New-York tribune., 1882-12-31
MRS. S0CTHW0RTHS FIRST STORY

Washington LeHsrD The PhiladeOha Press
i few days ago Joe ShihngtOl, a mdgazlGe and
news dea lcT, pointed out to NE tall, spare Wonln
with a sad grave face and gray hair, VINO dress ii
in black and appeared 10 be over sixty years I'D.
" DO yOu know who that is; asked no. +" No, do
not said |. well, SAID he. thaj is Mrs. Emma
ID. r.. ~ SOuthwOIth, and Will tell YOU something
about her" looked again and saw a face of re-
maIkaDle strength. with month aud chm indIcat-
ing great determInat!Ou aDd a forehead full OF in-
tellect And then Mr.. ShlllinAtOn tOld ne his story.
Thirty five years ago, said he Il do not quote IIs
words Tor do not pretend To give item exactly,
that lady was daily visitor to my store. she was
always dressed in black lsne never wears cOors y.
and spent an hour or 50 every uay reading at my
cOuntCr-al way standing anu never speaking
word to an body. Her movements were of the most
Ii mid character, and we THAT is my clerks and
visitor after while came to speak OF hcr - the
got to regard her as little " OFF, was then the
general agent OF The baltimore Sun
in Washington, and looked alter Its
circulation here. One day the queer woman"
approached me very cautiously looking around to
see that 10 one oJs Iyeu her, auu took nom ander
her black shawl a big bundle ot manuscript. aud
told ne II Wa- a story she lad been WI ing, al d
asked me to have II printed in The san. 1his rather
confirmed me IN my belief thtt she was ittle
"queeI'; but however, | TOOK ner bun 10 and
promised TO comply with hr request. Iooked
over the manuscrlpt httle. ana finally nt II 10
The SHH. The editor found Inucn mert IN TIE stQfy,
but did not have room Tor lt, and II was seat Oy MN
10 The Ikiiadelpbid SatUddy Ii6,tOl Inc edIioE ot
this paper great, struck with Il S.ory. as was
also Dr.. snOdRras> the editor ot baltimore liter-
mulicated with me, and ashed the authors
name. | did snOt know IT, but when she
came n lay store again | told hor what
had happened. She seemed to be fughlened and
lett my store ~ 4 whlrl without saying "a word. l
Thought at the time that she feared the papers
would attack her Tor Writing such a story. How
ever, Gid not intend 10 lose her, and 80 sent one
of my young men alter her telling hlm 10 follow
her iqd out where she lived anu uer name
She walked rapidly down the siIeet and went to
the island In passing liz lie schOolhOusc some
boys wnO were playing Dies spoke 10 the lady
III black, and lay young man asked them who tho
Lady was. She's our teacher answer the boys.
And what Is her naleP " SiTs SouthW orth."
WAS the answer
At that time" continued Mr.. Shillington in
substance, Dr.. Bailey me ett0r Oi lie National
Fra here lie had also become interested IN tho
new author-how, / do not know. lie AID DIR.
SnOdgrass came to Inc, and ar dnged an Interview
between them ana Slrs. SOuthwOrtn. The story
very crude and ungrammatlcal, but
there were some remarkably strong things
in 1.-THE intense 81 nations, particularly. so
II was IXed and changed ana cut ana added To, and
was finally printed IN Tie National Ira. It was
subsequently, printed by Pc Brother ot Phil
adepnla, ana had an immense sale. Tie story was
RetnbutiOn' and, If you have never read it. it is
worth your while 70 read II now 1t was printed
iu about the year ls4S long before Uncle Toms
CABIN was written, and yet you will be astonished
to see the similarity IN some OF the situations aud
Ideas" questioned Nh ShIiiugton further. and
learned that Mrs. SOuthwOrtn was born IN Washing
ton III 1913 and that she separated from Der hus-
band when she was quite young. Sne has written
more books than any other an nor, living dead,
OK cept, perhaps Mrs. Ann :. Stephens. Mrs S2uth-
worth IS liyi our sister city Of Georgetown, IN
lovely Prospect Cottage, on the hill, aud - loved
and espeCted by everybody. She continues still 10
wIlte.