Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-16
miscellaneous.
ELIZABETH STEWART PHELPS.

Mr.. Phelps became pastor of the Pine
Street Congregational church in Boston
in 1912. and his gifted daughter was born
in this city on August 2l lSll. Miss
Phelps may trace her literary talents b,
three distinct sources-her mothers faith.
er, Professor Moses Stuart, who was re-
garded rs the most eminent Biblical crit
ic of his age, and who was for many
years professor of sacred literature of An
dover; her father. who is the author Of
several popular books on practical picty.
including The Still Hour" u widely cir
culated volume and her mother, who un-
der the name of III. Trussta" an ana
gram OF Stuart. wrote several admin able
tales OF New England life. faithful pic
lures of character, and often delightfully."-
humorous. Among them was the .Sunny
Side" Mrs. Phelps died when her daugh-
ter was eight years old, and also left
son three years younger. Young as she
was at the time, Miss Phelps's nature had
been strongly impressed by her mothers
influence. In a private letter she wrote:
II can conceive of few things more stim-
ulating TO woman than gifted mother.
unless, indeed, ii be the scholarly stan
dard and patient instruction of such a faith
er as my own" Miss Phelps's imagina-
tive faculties were encouraged bv all her
surroundings, and at the age when chill.
dren are usually entertained with nothing
deeper than Mother Goose" and nurs,
cry tales, she ana her brother would
spend the evening hour listening to their
mother reading from the old English po-
cts and telling them stories from the
classics. At school she found il easy to
lao,p and bnr L.
fort. except in arithmetic. Psychology
became her favoritc study, and she took
deep interest in English literature. Lat
in and the fine arts. She says that, with
the exception of Greek and the higher
mathematics. they pursued the same cur
riculum OF their brothers in college.
She finished her schoolliie mt the are
Of nineteen, but her literary activity had
begun the year before she entered the in
stitutc, in the shape of various newspaper
contributions. Her first great popular
success was 1.-The Gates Aiar," which at
once gave her an international reputation.
An edition of 10000 was speedily ex-
hausted; the demand continued unabated.
and the book still has large and steady
sale. In England its circulation rivalled
that in America. 1t was brought out by
various publishers. and was also printed
in cheap popular editions at Cd. copy. Il
was also translated into French and Ger
man and Dutch. The Gates Aiar" was
preceded by ten taking juvenile books
published from 1864 to 1867; proof Of
Miss Phelps's remarkable industry. In
1877 1.-The Story of Avis" was pub
lished The book has been the subject o!
many diverse criticisms. few ii any.
of which have denied its power, the great
question having been on the truth Of its
conclusions Miss Phelps herself regards
the book moye affectionately than any Of
its predecessors. and holds il to be her
best. She believes she has grown beyond
her earlier works.
In Andover Der study is not in her IA
ther's house, tor she has learned, she says,
like the ministers who study in their
churches, or the carpenters who 60 to
their benches, the value Of workshop
out Of the house" Therefore for several
years past, she has had her. study In an
old building next door. one of the oldest
at the hill; low-walled chamber with
picturesque and tasteful fittings-pictures.
draperies, books, easy chairs, tables, and
a hammock swung from large beams in
the ceiling. This building has Just been
sold, and moved away in sections, to
make room for large house building
for new professor. Miss Phelps now
has her study temporarily in a brown
house down Main street, below the COL
lege yard, but will probably build new
one before long.
Miss Phelps's constant companion in
her study is Daniel Deronda," a bright,
active little blue Skye and King Charles
terrier. He is a remarkably handsome
fellow, viewed by the standard of beauty
set for his race. Though called blue
Skye, he is by no means sky-blue, but a
dark and rich brown. Dogs are Miss
Phelps's special pets. and Daniel Deron-
da" is chivalrously devoted to his mis-
tress. He has been known TO attack ap-
preaching dogs Of Newfoundland size.
when he thought their intent toward her
was evil. Miss Phelps formerly had a
dog named '.IIahnemann,'' for whom she
had great fondness. As Daniel Der
onda' was named in testimony Of her ad-
miration for George Eliot, so '.Hahne-
mann's" name was token of her faith
in homeopathy. She once humorously
stated her creed as summed up in the
three terms: Heaven. homeopathy and
woman's rights
For seveval years she has spent her
summers in East (;lovcester, where she
has built aquaint little cottage in charm
ing spot close 10 the waters age, at the
mouth Of gorge opening in the wild
rocky shore Of Gloucester harbor. At
her Gloucester home the nights are not so
quiet as at Andover, for the fishermen 60
out early to their nets. but her kindness
and labors Of love among them have been
appreciated. and they respond with glad
willingness to her requests for quletness.
They lift their dories carefully into the
water. talk together in whispers. and row
80 softly that the dip Of their oars is
scarcely heard. With her intense love
for the sea she has thorough liking for
seafaring people. whom she regards as
the kindliest. most large-hearted and hon.
est class Of folk. A Cape Cod boy once
told her there were two things sailor
would die to defend: fair. lady and q
fine ship.-Boston Herald.
1t is not always perfectly safe 70 soothe the
baby with opium preparations, but you can
rely on DIR. Bulls Baby Syrup; il contains
nothing injurious.