Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-09-07
THE NTERVIEWER'S HATCH.
Miss BrOwn,the Democratic Nom
tnee for school Superintend-
eut OF Kansas, Routes a
Bold Reporter ---- The
Lady Described.


Bold Reporter ---- The
Lady Described.
The democratic state convention of
Kansas recently nominated Miss Sarah
K. Brown, of Lawrence, for superin-
tendent Of public instruction. Fol
lowing upon the electrifying news the
Kans S City (Mo Times caused the
lady to be interviewed, and dispatched
one of its most daring reporters for
that purpose. Atpresent Miss Brown
is county superintendent Of schools,
a position to which she was elected
two years ago as an independent can
didate. Her personal appearance, +"
writes the Times correspondent, is
that of Yankee woman of the most
pronounced type. Her bones are
large and the joints of her fingers
knotted, indicating, if there is any
thing palmistry, a severely logical
mind. Her figure is somewhat
above the medium height, quite
angular and slightly stoop-shoul.
dered. Her face is one you sell
dom see west of the Berkshire hills
face full of strength and character
as Is devoid of symmetry and beauty.
The forehead is high and prominent.
the brownish gray eyes just large
enough to be called small, the mouth
large and almost inclining to coarse
ness, the lips thin and slightly drawn
back at the corners, the cheek bones
high, the ears large and prominent,
and her complexion of hard, dry.
lndescribable hue. AS if to make
herself as unprepossessing as possible.
Miss Sarah wears her hair in the most
distressingly trying style-parted di-
rectly in the middle aud brushed down
behind the ears and gathered in de-
mure knot an inch or two above the
the cerebellum. Again, being very
near sighted, she is compelled to wear
glasses, and when | saw her she had
pair of gold-bowed spectacles over her
thin acquiline nose. Miss Brown
dresses with severe simplicity"
The interview is thus described.
Miss Sarah squared herself around
toward Inc and read my quivering soul
through her gold bowed specs.
| told her | was Times man, and
wanted to know if she was going to
accept the nomination the state dem
ocracy had given her. A painful
pause ensued, during which Miss
Sarah had regarded me with pene-
trating gaze. Finally she said she had
not decided what to do. Then in as
lnsinuating and seductive manneras
| could muster up, | began to prattle
glibly about the fight the Lawrence
delegation had made against her nom.
Iination, and fondly hoped she would
say something that would commither.
But she smiled not, neither did she
discourse. As last resource | put
the question fairly to her.
Miss Brown, are you democrat?n
= why, sir, !" said she, how could !
be either democrat or a republican
when | have no vote2 If | were per
mitted to vote, ! presume | would
connect myself with one Of the polit-
ical parties, but as l am q woman, l
have no politics"
essaycd to get a satisfactory an
swer to my question, but it was fu-
tile dalliance, Then | flew off at a
tangent, and attempted to inVeigle her
into a conversation as to her early
life. In this ! was more successful.
She said she was born in Massachu-
sets; that her mother came from
Northampton, on the banks of the
Connecticut, and under the shadow Of
Holyoke. They came to Kansas in
1889, just after Walkers army had
crossed the river. The outlook was
gloomy, and the rest OF them wanted
to turn back. but her mother was
made of sterner stuff, and insisted
upon their pursuing their journey to
the end.
wanted to ask Miss Sarah how old
she was, and started in several times
to do so, but couldn't pluck up quite
enough courage to get through. /
asked her again if she was going to ac-
cept the nomination, and again she
evaded me.
II have not made up my mind. ]
shall write letter in a few days to the
chairman of the convention"
"lf there is anything the Times
can say for YOU" remarked plain.
lively, 1T will be glad to say it. 1t
would like to be assured of your
democracy"
~ have no politics" said Miss Sa-
rah. Il am grateful to the democrats
OF this country for their assistance
TWO years ago. was elected against
the regular republican nominee. That
was an accident, of course, but / am
grateful to the democrats for their
support"
asked her if she would favor us
with her photograph, so as to have
picture OF her printed in the Times.
mo, sirlP
This was said with a yigor that led
me to doubt the feasibility Of pursu-
ing the subject further.
Nothing satisfactory could | extract
from her. l wanted to go home. She
fol. owed me to the door, and, when |
thanked her foF her kindness in ac
cordiDg me an interview, she said,
"You are welcome" and retired.
wag Impressed by her tact and
shrewdness. She is tbe hardest sub
ect that ever attempted to inter-
view.
The Bold, bad Brady.
WAsHINGfoN, September BIT is