The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-02
Frances Hodeson Burnett.


ton for her. The fortunate readers of her story
in St Nicholas are given glimpses of this ideal
life. Little Lord Fauntleroy is her brave and
loving Lionel-a lad perhaps ten years old. Mrs.
Burnett is strong believer in the rights of
children She cares for hers with the utmost
love, and with the courtesy of queen. They,
in turn love her with tender and noble devotion.
10 them she is the all-lovely one.
No outside duties literary or social, are
permitted to interfere with her care
for her two happy little boys. Mrs. Burnett is
spending the summer at the ''Tudor Home
stead in Nahant This is colonial residence
of palatial proportions, situated on hill COM
handing sweeping views of the Atlantic and
surrounded by extensive grounds, including
orchards and grassy lawnss Here Mrs. Burnett
proposes to remain until October. She is con-
stantly entertaining friends, and often drives to
Lynn, along the coast road, a distance of five
miles, to meet guests. She is greatly improved
in health. and is planning out one or two new
novels which are already sought after at enor-
nous prices by different publishers.
Frances Hodgson Burnett's literary career is,
perhaps, more remarkable than that of any.
other writer in this country. Her earliest work
is characterized by the finest literary finish.
Her characters stand out close and natural, She
is equally strong in tragedy or comedy. Her
first two stories appeared in Godey's Magazine
In 1863 Mrs. Burnett receiving $35 for the two.
She wrote with amazing rapidity, and her stories
appeared in Frank Leslie's Peterson's Har
per's and Scrbners. The first story she sent to
Scribner was returned, ostensibly because of its
length, but really, as 1t afterwards appeared,
because the editors account of its excellence,
feared it was not original. Her next story, for
warded to the same magazine, was accepted and
published in 1872 1t was ''Surly Tins
Troubles, and the following note was sent upon
the receipt OF the story:
NEW YORK, Feb. %, 1872
Dear Miss Hodgson-Dr Holland and Dr. Hollands
daughter Miss Annie), and DR.. Hollands right hand
man (myself) have all wept 'Sury Tins
Troubles" Hope TO weep again over MSS from you.
Very sincerely and tearfully WALTER GLIDER.
Soon after this she went to England and re-
manned at Manchester. where she was stirred up
by the hard lives of the miners and weavers and
wrote in consequence "That Lass O. Lowrie's," a
story which has been pronounced "the flower
and crown of all recent fiction" The heroine
of this story was girl whom she first saw when
nine years of age; tall, handsome figure,
clothed according to the custom of mill girls,
with long, coarse linen apron over the dress,
and tied close down the back with strong tapes,
to guard against accidents from machinery. She
stood in a group of children-paymates ali,
save her, for in the midst of their romps her
fiji gers busily knitted on dark, rough SOCK She
was so different from the others-strong, mass
iva frarnn lar0a lunoirnus orau ovac ralo c1nar-
cut face and head rivaling in pose the Venus of
Milo-she instantly riveted the attention of the
maiden at the gate; but not till long years after
did Frances realize her to have been so won
drously beautiful, for at that period of the
young romancer's life her type of female lowell
ness demanded rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes.
The refined strength of the girl had fascna
ton she could not then analyze, but she has
since looked in vain for face so fair, form so
majestic The bosterous children apparently
recognized her superiority as appeals were
made to her in the adjustment of all differences,
and her voice answered the expectation of the
listeners at the gate, the replies fell upon her
ears in broad, yet musical Lancashire. Frances
saw her only once more in the square-as be-
fore, not at play, but friend and adviser Of the
children. This time a brutallooking man,
whose face was swollen from drink, came ard
drove her out with angry words and threatening
gestures. She obeye6 silently proudly, yet
without defiance or apparent fear. For many
afternoons Frances watched at the gate for her.
but in vain-that noble form was never again
seen amid the group in the sunny square
Returning from England she was married to
DIR. Burnett, in Knoxville Tenn. Percevrg
his talents in his profession. she determined
that he should have the best training possible in
European colleges and hospitals, and decided to
go abroad and to pay the expenses by her writ
ings Under these circumstances she wrote, in
about fifteen months, '"That Lass O Lowries, !"
"Pretty Polly Pemberton," "The Fire at Grant
ley Mills" and she also wrote short stories which
appeared in Scribner. Then returning, she
went to the home of the Doctors father in New
Market and DR.. Burnett went to Washington to
establish himself in his speciality, that of an
oculst She soon joined him In Washington,
where they lived plainly and obscurely in the
West End In short time she began her work,
sending Louisiana" to Scribner's and GA Fair
Barbarian" to Peterson's. The latter novel was
sent to Petersons in ful6llmeut of an engage
nent' AS sooH aS IL appoareU III AeIerSons 81 IL
was bought for publication in the Century thus
receiving a compliment that has been paid to no
other American novel or American novelist
Mrs Burnett is generally regarded as the most
popular novelist in America.
Her new serial begins in the Sunday Journal
o-morrow-"The Fortunes of Philippa Fair
fax"
DIR. J. e. WELLIvER, of Rushvle says he