WOMEN WHO HAVE HELPED THEIR HUSBANDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9214, 18 April 1908, Page 3

WOMEN WHO HAVE HELPED THEIR HUSBANDS.

The work of many famous mon Ufa been imbued with the delkocy that only a feminine hand can give (says vhe "Daily News Advertiser"). What would the ' Tales from Sliakespea-re :) have boon without tho tender grace that Mary Lamb lent to the work of her brother Charles? Would Schumana have been so widely known as a musician if his compositions had not beeu played by his wife? Would Green's " History of the English People" ever have been written if Mrs Green had not lent her dying husband her own strength and encouragement. The Lambs collaborated in their studies of Shakespeare, he writing the tragedies, elie the comedies, in that popular form v/hich has helped so many beginners to an appreciation of the work of the master. When Robert Schumann married Clara Wiock, daughter of hb music teacher, he united to his genius as a composer her talents as a player. He wrote and she played hia music, as vo other person could play it for she knew better than anyone else how he deeirod that it should be played. John Richard Green, the historian, was a physical wreck when he married Alioe Stopford in 1877 ; he knew that consumption would carry him off in a few years, but he had. a great work to do, and his bride started right in 10, help him. With her assistance he ex{>anded his " Short History of Engand" into the "History of the Engj lish People " ; he was dictating to her the second volume of " The Making of England " when he died. Another great English historian and political economist, the Right Hon .Henry Fawcett, had a loving wife to help him in his work. And Fawcett needed her as much as Green needed his wife, for he was blind. Millicent Fawcett is still living; she is an LL.D. of St Andrew's University, and ha 3 written several works on political economy and history since her husband's death, besides the famous volume of "Essays and Lectures" which they published in collaboration soon after he ceased to be Postmaster-General of England.

Then there js Sir William Herschel, the discoverer of the value of fingerprints in the identification of criminals. He had a wife whose help in the < olleotion^and study of finger-prints had much to do with his success in convincing the world that his discovery was valuable.

Among the most popular of modern collaborateurs are Charles Norris Williamson and his wife, who was Aiico Muriel Livingston, granddaughter ot Chancellor Livingston of "Up the Hudson." Since their marriage three years ago they have lived at Cap Martin, in the South of Prance, and spent much of their time motoring. The automobile has inspired thoir point work, of which " The Car of Destiny " is a type.

Others of their stories are " The Lightning Conductor," "The Princess Passes," " My Friend the Chauffeur " and "Lady Betty across the Water," in most of which the gasoline-power inspiration sticks out even in the titles