Morning journal and courier., 1880-06-08
Elizabeth Rstuart Phelps.
TFrom the Boston Herald.I

GFrom the Boston HeraldI
 MT. Phelps became pastor of the Pine street Congregational church in Boston in 1S42, and his gifted daughter was born in this city on August 31, 1S44. Miss Phelps may trace her literary talents to three distinct sources-her mothers father, Professor Moses Stuat, who was regarded as the most eminent Biblical critic of his age, and who was for many years professor of sacred lite rature at Andover; her father, who is the author of several popular books on practical piety, including ''The Still Hour," widely circulated volume; and her mother, who un- der the name of HI. Trussta,'' an anagram of Stuart, wrote several admirable tales of New England life, faithful pictures of char ac4er, and often delightfully."- humorous. Among them was "The Sunny Side" Mrs. Phelps died when her daughter was eight years old, and also left son three years younger. Young as she was at the time, Miss Phelps nature had been strongly impressed by her mothers influence. In a private let ter she wrote: q can conceive of few things more stimulating to woman than a gifted mother, unless indeed, it be the scholarly standard and patient instruction of such a father as my own" Miss Phelps imagina- tive faculties were encouraged by all her sur roundings, and at the age when children are usually entertained with nothing deeper than Mother Goose'' and nursery tales, she and her brother would spend the evening hour
 
 old English poets and tellingA- them stories from the classics. At school she found it easy to learn, and her lessons cost her little effort, except in arithmetic. Psychology be- came her favorite study, and she took deep interest in English Literature Latin and the fine arts. She says that, with the exception of Greek and the higher mathematics, they pursued the same curriculum of their broth CTS in college.
 She finished her school life at the age of nineteen, but her literary activity had begun the year before she entered the institute in the shape of various newspaper contributions Her first great popular success was ''The Gates Ajar," which at once gave her an inter national reputation. An edition of 10000 was speedily exhausted; the demand contin- ued unabated, and the book still has a large and steady sale. In England its circulation rivalled that in America. It was brought out by various publishers, and was also printed in cheap popular editions at Cd. copy. It was also translated into French and German and Dutch. 1.-The Gates Aiar" was preceded by ten taking juvenile books published from 1864 to 1867 proof of Miss Phelps re markable industry. In 1877 1.-The Story of Avis was published. This book has been the subject of many diverse criticisms, few, if any, of which have denied it's power, the great question having been on the truth of it's conclusions. Miss Phelps herself regards the book more affectionately than any of it's predecessors, and holds it to be her best She believes she has grown beyond her earlier works.
 In Andover her study is not in her fathers house, for she has learned, she says, like the ministers who study in their churches or the carpenters who go to their benches the value of workshop outside 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; a low-walled cham her with 1oct,1raSo11a and fu1 pictures, draperies, books, easy chairs, tables, and 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 pro- lessor Miss Phelps now has her study tenn porarily in a brown house down Main street below the college yard, but will probably build new one before long.
 Miss Phelps constant companion in her study is Daniel Deronda," 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 dark and rich brown. Dogs are Miss Phelps special pets, and Daniel Deronda' 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 dog named Hahn emann's,'' for whom she had great fond ness. AS ''Daniel Deronda' was named in testimony of her admiration for George Eliot, so Hahnemanns name was token of her faith in homeopathy. She once humorously stated her creed as summoned up in the three terms: Heaven, homeopathy and woman's s rights
 For several years she has spent her sum- mers in East Gloucester, where she has built quaint little cottage in charming spot close to the waters edge, 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 go 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 quietness. They lift their dories carefully into the water, talk together in whispers, and row so 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-heart ed and honest class of folk. A Cape Cod boy once told her that there were two things sailor would die to defend a fair lady and IL.