Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-04-04

No example of success in American
journalism and publishing is more start
ling than that concerning the Frank
Leslie illustrated papers and periodicals
in New YORK. PERHAPS there is not O
parallel in this or any other country to
the achievements in that special field
the late Frank Leslie and the intellectual.
sagacious and fascinating widow, who
now manages and directs with a wisdom
skill and energy as remarkable as it is
exceptional and extraordinary in ner
sex, the immense enterprise bearing her
name. From reliable sources we CLEAN
a series of facts which we weave into q
somewhat desultory account .of the
career of Mrs. Frank Leslie, whose feat
ures are represented in our admirable
cut at the head of these columns. No
woman in America has illustrated higher
and grander qualities-a broader capaci-
ty, a loftier courage, or a more indomit-
able perseverance under the storm and
pressure Of heavy difficu ties and bur-
dens-than she. The story of her
business life reads like a veritable
romance. From her girlhood she had
cultivated literature, making her first
appearance in print when she was but
13years old. Subsequently she became
a frequent contributor to all the leadIng
magazines, travelled extensively, and
published several interesting volumes
giving the results of her journevings.
She mastered one foreign language after
another, until at 20 years of age she
could speak and write four other tongues
with as much facility as English. In
January, 1880, Mr.. Leslie died suddenly.
AT that time the business was in the
hands of an assignee, the financial crash
of 1877 having so disturbed it that a
limited agreement had been thought
best for the interests of all concerned
$50 to my office, sit in my place, and do
my work until my debts are paid" were
Mr.. Lesl.e'S first words to his wife after
hearing his death sentence. His will
contained this sentence: "And it is nv
will that my said wife shall take my
place in the said agreements with the
creditors, and perform the same on NV
part and, after the expiration and per.
tormsnce of said agreement with nv
creditors, shall continue the business of
publishing, under the name aud trade
mark OF Frank Leslie, the various publi-
cations which have been established by
me, and in the establishment of which
she has contributed largely" The diving
wishes OF Frank Leslie have now been
carried out, but only after his widow
has encountered and tr.umphed over
one long succession of difficulties and
obstacles. The will was contested, and
when finally it was established Mrs.
Leslie was confronted with the necessity
OF having the sum OF S50,0 900 in cash to
pay Of some of the more pressing of her
husband's creditors. She possessed no
ready money, and she had nothing to
mortgage, for the title of the great prop.
erty was still vested in the assignee.
She. however, succeeded in effecting the
loan. Of course there were plenty of
people ready to tell the lender that she
would rever see her money again, and
she confessed that sometimes they made
her little nervous. But the result fully
justified her faith. The agreement with
Mrs Leslie called for the payment of
the loan in installments, the first 5000
to fall due on the 1st of November fol-
lowing the loan. On the 18th of October
"beiore the first payment could be called
for, the last penny of the entire amoHnt
had been paid" cut Of the profits of the
business during the previous five months
bv this brave little woman, who often
refers TO the time when she lived in a
cirpetless attic while earning $1,000 to
IlquIdate her husbands debts, and DUR
ing which period she expended but $50
on herself. Too much credit caunot be
bestowed upon Mrs. Leslie. The lady
like, yet trIn and positive manner in
which she met every obstacle, with moth
ing TO sustain her courage but the
knowledge that she was doing right, AID
the memory of the one who trusted her
and whose diving wishes she was endeav
ing 10 sustain and protect, met the
admiration of the public, who do her
honor for it as well. 1t was Frank
Leslie's last request that his wife should