The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-01-09
Dlo9rop!)it0l.

Death Of Miss Leslie, the Authoress.
Miss Eliza Leslie, a lady who was probably
as widely known by her writings as any one
that has ever lived in the United States, died
on Friday, the lSt inst, at Gloucester, n. j..
where She has been confined to her room for
some months from an injury received there
last summer. Miss leslie was a native Of
Philadelphia, and was slXty,nine years Of
age. Her family. on the fathers side, were
OF Scotch descent, her grGat.grand father
having come Fl an Scotland and settled in
Cecil county, NJ, in l7l5. Ills wife was of
Swedish descent. The Philadelphia bulletin,
speaking Of the deceased says
" Her father, who was man of much
ingenuity, devoted student Of mathematics
and natural philosophy, and familiar friend
OF tranhin, RittenhouSe. Jefferson, and others
OF the great men OF Philadelphia society in
those times. went to London towards thc
close OF the las! century, and there his son,
g. IL Leslie, one Of the greatest painters in
England, was born in the year 1874.
Mr' Leslie returned to Rhiladclphl in 1900,
and his children received the best education
that the schools OF the day afforded Eliza
received thorough instruction in the homccr
as well as the more elegant accomplishments.
She went to MIS-. Goodlelow' S Cooking. school,
and her irst essay at authorship was a little
Volume called " Srvcnty-Five Receipts" dc.
signed to assist ladies in housekeeping. At
forwards she wtote number of little books
Tor young readers, which were excellent of
their Kind and very popular. The first
genuine sensation, however, that lIer writings
created, was that produced 10y the lively
sketch called Mrs. Washington Potts.
which appeared in 1882. This and other
spirited tales, in which satire was pleasantly
mingled with genial pictures of American
social life, were collected in volume pub
lished IN 1898, called Pencil Sketches. -
Several similar volumes were published sub
Sequentiy. Some years later she wrote AL
thea Vernon aud "Amcla, or !. Young
Lady's Nlcissitudcs," both Of which were
quite popular.
Bat it is as writer Of books on cookery
and housekeeping that Miss Leslie is most
widely known and there is scarcely home
in the United States where her name is not
literally "householl word.' Her various
receipt books have probably attained a largcr
circulation than almost any other American
book ever written. She is also the author of
= The Behavior Book" a clever manual of
the prophecies of life and she was engaged
in writing life of John Fitch of stearn.navi-
CATION fame, but we are not aware that it has
ever been completed.
Without any pretcnsion as a composer of
=" iine writing" or as a woman of imagina-
tive power, Miss Leslie pleased by the SIM
pIic'y OF her style, AMI the strong common
sense which characterized everything that
came from her pen. In conversation She was
always animated and interesting, her remarks
on events ard persons were pointed and she
had a fund Of anecdUtc and "Reminiscences,
whcrcwih to illustrate her remarks that
seemed well nigh ineXhauSthlc For num-
Der OF years she las suffered from ll-health
and various inlirnitlcs, but her mind con-
unuoi Gear and her energy scarcely gave
way TO the lnroadS Of disease.
Miss Lcslic'S family have all shown talent
Of various kinds. Besides her brother, the
celebrated artist, she has younger sister
WHO cXcclS as a painter. and other members
OF the family have been noted fol cunnoisscur-
ship AS well as creative talent.