The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-09
ssL. r
A HoosIER CELEBRITY.

Journalist series, contained the. following
brief but not unappreciative sketch of a
very remarks BILE lady whose pen and tongue
are alike gifted with graceful utterance.
All that the sketch shows and a hundred
fold more can be said in Miss Ream's
praise by the innumerable circle of friends
and admirers who delight to do her honor.
Laura Ream. though disclaiming the title
of journalist, deserves most honorable men,
ton along with "Men of the indianapolis
Press" She claims Indianapolis as her
home, having lived there the greater part of
her life, and having here acquired her dis
| tinction as q writer. She was born at SOM
erset, Perry county, Ohio, February %, 1928,
and consequently has an annual sharing OF
honors with she late father of his country.
| At the age of ten she came to Indianapolis
and was an attendant at the school of the
late Miss Axtell, but afterward went to
/ Nazareth, a Roman Catholic scOOol near
| Bardstown, KY, where she grad
uated in 1874. Upon returning from school
she wrote several newspaper articles, re.
ceiving some encouragement from Mr..
Chapman aud Mr.. Derees. But at that time
her aspirations were somewhat checked by
| the fact that writing woman was looked
upon generally as a presumption, and it was
not until about six years ago that she
entered actively upon the life journalistic.
In the meantime her varied accomplish
ments and social position had brought her
into contact with the society of the capital
city, and made her acquainted with the poll
tics and the politicians of the state, while
her travel and extensive reading had also
tended TO qualify her eminently for the adj
mirable work that she has tor the past six
years been doing. In 1868 she commenced
writing for the press. corresponding from
Portland, Maine, for the Courier-Journal and
for the Indianapolis Sentinel and Journal.
/ -
tributor, for about year, to the Sentinel,
during which time she wrote her first, last,
and only romance
''PHGBE DOYLE"
The frank, but rather severe criticism of
this story by Berry r. Sulgrove, in private
letter to her, seems to have completely cured
her of story writing and turned her atten-
ton exclusively to the field for which her
honest and able critic thought her so ad-
mirably fitted. The following extracts from
that letter are better than anything we can
say, which is our own apology for printing
them: Tl
February 81, 1862
Miss LAURA: / have read your story
carefully. / think it indicates abilities of
even higher order than your warmest ad
mirers have suspected, but think too that
it betrays lack of constructive talent, or a
carelesSness in the arrangement and man.
agement of details, that points to another
field of exertion than the novel. The de-
scription OF your heroine and her father and
mother are admirable. They are full of
character and that of kind so far outside
ofthe commonplace deliReations of popular
stories as to create most decided interest
and degree of expectation which the filling
up Of ,s the vigorous and striking outline does
while you are proceeding with it, you move
with an unassured step, as ifyou were upon
unfamiliar ground. But the moment YOU
strike one of those admirable little breath
ing places OF 'moralizing,' you step off with
the ease and confidence of one who knows
the situation. 1t reminds me of one walking
over bridge on the sills, stepping
slowly, not always gracefully or easily. but
steadily, till the ground Is reached, and then
moving of with tie grace and rapidity of a
swan in the water. There is a veal, h of
shrewd observation, OF clear sound sense, of
womanly feeling, of pure and generous i'm
pslse apparent all through the story; but
while itsmakes the 'preachments,' the little
essays dropp. d in here and there admirable,
it doesn't help the story much. Some of
Mrs. Stoves finest displays of genius are in
these sermons or lectures upon incidents of
her stories, and yours may stand beside hers
in every essential of excellence. If they
could have made your story perfect it would
be the best of the year by all odds. 1 don't
think your story will greatly increase your
which think you can by and by handle
with better effect may take place beside the
best sketches and social essays in American
| literature. Yours most truly,
t b. r. SULGRovE."
At the time of the murder of Mr.. and
Mrs. Young, (the Glenn affair Miss Ream
commenced corresponding with the Cincin-
cinnati Commercial, for which paper she still
continues to write news letters regularly,
from one to two week. When the Eve
ming Journal was started she became an
associate editor of that paper along with
Mr. George @. Harding, and remained in
that position until June, 1872. This is her
only actual experience in the editorial chair.
Her
STRENGTH AS A JOURNALIST
lies mainly in her ability to gather news
that interests the people, and to put it into
the most readable shape. Without any
disparagement to the style of women writ
ers, it may be truthfully said that her letters
do not read like those of a woman. Her
political letters especially impress the
reader as having been indited by the shrewd-
est practical politician. There is nothing
Bohemian about her. Her reflections and
criticisms often cut ksenly, but never of.
fend. She can be intensely interesting
without being sensational, result no
doubt of her indefatigable labor in
ndhiuS ncfsell IuliY acquainted With the
matter of which she writes. Her long stand
ing as regular correspondent of the Gin
cinnati Commercial is of itself sufficient to |
attest her worth as q news correspondent. |
In personal appearance she is stately dig |
nihed, yet modest aud unassuming A well |
developed head, with eyes that see and ears
that listen, render her at ozce in
teresting, if not attractive, in conver-
sation. Once engaged, her practical |
knowledge shows to fully as good advantage
as her knowledge of books. Not a vistige
of 'sstrongmindedness' crops out to repel
her listener and detract from her dignity,
the dignity of true womanhood In Short,
Miss Ream is a practical demonstration of
the fact that woman can do as well as
stly man what many a man cannot do
as we'll as she can. she is the only lady !,
news writer in the state, but If Indiana I. Al
scores of them, Indianapolis might jrstIv
boast one who had no superior.