THE LADIES MONITOR, A POEM. By Thomas G. Fessenden, Printed by Bill Blake & Co., Bellows Falls, VT, 1818.
 
Poetry
Vintage from the 19th century
 
Fessenden (1771 -1837) was a poet, inventor & lawyer from New Hampshire. Considered an authentic American voice, his contemporary Nathaniel Hawthorne once praised his work as a "truly Yankee effusion."  This book, written in the form of a conversation between a young maiden, Narcissa, and an unnamed older male mentor.  The conversation serves to warn young women from being fascinated by fashion and looks when picking a mate and to not disregard the charms of a "provincial suitor". 

Long ago, the cover was completely covered to inside boards with parchment paper. Secure binding with clean pages, and the pages are uniformly rippled horizontally. Fancy cursive gift inscription at front endpaper Dunt (?) Farnham. About 8 x 4-3/4 with 180 pages. Rare poetry book!
 
Original owner bookplate at front pastedown (inside cover) " Private library OF GEORGE M. GAGE. No. 273." George Manlius Gage, son of Dr. Leander Gage and Ann Brewer Sargent, was born in Waterford, Maine on Aug. 22, 1834. He married with ELIZABETH S. WEBBER on Aug. 15, 1861 in North Bridgton, Maine. At that time he was a resident of Beverly, Mass., she resided in Maine. He was principal of the State Normal School, and afterward the same in Minnesota. In September 1872 he became the superintendant of schools for St. Paul.