name for himself on the theatre circuit. They married in September, 1797. That same month, Eliza got heart-wrenching news from her aunt Sarah; her teenage cousins, Sarah Amelia and Maria, had both died within a few days of each other, in an inexplicable fashion.
EKM’s writing contains many autobiographical elements, and this tragic tale found expression in one her elegies (quoted below) and was narrated in one of her children's books.
Ellinor, or, the Young Governess was published in 1802—the year EKM died--by the York publisher, Thomas Wilson & Son, who also published more children’s books posthumously. This suggests that EKM approached this local publisher in the final years of her life with some of her novel manuscripts, and was encouraged to write some children’s books instead. Her earnings, if any, would have been meagre, but it was better than nothing.
EKM’s writing contains many autobiographical elements, and this tragic tale found expression in one her elegies (quoted below) and was narrated in one of her children's books.
Ellinor, or, the Young Governess was published in 1802—the year EKM died--by the York publisher, Thomas Wilson & Son, who also published more children’s books posthumously. This suggests that EKM approached this local publisher in the final years of her life with some of her novel manuscripts, and was encouraged to write some children’s books instead. Her earnings, if any, would have been meagre, but it was better than nothing.
Paint-by-numbers children's books
Producing a children’s book, in those days, was not so very difficult. As I’ve learned, authors simply plagiarized freely from popular poets, biographers, historians and books of natural history. They interspersed these plundered lessons within a morally improving narrative. Another case of a plagiarized children’s book is discussed here. In Ellinor, as is typical, a governess corrects the faults of the children in the Selby household while giving them mini-lectures about ducks, evaporation and rain (cribbed from Goldsmith’s Natural History), Demosthenes and Richard the Lion Heart, (from Dodd’s The Beauties of History), and Archbishop Fenelon (from Augustus Toplady).
But one of the story's moral lessons is from the pen of EKM herself--the story of her cousins. This occurs when the Selby family receives a letter and Lady Selby calls her children to attention to hear the news:
“My dear children,” said Lady Selby, “you were well acquainted with the beautiful Maria, and Emily.”
“O yes, Mamma,” said Amelia; “I have often envied their extreme beauty.”
Well of course, Lady Selby can't let that pass by unremarked, and lands on her little daughter like a ton of bricks: “Envy is a vile passion, Amelia, and expressive of a weak mind.” Then she tells Ellinor to read the letter aloud, which she does:
Producing a children’s book, in those days, was not so very difficult. As I’ve learned, authors simply plagiarized freely from popular poets, biographers, historians and books of natural history. They interspersed these plundered lessons within a morally improving narrative. Another case of a plagiarized children’s book is discussed here. In Ellinor, as is typical, a governess corrects the faults of the children in the Selby household while giving them mini-lectures about ducks, evaporation and rain (cribbed from Goldsmith’s Natural History), Demosthenes and Richard the Lion Heart, (from Dodd’s The Beauties of History), and Archbishop Fenelon (from Augustus Toplady).
But one of the story's moral lessons is from the pen of EKM herself--the story of her cousins. This occurs when the Selby family receives a letter and Lady Selby calls her children to attention to hear the news:
“My dear children,” said Lady Selby, “you were well acquainted with the beautiful Maria, and Emily.”
“O yes, Mamma,” said Amelia; “I have often envied their extreme beauty.”
Well of course, Lady Selby can't let that pass by unremarked, and lands on her little daughter like a ton of bricks: “Envy is a vile passion, Amelia, and expressive of a weak mind.” Then she tells Ellinor to read the letter aloud, which she does:
 ChatGPT image. “An affecting circumstance has happened here, which I wish to relate. Maria and Emily were, as you know, two of the most lovely young women within the circle of your acquaintance; Their beauty and accomplishments have long been the topic of conversation, in the gay and fashionable society which they frequented; they were surrounded by every luxury which the most unreasonable could desire, and received a tribute of flattery to their charms, such as might have gratified the vainest. The delight of their fond mother, she indulged them in every wish of their unexperienced hearts. About a week since, a splendid ball was given by the officers -------, at which the lovely Maria and Emily were invited. The day arrived, and was spent in preparations for their making an elegant appearance at the ball; the evening drew near; the lovely sisters were decked in all the brilliancies of dress and fashion. Emily, the youngest, was already arrayed; one moment her eyes elicited the fire of youth and health, and the blush of her cheeks showed the bright glow of the damask rose; the next, an ashy paleness overspread her countenance. She complained of a violent pain in her stomach, and was advised by Maria to apply to her mother for some cordial restorative. Racked with the most excruciating pain, she quitted her chamber, entered with difficulty the drawing-room, and dropped in strong convulsions at her mother’s feet. Alarmed by the shrieks which the unhappy parent sent forth, Maria flew to the drawing-room, where she found the once beautiful Emily, the fondly beloved sister of her heart, in the agonies of death. From that moment, Emily never breathed a syllable, and died the next morning, at ten o’clock. To paint the speechless agony of sorrow the poor Maria endured, is beyond the power of language. The third day after Emily’s death was appointed for her funeral. It was impossible to prevent the noise and bustle which bringing her lifeless remains over the stairs occasioned, from reaching Maria: She heard the death-like sound, uttered a piercing shriek, and instantly expired in the arms of her distracted mother.” |
Former office of Wilson & Spence, EKM's publishers, Google Maps "Strictly True"
EKM added in a footnote, *These affecting incidents are strictly TRUE—The young ladies were nearly related to the Author, and have not been dead three years."
Through genealogical (parish) records, I was able to confirm that Sarah Amelia and Emily Strong were EKM's first cousins and they died in 1797. There may be an error in the transcription of records, because both girls were buried on the 25th, but one was buried in November and the other in September. I’d like to see a copy of the original parish record from St Peter church in Tiverton, because I am inclined to believe EKM when she says her account was “strictly true” and that Maria died a few days after Sarah Amelia. Maria was 19 years old and Sarah Amelia was 16. "Three years" since their death means that EKM was writing Ellinor in 1800, at the same time she was preparing her novel What Has Been for publication.
Charles Mathews' second wife, in her memoir of her husband, suggested that EKM published only one novel and hid her other manuscripts from her husband, but the evidence suggests that this just isn't true. She must have had several children's books being prepared for publication before her death. I can picture her walking from her little apartment on Stonegate in York to the offices of Thomas Wilson & Son (aka Wilson & Spence) on High Ousegate, clutching a manuscript or some corrected proofs--at least before she was too ill with tuberculosis to go anywhere.
As for the cause of her cousins' deaths, at first I supposed that Sarah Amelia had died of appendicitis, but in re-reading the passage, I must say that poisoning comes to mind as a possible cause of death for both sisters. The story also suggests, as I mentioned, that Sarah Strong was better-off than her impoverished sister-in-law, EKM's mother, if she was able to indulge her daughters in "every luxury."
EKM added in a footnote, *These affecting incidents are strictly TRUE—The young ladies were nearly related to the Author, and have not been dead three years."
Through genealogical (parish) records, I was able to confirm that Sarah Amelia and Emily Strong were EKM's first cousins and they died in 1797. There may be an error in the transcription of records, because both girls were buried on the 25th, but one was buried in November and the other in September. I’d like to see a copy of the original parish record from St Peter church in Tiverton, because I am inclined to believe EKM when she says her account was “strictly true” and that Maria died a few days after Sarah Amelia. Maria was 19 years old and Sarah Amelia was 16. "Three years" since their death means that EKM was writing Ellinor in 1800, at the same time she was preparing her novel What Has Been for publication.
Charles Mathews' second wife, in her memoir of her husband, suggested that EKM published only one novel and hid her other manuscripts from her husband, but the evidence suggests that this just isn't true. She must have had several children's books being prepared for publication before her death. I can picture her walking from her little apartment on Stonegate in York to the offices of Thomas Wilson & Son (aka Wilson & Spence) on High Ousegate, clutching a manuscript or some corrected proofs--at least before she was too ill with tuberculosis to go anywhere.
As for the cause of her cousins' deaths, at first I supposed that Sarah Amelia had died of appendicitis, but in re-reading the passage, I must say that poisoning comes to mind as a possible cause of death for both sisters. The story also suggests, as I mentioned, that Sarah Strong was better-off than her impoverished sister-in-law, EKM's mother, if she was able to indulge her daughters in "every luxury."
A cautionary tale
EKM uses the deaths of her cousins for a moral purpose, in accordance with Christian doctrine that one should live acceptably in the eyes of God so as to be judged worthy of heaven. After listening to the tragic tale, "[E]very one present expressed a conviction of the necessity... of living in a constant preparation for death… The sudden death of Maria and Emily, had such an effect on the mind of Henrietta... that what love of virtue could not bring to pass, fear did. She was continually thinking how terrible it would be to die in an unprepared state; and therefore studied to be good and virtuous."
But alas, little Frederick…. He was “proud, obstinate and cruel,” and none of the admonitions and punishments he gets are sufficient to save him from his early death. He disobeyed his parents and fell into the pond, dying three weeks later. “During his illness, he expressed the utmost contrition for his past follies, and hoped that every child would learn from his fate, that wickedness and disobedience to parents, never go unpunished.” Thus at least we understand that Frederick will not go to the Bad Place when he dies.
The dire tone of these children's books may come as a surprise to modern readers. But Ellinor, or, the Young Governess is quite typical in meting out death to a disobedient child, pour encourager les autres.
In a future post, more about EKM's books for children.
EKM uses the deaths of her cousins for a moral purpose, in accordance with Christian doctrine that one should live acceptably in the eyes of God so as to be judged worthy of heaven. After listening to the tragic tale, "[E]very one present expressed a conviction of the necessity... of living in a constant preparation for death… The sudden death of Maria and Emily, had such an effect on the mind of Henrietta... that what love of virtue could not bring to pass, fear did. She was continually thinking how terrible it would be to die in an unprepared state; and therefore studied to be good and virtuous."
But alas, little Frederick…. He was “proud, obstinate and cruel,” and none of the admonitions and punishments he gets are sufficient to save him from his early death. He disobeyed his parents and fell into the pond, dying three weeks later. “During his illness, he expressed the utmost contrition for his past follies, and hoped that every child would learn from his fate, that wickedness and disobedience to parents, never go unpunished.” Thus at least we understand that Frederick will not go to the Bad Place when he dies.
The dire tone of these children's books may come as a surprise to modern readers. But Ellinor, or, the Young Governess is quite typical in meting out death to a disobedient child, pour encourager les autres.
In a future post, more about EKM's books for children.
And now, time to strum the lyre
I left the poetry for last, to make it easier to skip over... here is an extended excerpt from the elegy EKM wrote for her cousins, which appeared in Ellinor and in a posthumous book of her poetry.
I left the poetry for last, to make it easier to skip over... here is an extended excerpt from the elegy EKM wrote for her cousins, which appeared in Ellinor and in a posthumous book of her poetry.
 St Peter, Tiverton, Devon, where members of the Strong family were baptized and buried. (1828 Gentlemens Magazine) Elegy on the Deaths of Maria & Sarah Amelia Strong The midnight breeze sighs hollow thro’ the glade, And wearied nature’s wrapt in soft repose; Pale melancholy courts the gloomy shade, And piteous tells her tale of many woes. Now let the muse her solemn station seek, On yon fall’n ruin, desolate and drear, In sacred song, with resignation meek, Breathe her sad numbers to the humid air… O! death! Insatiate monster! Mortals dread, Why drink the heart’s blood of the young and gay; Why come in cunning ‘guise with silent tread To crop those maids—sweet as the vernal day; Chaste as the lilly—gay as the vermeil rose, Light as the rein-deer, sprightly as the fawn; The LOV’LY SISTERS every charm disclose! Pure as the silver tints of early dawn. Allur’d by pleasure’s bland enchanting call, They sought the mazy, gay, fantastic train; Smil’d at the concert—grac’d the festive ball, Their young hearts throbbing to the tuneful strain, While innocence was their’s—and sportive mirth, And filial tenderness, and innate worth. Maria! Emily! Lamented nymphs! Who lately bloomed in all the pride of youth… What, tho’ no trophied honours round them shine, Love’s HOLY TEAR shall gem the turfy sod, Maternal tenderness sigh o’er their shrine, And resignation point our hopes to God! To innocence like their’s ecstatic bliss is given, Virtue’s unerring sure reward is heaven. |
EKM adds, “Theirs was the gaiety of innocence: No malignant passions destroyed the tranquility of their bosoms: their lives were short, but lovely.”
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