The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-04-24
A WOMAN JOURNALIST.
Remarkable Success of Young Lady
with "TVavy Yellow Hair

Remarkable Success of a Young Lady
with 'wavy Yellow Hair"
lCroffut in New York Worldl
see an announcement that that gifted
Irish American, Alexander Sullivan, and
his brilliant wife are coming to New York to
live The lady-a mere girl she seemed TO
be-first made her appearance in Chicago
some fourteen years ago. 1t was during the
fall of 1870, / think. that she came one
morning to the office of The Evening Post
when was in charge during the absence Of
its editor in Europe. She brought a letter
merely introducing her as Miss Margaret
Buchanan.
81 would like a regular position on The
Post" she said.
"There are none," I answered News
papers properly conducted never have
vacancies The staff is the result Of evolu-
ton"
II want to get in the line of evolution" she
suggested
"What canyon doc" l asked
Anything that needs to be done, 1 think"
she answered, with curious combination OF
perfect modesty and utter self-confdence.
"Have you been on a newspaper
"No, never; though have written little
for newspapers"
was amused by her nonchalant ambition,
which seemed audacity, and when she an
nounced that she was recently from school IN
Detroit 1 said, "Well there's desk and pens
wonder; write what you please, and turned
to my work. She was p or % years old, was
neatly and plainly dressed and had a shock
of wavy yellow hair hanging about her
shoulders In twenty minutes she brought
to me an article headed, "The Michigan
Schisn," treating of a serious breach in the
Republican party on account OF bolt
against the regular Republican candidate.
1t was written with the off hand vigor of an
experienced editor and put very concisely
the silent points of the case not before pub
Iished It appeared as an editorial that
same evening.
Next day she appeared early, smiingly
said @Good morning" hung up her bonnet
and shawl on a convenient nail and resumed
her desk without a word In half an hour
she brought me an article entitled, "The
Latest Tariff Dodge" treating the subject
from a free trade point of view. 1t was
strong and timely article on pig-iron, and
was followed by others on kindred topics.
She proved not only proficient In French
bellss-lettres and acquainted with German,
but she was Wi up in Latin, Greek and
mathematics, and was thoughtful student
of those financial and commercial questions
(which women seldom touch She could
write a better article on the silver question,
oY the internal revenue, or our trade with
Brazil than on any of the questions that or
dinarily engFoss the attention OF women,
though she was thoroughly feminine
both in appearance and character. She
staved ON the paper three years, her salary
growing from SIP a week to S45. She mani
tested an adaptability, quickness OF per
ception and keenness of wit, wide range OF
information, the ability to tell with spirit
shat she knew ON given point and, above
ali, timeliness and readiness that made her
a valuable workman.
From The Post she and Mr.. Sullivan,
whom she had then married. transferred
their pens 10 The Times, she becoming at
first dramatic and musical critic and after
ward holding the important place Of night
editor and writer of current editorial para
graphs as well as leaders. Probably no other
woman ever held such responsible positions
on the daily press Her manner, either in
writing or lecturing, is terse, nervous, earn,
est. satirieal, aggressive and generally in
harmony with the spirit Of the age.