The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-31

Mrs. SoUTuWORTu-ONE OF THE WOMEN
VINO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ROBERT BoNNER'S
FoRrUNE.-[St. Louis Globe Washington Let
ter --Mrs. Southworth, the very sensational
novelist, is about i've feet two inches in
height, rather broad, and square in form.
The top OF her head is square and massive III
shape, and Il full view Of her face presents
the same general characteristics. Her mouth
is quite large, with very thin. closely shutting
lips, and she has a trick Of every now and
then opening and closing them, us if they
were not yet tightly enough compressed.
Her profile is very tne--forehcad not too
hi.h, nose straight and good.si2cd,w with we'll
cut chin.
She is now engaged on her forty-second
BOOK, and says Il am frightened to think
how much trash l have been guilty OF send
ing into the word.' She has written fer
the New York Ledger twenty years, and her
income is $1,000 per annum. She complains
Of weak eyes, and is said 10 be drifting into
spiritua!ism. She is great reader and ar-
dent admircr Of Swcdenborg, believing, how
ever, that the New Church originator had no
intention Of founding 4 religion that should
bear bis name. She believes in her own clair
voyant powers. She said that until il year
since, at which time she commenced TO have
thing as supernatural manifestations, hut her
own experience had convinced her that such
things arc possible. She says these visions
come to her just after awakening in the morn
ing, but she must close her eye: again in Or
der to see them. She said, one time while in
that state, she caught q glimpse of the corner
OF portico, with beauifuily-carvcd pillars,
oil OF alabaster. Against the corner pillar
was leaning her own sister, with dress like
flowing waves OF sapphire, the crest Of each
fold or wave beaming with a brighter hue,
and the whole figure with the golden hair
and blue eyes glowing with brilliant inner
light. Most of the conversation occurred in
the little library to which she took Us soon
after I'VE entered the house. We had
imagined that her study must tie where she
could look out on the river, but the
library is not on that side of the house !;
still, from its windows, perhaps. can he
caught glimpse of the river as it turns
off toward the sea. Only the spaces
needed by windows and doors are not occu-
pied with bookcases. The windows arc
shaded by plain white curtains, and in the
centre Of the room is a large table, upon
, which are books Of engravings, etc. Here
: it is that most OF her stories are created, al
though she says that she goes all over the
house to write. l asked her ii she employed
photographer, and she replied that she did
all her own writing. IasEcd her what peo-
pie were to do when they could not write
fast enough to keep pace with their thoughts,
aud often lost part of a thought or sentence
before it was expressed. She said, a." Get up
i and walk around; it will all come back TO
You. do that otten."
asked why she lived so FAR away from
!. the city, where it was with difficulty her
Z friends could call upon her. She replied that
only the view of the river kept bcr at 8 Pros
pcct Cottage; THAT she missed the society
and pleasure procurabie in Washington; but
could not bear to give up the river.
Mrs. Sou.hworths son (whosease would
be at a loss to guess, for he may be eighteen,
ana he may be thirty is i transcendcntaist.
He is way up in tue clouds all the time. He
has an immense head. 1t is not the square,
4 Well.baanced head of his mother, being all
top, andnot enough base TO ever bring him
down to the realities Of life.