National Republican., 1883-01-02
MRS. souruwoRTIr.
Her First story--skctch or the Life OF the
NoveIIst-Prospect Cottage.

Noveiist-Prospect COttnge'
Washington Lstcr 10 mo Philadelphia Press.
A few days ago Joe shillington, magazine
and ncwsdealer, pointed out to me a tall,
spare woman, with a sad, grave face, and gray
hair, who dressed ia black, and appeared to
be over go years old Do you know who
that is 2" asked he. "No, do not" said l.
"Well," said he, that is Mrs. Emma d. L. n.
Southworth, and 1 win tell you something
about her." l looked again and saw a face of
remarkable strength, with mouth and chin
indicating great determination, and a fore
head full of intellect And then Mr.. Shilling
ton told mo his story. Thirty-fve years ago,
pretend TO give them exactly, that lady was
g daily visitor to my store She was always
dressed in black (she never wears "colors"),
and spent an hour or so every day reading
at my counter--always standing aud
never speaking q word TO anybody.
Her movements were of tho most
timid character, and we (that Is my clerks
add visitors) after n whilo camo TO speak of
her as "the queer woman" No ono knew
her name, and we all got TO regard her as
little "ofi" l was then the general agent of
the Baltimore sun in Washington, and looked
after its circulation here. One day the
queer woman" approached mo very eau
served hor, and took from under her black
shawl big bundle OF manuscript, aud told mo
it was n story she had been writing and asked
me to have Imprinted in the San. This rather
confirmed me in my belief that she was u lit
tie queer" but however, | took her bundle
and promised to comply with her request. L
looked over the manuscript little, and
finally sent it to Sun. The editor found much
merit In the story, but did not have room
for IT, and IL was sent by him TO the Phila-
dulphia Saturday Visitor The editor of this
papcrwas greatly struck with the story, as was
also DIR. Snodgrass, the editor of n Baltimore
Literary paper, TO whom it was submitted.
They communicated with mo- and asked the
authors name. did not know IL, but when
she came in my store again told her what had
happened. She seemed to be frightened, and
LETT my store in whirl without saying word
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 young men after her, telling
him TO follow her, find out whero she lived
and learn her name. She walked rapidly
down the street and went to the " Island" In
passing little school house some boys who
were playing marbles spoke to the lady III
black, and my young man asked them who
the lady was "Shes our teacher" answered
the boys. And what is her name?" " Mrs.
Southworth," was the answer.
i'll substance, DIR. Bailey was the editor of
the NdtiOndJ Era here. He had also become
interested in the new author-how, 1 do not
know. lie and DIR. Snodgrass came to me
and l arranged an interview between them
and Mrs. Southworth. The story was very
crude and ungrammatical, but there were some
remarkably strong thinks in 1.-THE intense
situations particularly. So it was fixed and
changed and cut and added to, and was finally
printed in the National Era 1t was subse-
quently printed by Peterson & Bro, of phila-
delphia, and had an immense sale. The story
! was Retribution,' and if you have never read
it, it is worth your while to read it now. IL
was printed in about the year 1SiS, long be-
fore Uncle Toms Cabin was written, and
| yet you will be eastonished to see the similarity
in some Of the situations and ideas. l ques-
toned Mr.. Shillinston further, and learned
that Mrs. Southworth was born in Washing
ton 1913, and that she separated from her hus-
band when she was quite young. She has
written moro books than any other author,
living or dead, except perhaps Mrs. Ann S.
| Stephens Mrs. Southworth is living in our
sister city of Georgetown, in lovely Prospect
cottage, on the hill, and is loved aud respected
! BY everybody. She continues to write "