Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-06-24
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps.

Boston Herald: Mr.. Phelps be.
came pastor of the Pine Street Con.
gregational Church in Boston in
1912, and his gifted daughter was
born in this city on August 81, 1874.
Miss Phelps may trace her literary
talents to three distinctive sources
her mothers father, Prof. Moses Stu
art, who was regarded as the most
eminent Biblical critic of his age, and
who was for many years professor of
sacred literature at Andover her
father, who is the author of several
popular books on practical piety, in.
Guiding "The Still Hour" a widely
circulated volume; and her mother,
under the name of "H. Trusta," an
anagram of Stuart, wrote several ad-
mirab!e tales of New England life,
faithful pictares of character, and
often delightfully."- humorous. Among
them was "The Sunny Side" Mrs.
Phelps died when her daughter was
eight years old, and also left a son
three years younger. Young as she
was at this time, Miss Phelps's ma
tuFe had been strongly impressed by
her mothers influence. In a private
letter she wrote: 81 can conceive of
few things more stimulating to
woman than gifted mother, unless,
indeed, it be the scholarly standard
and patient instruction of such a
father as my own" Miss Phelps's
imaginative faculties were encour-
aged by all her surroundings, and at
the age when children are usually
entertained with nothing deeper than
another Goose" and nursery tales,
she and brother would spend the
evening hour listening to their moth
err reading from the old English
poets and telling them stories from
the classics. At school she found it
easy to learn, and her lessons cost
her little effort, except in arithmetic.
Psychology became 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 brothers In col.
lege.
She finished her school life at the
age Of nineteen, but her literary &C.
tivity 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 international reputation
An edition of 10000 was speedily
exhausted; the demand continued
undated, and the book still has
large and steady sale. In England
its circulation rivalled that in Ameri
ca. 1t was brought out by various
publishers, and was also printed in
cheap popular editions at Cd. copy.
1t was also translated into French
and German and Dutch. "The Gates
Ajar" was preceded by ten taking
juvenile books published from 1864
to 1857; proof Of Miss Phelps re.
markable industry. In 1877 "The
Story of Avis was published. This
book has been the subject of many
diverse criticisms, few, if any, of
which have denied its power, the
great question having been on the
truth of its conclusions. Miss Phelps
herself regards the book moro affec-
tionately than any of its predeces.
sors, 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 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 bill; ow.walled cham.
Der with picturesque and and taste
full 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 a new professor.
Miss Phelps now has her study tenn
porarily in 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 re-
markedly handsome fellow, viewed
by the standard OF beauty set for bis
race. Though called blue Skye, he is
by no means sky blue, bu. a dark
and rich brown. Dogs are Miss
Phelps special pets, and "Danlel
Deronda" is chiyalrously devoted to
his mistress. He has been known to
attack approaching dogs of New
foundland size, when he thought
their intent toward her was evil.
Miss Phelps formerly had dog nam
ell "Hshnemaun, tor whom she he'd
a great fondness. As "Daniel Der.
ouda was named in testimony of her
admiration for George Eliot, SO
"Hahuemaun's name was a token of
her faith in homeopathy. She once
humorously stated her creed as sum
med up in the three terms: "Heav-
en-, homo opathy, and woman's
rights"
For several years she has spent her
summers in East Gloucester, where
she has built quaint little cottage
in a charming spot close to the wat
er's edge, at the mouth of q gorge
opening in the wild rocky shore Of
Gloucester harbor At her Glouces-
ter home the nights are not so quiet
as at Andoyer, for the fishermen 60
out early to their nets, bu. her kind
ness and labors of love among them
have been appreciated. and they re.