FANTASTICI, ROSELLINA MASSIMIMA,
Is an Italian, born in the city of Pisa, near the close of the last century. The daughter of a very accomplished mother, Rosellina had, from maternal care, uncommon advantages of education. She appeared at an early age to have a remarkable talent for miniature painting, and attained great excellence in that art. Her marriage displayed her good qualities as a wife and mother, and also as the manager of household economy; but these occupations, though properly fulfilled, do not, or need not, suspend the intellectual improvement of women. Madame Fantastici found time to pursue her painting, until after the birth of her fifth child; when her eyes failing her, she was obliged to give up entirely the practice of this art. She then occupied her leisure hours "with literature, and obtained the silver medal from the Academy of Pistoia for one of her poems. When her children were old enough to require her constant attention, she devoted her time entirely to their education, and wrote nothing but little plays and stories, expressly for their improvement. She experiences the reward of these cares in the love and reverence with which her children regard her. She is now emancipated from her duties an teacher, and has returned with renewed ardour to her beloved studies, the fruits of which will no doubt in time enrich the literature of her country. Her published works are, "A Collection of Sonnets and Odes," "Cefale e Procri," a poem in octave-rhyme, and "Four little plays for children." She now resides at Pisa.
FARLEY, HARRIET,
Well and widely known in America as editor of "The Lowell, or New England Offering," a monthly magazine of industry, the contributors being factory girls, employed in the mills at Lowell, Massachusetts. This work has been re-printed in England, and has excited much interest here, as in other parts of Europe, because it is entirely unparalleled in the annals of factory life; and in no country, except America, is such a proof of female intellect perhaps possible. As one of the pioneers in this new development of mental culture and moral progress, and the chief agent by whom it has been upheld. Miss Farley deserves the good celebrity she has gained. She has told her own story in a letter as remarkable for its simple frankness as its true modesty, by which we learn that she is the sixth of ten children, of "the genuine New Hampshire stock." Her father was a congregational pastor of the town of Claremont, in that state. He afterwards removed to a smaller place, called Atkinson, and combined the labours of preceptor with his parochial duties. Harriet was herself intended for a teacher, and, as she says, learned something of French, drawing, needlework, and the usual accomplishments; but not relishing this kind of life, she betook herself, as many respectable females in America do, to factory labour. With great care and frugality she was enabled lo assist in the liberal education of a brother, and minister to the wants of other members of her family. When the "Lowell, or New England Offering" was started, she became a contributor, and ultimately editor and proprietor.
"I now," she says, "do all the publishing, editing, canvassing, and, as it is bound in my office, I can, in a hurry, help to fold, cut
