Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-11
For the Public Ledger.
SHERWOOD BONNER.
Tribute TO n Gitted and Appre-
ciated Southern AuthOress.

] few wise ones declared such letters
were writtea by q man. As they
came from Boston. hebtieht member
Of certain literary circle here, pro-
nounced the writer Northern man,
Isigniug himself q Southern Girl"
The tsrse. vigorous style, ssndwiched
between much spice and eleverness
made combination rare as it was at
tractive. When men like Emerson
and Wendell Phillips we're discussed
in manner interesting to the political
world, it was naturally a surprise to
learn that woman scarcely out other
teens was the author. Very soon it
became known that this Boston cor
respondent was Mrs. Katherine Nc
Dowell, or Sherwood Bonner, !" and
that she was indeed by birth and edu>
cation Southern girl"
Finally, when the prominent Maya
zines of the great cities began pub
fishing her articles, more
than one Southern heart glOwed
with pride. 1t was said at once
"Sher wood Bonner will be tower Of
strength in the work Of redeeming the
South from the charge of mental infe-
riority."
Her father, DR.. Charles Bonner, Of
Holly Springs, Miss, was stern old
gentleman of the couventiOnalities Of
half a century ago. When his
daughter, with a wisdom wonderful in
one SO young, planned her life work
and lesirai she aid that Boston alone
could give, he looked upon her as
rara avis. To him Boston was hut
the center Of isms; where women we're
encouraged in all the wild ologies of a
too progressive age. There is an old
adage that ITO make money one must
go where money Is" So to succeed in
the world of letters men an d women
must be where the friction of mind
against mind makes brilliant work
| To the modern Athens went this 6Ow.
er of the South, and the proud father
loved to be gladdened by the knoWl
edge of her success.
When the plague of 70 broke like
whirlwind over her native town she
left Boston, and swift as trains could
bear her went to share the doom o.
those she loved. Alone, and in des
perate straits, she nursed her father
and brother until they died.
From that time she gave herself en-
tirely to her work. The first article
she wrote The following winter was a
sketch Of the yellow fever. for which
the editor Of Youths Companion gave
her eighty dollars. She wrote this at
two sittings, while visiting friend in
this city, and with heart sore from her
awful experience and bereavement
About this time her first book Like
Unto Like" was published. 1t received
complimentary criticisms from mum.
bers of Northern papers.
Her later stories gsve evidence OF
most careful study--the work is bet
ter.
The Nation, Of which a brilliant
young writer once said; 10 be torn in
pieces Is an horror" has given the
work Of Sherwood Bonner" careful
and fattering attention. Sister
Weeden's Prayer" published in Lip
pincOtt's Magazine sometime ego, was
sminently popular. The scenes we're
laid in bsckwoods Reighborhood OF
Illinois. La it is the patois of the
country people. The Nation had a
complimentary notice, and mentioned
as the special feature the new dis-
lect." A prominent New YORK EDITOR
speaks of this "yeuUg and brilliant
writer" as another George Eliot"
! Her letters on Longfellow's home,
written for the Avalanche years ago.
have been taken recently aud printed
in the charming book, Homes
OF the Poets" BY 4 strange
oversight, however, she is rot
accredited with it. Doubtless it was
thought to be no crime to plagiarize
the work Of Eoman'g brain, In
this book Longfellow's face il the
frOntispiece. and Sherwood Bonner's
description from the old letter comes
naaF it, each occupying the place o.
honor.
The South ssp i'll afford to lose one
% her jewels. Henry Timrod, il
poesy twin brother Of Paul Hayre
, with ell his genius, was scarcely
: allowed to touch the border land O
manhood. Now, In our brillian
D Young novelist another link is broken
Those who watched her life saw thu
steady growth of her bright mind ant
predicted brilliant noon for SO fair
morning. But the clouds gathere,
:. and the reins Of triumph snapped jus
as she held them secure.
For two years the grim verdict O
q. certain death hung over her. 4
u weaker soul would have become par
b alyEed and have dropped helpless Xix
shot bird, or would have gone abou
with WOetul face and Helanchol
sigbs. Sherwood Bonner did neither
Of She only lifted her proud head, an
oi with brave eyes looked toward What
0. ever might come.
as To the last, she worked bravely an
Of we'll, and when the good right han