Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-11

Al WHICH ALL HER WORK HAS BEEN
| DONE.
Her first novel, "Retribution." appear
ed in the Washington National Era, whose
editor had sought her out after receiving
sketch from her which he regarded as
unusually promising. He induced her to
write other tales and sketches. "Retri-
button" was begun as a short tale, to be
finished in two numbers of the Era, but it
grew into a novel, which was published
in 1S49 by Harper & Brothers. This was
the turning point in her career. The
novel proved so popular that she sOor
achieved independence. She recovered,
and the son whose hold on life was then
so feeble is now practicing physician at
YonkeFs, n. Y. Encouraged by her sue
cess, she produced novels of the striking
sort in rapid succession. The edition of
her works published some years ago con-
tanned thirty-tive volumes. Among her
best efforts are 1.-The Widows Son." and
'Ishmael," but her other works include
''The Deserted Wife," "Cruel as the
Crave" "ShannOndale," "Tried for Life"
the MOther-in-L Law" "The Discarded
Daughter" "The Curse of Clifton" 1.-The
Lost Heress," "a Beautiful Fiend," "All-
worth Abbey" "The Changed Brides"
"Chlldren of the Isle," "Old Neighbor-
hoods and New settlements" "Mark Suth-
erland," ''The Brides Fate,' "HickOry
Hail." "The Three Beauties" and THE
Spectre Bridegroom" not to mention nu-
merous others which thousands OF GER
tain class of novel readers have perused
with flushed faces and quickened pulse.
Her novels are not of the first rank, but
they are undeniably popular. They are
of the sensational school, and are usually
more remarkable for skilfully construct
ed plots than tor literary merit, though at
times she displays no small dramatic
power. She ranks as a novelist, however,
far below many other women whose pro-
auctions are without flash or tinsel, who
portray life more as it is than as 1t might
have been if writers about lost brides and
doomed heiresses and the perambuiatng
ghosts of HobgOblin Hall had had the
ordering of the universe, or at all events,
of human nature and human society, as
they are known on this particular planet.
Mrs. SouthwOTth has very pleasant
home on WarburtOn avenue, in 1Onkers,
near New York, where she lives with her
only son. She is q lady of great force of
character, enjoys vigorous health, and is
often seen in New York, whittier she
comes to consult her publisher about her
works.
Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge lives in the
Navarro flats, on Fifty-ninth street, facing
Central Park. 1t is in the region of those
lofty apartment houses, which generally
have Spanish names and seem Alhambra-
like in their luxury and magnIhcence.
They tower high into the heavens, mod
ern palaces, finer than many a castle OF
Spanish song and story, though not in
every aspect 80 picturesque. 1t is in one
of these stately e1ifces that Mrs. Dodge
may be seen when she is not in Der Office
high up in the Century building, on Union
square. She is now in middle life, but
preserves much OF the cheerfulness and
vivacity of earlier years. She has express
sive oral features, which light up quickly
in conversation; she is amiable and unas-
Stunning.
She was born in New York city and was
reared amid refined and cultured intlu-
ences. Among her fathers friends were
poets, scientists, statesmen, philosophers,
painters and journalists, aud with these
she was always fay0rIte. In that house
hold the mean. petty, personal gossip of
the neighborho0d, the delight of empty
heads and vulgar minds, was never coun-
tenanced, and the effect of such salu-
tary training is still observable in the re-
tinement and the shrinking from undue
publicity which are engaging character
istics of this talented lady. Not but that
this avoidance of the public eye may be
carried too far; the people have perfect
right to know something personally OF
those who instruct or entertain TEEN.
Mrs. Dodge writes with grace and facil-
ity. She owes the excellence Of her style
to a thorough knowledge OF English liter
allure. In early life she was well ground
ed in music, drawing and modelling. She
is a natural linguist. but knows English
better than any other language. This
cannot always tie said of our lingulsts.