National Republican., 1886-08-18
MRS. DAuLGREN's NEW NOVEL
Said TO be n Caricature of the Society
of Philadelphia.


Said TO be n Caricature of the Society
of Philadelphia.
Mrs. Admiral Dahlgren, the novelist aud
society leader, was In this city few days
ago for the purpose, II is said, OF making
arrangements for the publication of the new
novel on which she has been engaged for
some months past at her South
Mountain summer home. The novel is said
TO be a caricature OF Quaker City society,
written after the style OF her portraiture OF
social life in Washington, which was printed
winter before last, and caused great SEN
sation on account of the introduction into
Its pages Of well-known statesmen aud
society ladies under tninly disguised names.
AS is well known, Mrs. Dahlgren passed
last winter in Philadelphia. The people
there were little surprised at her ap-
pearance In society since there was no osten-
sible reason for II and previously she had
passed every season at the capital About
the time she was leaving for South Noun
tain, however, 1t began to be whispered
on Philadelphia's quiet aud lonely streets
that the lovely widow had deep literary
designs on the Quakers; that she had been
all the time studying their mode OF life and
manners, and that the result Of her studies
would In course Of time be embodied In a
novel. The whispering was not generally
credited then, but 1t now meets with gen
eral belief, which will be further strength
ened by the recent visit of Mrs. Dahlgren
to this city for business purposes, Since
April last she has been hard at work on
her book. Society here, Of which she was
once so bright an ornament, has seen little
Of her In the meantime. As result Of her
close application to her work. 1t is said that
the manuscript Is now ready for the printer,
and that as Osgood 81 Co., of Boston, her
former publishers, have failed, she will give
the work for publication to Washington
printer. Already there is considerable
| curiosity In high social circles as to the
| character OF the novel. Whatever may be
Mrs. Dahlgren's faults Of conception and
style, everything from her pen is sure TO be
| piquant and interesting. Everybody re-
| members the immense sale of her last
novel, Though there were not $4,000
copies sold the day Of publication, as In the
cases Of Macauley's "HIstory OF England
and Dlckens's "Nicholas Nickleby," the
sale was at the beginning unprecedented
In the history of American novels. OF
course the personal interest felt In the
author was an important element Of the
works success. For years she had
been central figure In the
most exclusive society here. Hel
receptions and dinners were as celebrated al
Mrs. Whltney's have been under the present
administration. Moreover, she was the
head and front Of famous literary society
which met In her parlors, and which en-
braced In Its membership many OF the lead
ing statesmen of the day, including Presi.
dent Garfield. When, then, novel from
her pen was announced, everybody who hat
heard Of the society queen was anxious L
see It, Mrs. Dahlgren has made severa
other ventures into the literary field. He
first work was "Life OF Col. Uric Dahl
gren," the brave young federal officer who
perished on the banks OF the James whei
about TO attempt the capture OF LIB!
prison with only handful Of men at hi
back This was followed four years ago b,
volume OF Legends OF south Mountain,
which were widely commented upon an(
generally praised by the critics. II is sal,
that Mrs. Dahlgren will devote herself l.
literary work exclusively hereafter.