, 1886-11-10
CHILDREN OF LITERARY WOMEN
Do Not Show Amy INCLINATION to Travel in
Their Mothers AuthoriaI Footsteps.

~ F7tApN my u lIdktl IN
Their Mothers AuthoriaI Footsteps.
Literary women do not transmit their
literary faculty any more than men do,
as we see in the case of Mrs. Stoddard.
Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge, for many years
a widow, had two sons, one of whom is
dead. lie lived to be 20 without evinc-
ing any tendency to writing, though he
was bright and thoughtful. The surviv-
ing and elder son-about 3O-has n
marked mechanical genius. lie is in the
employ of a leading firm dealing in ma
chimes and patents, and his service is of
exceeding value.
Mrs, Louise Chandler Moulton-her
husband is William U. Moulton, editor
and proprietor of The Boston True Flag
has no son, but one daughter, now a
v%ivacious, interesting young woman,
who reveals not a particle of poetic ca
pacity.
Mrs. Harriet Prescott Spoiford, whose
husband possesses conspicuous literary
talents, though he rarely writes for
print, mas never had more than one
child. a son, and he died before he was
l year old.
Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett has
two sons, the eldest only II, SO that their
future may not be forecast. But neither
the father, an occulist of distinction, nor
the mother-parents are apt to think
they detect their children's drift at an
early age-has yet discovered in either
of the boys any literary propensity.
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe has, | believe,
no sons, but her daughter Maude
has produced several novels which are
both clever and popular. High expec-
tations are formed of her future, espec-
cially by her mother, who, being dissat-
isfied with the reputation she has won,
may believe that her daughter will be
more appreciated than herself has been.
Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe has chill
dren of both sexes, but not one of them
though they not long ago reached ma
turity, has ever sought to gain o
with the pen, as she and her husband,
Professor Calvin L. Stowe, lately de
ceased, nave both done.
Mrs. Helen Hunt jackson had a son
by her first marriage with Maj. Hunt,
but no children by her second. The son
died while a small boy. 1t is a pity
that her genius should not have been
communicated through n numerous Off
spring for the benefit of the literary
world.
Mrs. Mary Virginia Terhune Marion
IIarland) is completely domestic despite
her many novels, and has n large fam
lily, rs is common with orthodox clergy
mem wives, but not one of her children
has, as far as known, emulated his or
her mother in preparing manuscript for
the printer.
Mrs. Rebecca Harding Davis, whose
husband is l.. Clarke Davis, of The
Philadelphia Enquirer, a literary man as
well as n journalist, is one of the strong
est story-writers of the day, and has
children, not one Of whom is in the
least likely to follow in her authorial
footsteps.
Mrs. a. ID. 7. Whitney, widely known
rs a writer for the young, also a poet
and storey-teller of no mean fame, has
had three daughters and a son, but none
has indicated any of the talent which
goes toward book-lnaking or book
creating.
The same might be said of dozens of
women authors who have Deer wives
anu ihptilefs' Not Il lew nave maIrleu
too late TO bear children. Many others
have remained single, as literary women
are prone to do-Louisa NJ. Alcott for
eXample-so hat various circumstance
combine against feminine writers to
hinder the transmission of their special
capacities. Catherine E. Beecher, Lucy
Larcom. Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Sara
Woolscy Susan COOLIDGE, Kate San
born, and Il dozen others that might be
named are among those who have re-
Trained from wedlock-doubtless for
good and sufficient reasons. Matrimony
is always a chance, with odds against
him or her who chooses it.-"Pessimon
in Chicago Times.