The Press., 1883-11-22

A PORTRAIT OF PANsY.-We have received @ copy of the beautiful lithographic portrait of Pansy (Mrs. G. R. Alden, and it seems only proper in this connection to give a few interesting points of the history of this wide ly-known author, whose books have larger sale than those of any other living American writer.
 Personal information respecting popular authors has peculiar interest for readers of all classes. How they look; what they say ; the circumstances under which their books are written; and the history of their various literary experiences, all are topics of lively and never-ending interest. An editor, spend ing an evening in the society of Mrs. Alden, thus pleasantly describes it:
 ''Not long since we spent very pleasant evening with Mrs. G. R. Alden, who is better known by her moma de plume of 'Pansy.' A little gathering was held in her honor at the house of Dr. Gray of the Interior. A basket of beautiful pansies was sent, and adorned the center-ta table, and nearly every invited guest brought in as tribute 8 small bouquet of the same modest flowers
 ''Mrs Aldens pselldonym, with its sug- gestion of unobtrusive beauty, is very appro- priate both as to her writings and to herself She is sef-possessed, charming in conversa- tion, but quiet and unassuming. Her adop, ton of the title by which she is known, is an interesting bit of history. In her young girl days, the old clock in her fathers house stop pression on the whole household, and especial ly on her. She wrote an essay in regord to that faithful household monitor, which pleased her father very much. He said it must be published in the paper conducted by he1 brother. But said he, we don't wish any one to know that you wrote it, and so we will sign it 'Pansy,' for pansy means tender and pleasant thoughts, and you have given me some thoughts that are tender and pleasant
 ''It is no wonder when she came to write for the public, that she should adopt for a nom de plume the name which had for her such tender association. Her father died during the writing of the closing chapters of Ester Ried'-a book in which he took the greatest interest and in regard to which he prayed that it might be blessing to some young life, That prayer has been answered over and over again Mrs. Alden writes us: sIt was while the tears were gathering thick in my eyes as I looked out upon his grave, that I wrote the last chapter of the book, feeling that my closest, strongest, friend and critic, and wisest helper had gone from me- And now that these facts are made known, we feel sure that her pseudonym will be to many more fragrant and beautiful than eyer,''
 "PapsyH possesses magnetic force that touches all hearts, and keen pencil to strike into life those salient points in human nature that make us all akin. It is impossible to de. scribe the effect of her books They particu. larly impress themselves on young girls and those leaving early womanhood, giving a stimulus toward mental and moral develop ment not easily forgottsn.
 Pansy's first book, Bernie's White Chick ems, D was written when she was sixteen years old, and won the prize offered to competing authors "Ester Ried" and "Four Girls al Chautauqua" have made her name known and loved in every town and hamlet of our land. A new book, "Ester Ried yet speaking" ," is in press for early publication.
 Her books for older readers number thirty six volumes; while the little folks have about as many from her pen.
 Mrs. Alden finds time in her busy life tc fill the editorial chair of THE PANsY, the pop ular pieto ial magazine ,eweekly) for young people, which is published at 75 cents year, by D. Lolhrop & Co.,, Boston.
 We learn that any one desiring this beauti full portrait can obtain it free by sending $1 5G for two new subscriptions to THE PANsY, tc D. Lothrop & Co.,, Boston, Mass.