Maria Mitchell In Her Own Words

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • March 18, 2019

March 2, 1857. I left Meadville this morning at six o’clock in a stage-coach for Erie. I had, early in life, a love for staging, but it is fast dying out. Nine hours over a rough road are enough to root out the most passionate of that kind.


This trip was her return, likely from her meeting Prudence Swift and her father, to discuss the possibility of Maria being Prudie’s chaperone through the South if the United States and then Europe – adventures I have recounted via Maria’s words numerous times in this blog. I can see where the adventure of staging might be fun but after a while not so much. Like a long car trip that’s fun a few times but not so much once you keep doing it. I know those trips! But I have to say, still far more comfortable in a car – Maria recounts the bumps and falling onto people next to her – and popping up to the roof, hitting her head, and then falling forward on to people across form her. A little too close and personal indeed!


JNLF

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