Morning journal and courier., 1883-01-05
Her First Story.
An Interesting Anecdote of I.s, E. ID. F.
 N. .SouthwOrth.

An Interesting Anecdote of RIss, E. ID. F.
 N.Southworth.
 A few days ago, writes a correspondent from Washington to the Philadelphia Press, Joe Shillington, magazine and news dealer pointed out to me 8 tall, spare woman, with a sad, grave face and gray hair, who was dressed in black and appeared to be over 60 years old. "Do you know who that is ?" s'No, do not" said I, ''Well," continued he, 'that is Mrs. Emma D. E. N. Southworth, and will tell you something about her." I looked again, and saw face of remarkable strength with mouth and chin indicating great determination and mouth full of intellect And then MT. Shillington told me his story. Thirty-five years ago, said he q do not quote exactly, that lady was a daily visitor to my store. She was always dressed in black (sh e never wears 'colors, J and spent an hour or so every day reading at my counter-always standing and never speaking word to any body Her movements were of the most timid character, and we Chat is my clerks and visitors) after awhile came to speak of her as ''the queer woman" No one knew her name, and we all got to regard her as a little ''off.' I was then the general agent of the Baltimore Sun in Washington, and look ed after it's circulation here One day ''the queer woman' approached me very cautious ly, looking around to see that no one ob-
 
 shawl big bundle of manuscript, and told me it was a story she had been writing, and asked me to have it printed in the SUr1 This rather confirmed me in my belief that she was little t'queer ;'' but, however, took her bundle and promised to comply with her request. I looked over the manuscript little, and finally sent it to the Sun. The editor saw much merit in the story, but he did not have room for 1t, and 1t was sent by him to the Philadelphia Saturday Visttoa. The editor of this paper was greatly struck with the story, as was also Dr. Snodgrass, the editor of Baltimore literary paper, to whom 1t was submitted. They communi- cated with me, and asked the authors name. did not know it, but when she came in my store again told her what had happened. She seemed to be frightened, and left my store in whirl without saying word. I thought at the time that she feared the pa pers would attack her for writing such story. However, did not intend to lose her, and so sent one of my clerks after her, telling him to follow her, find out where she lived, and learn her name. She walked rap idly down the street and went to the Island" In passing little schoolhouse some boys who were playing marbles spoke to the lady in black, and my young man asked them who the lady was. s'She's our teacher" answered the boys.1'And what is her name ?' s'Mrs. Southworth,' was the answer. At that time continued Mir. Shillington. in substance, Dr. Baily was the editor of the National Eru here. He had also become interested in the new author-how, I do not know. He and Dr. Snodgrass came to me- and I arranged an interview between them and Mrs Southworth. The story was very crude and ungrammaticaI, but there were some remarkably strong things in 1.-the intense situations, particularly. So it was fixed up and changed and cut and added to, and was finally printed in the National Era. It was subsequently printed by Peterson $ Bro. of Philadelphia, and had an immense sale. The story was "Retribution,'' and, if you have never read it, it is worth your while to read now. It was printed in about the year 1846, long before Uncle Toms Cabin' was written, and yet you will be astenished to see the similarity in some of the situations and ideas. I questioned MT. Shillington further and learned that Mrs