The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1888-01-14

You know who the critics are2
The men who have failed in liter
ature and art,''' This Is a singu-
larly pointed arrow, certainly, and
strikes to the red.
In 1868, Miss Evans married
her husband, then as now, the
manager of an Alabama railroad.
Her residence is few miles out
of the city on the Spring Hill
road, IN sight of the tall clock
tower of the Convent Of the Visi-
tatlon. Her reception day is Sat-
urjay, all her other time being
taken up in literary and domestic
duties. Among the latter may
be classed the attention bestowed
upon a fine herd of registered
Jerseys, which, having become
quite popular in the South, are
very profitable. Stock from this
herd do not experience the NOR
tallty that characterizes the accli-
nation of cattle sent South from
Northern herds. Approaching
the house, which has similar
front before and behind, so as to
afford an entrance alike from the
Old Shell road and the Bay Shell
road, the visitor passes over a
smoothly shaven lawn of Bermu-
das grass, under the widespread
ing live oaks, until the hospitable
mansion is reached. In the front
all the flowers and foliage of
semi-tiopical America can be
seen, while In the yards the do
mesticated fowls and animals, in
the care OF which Mrs. Wilson
delights, increase and multiply in
abundance. Ushcrsd into the
parlor by an old -time-ncgress an,
regulation bandana headgear, the
visitor is soon in the presence OF
the widely known suthoress. She
is a lady of medium height, slen-
der and graceful with fresh COM
plcxion aud bright blue eyes !; the
hair now turning slightly gray
and covered wiIha piece OF soft
old lace, much after the manner
seen m the familior portraits OF
George Eliot.
Mrs. Wilson'S greeting is cor
dial, her voice cherry, and her
manner easy and unosteutatious.
There is nothing either of the
grande dame or the blue stocking
in her ways, and one is surprised
at the lack of literary ostentation
ana at the remarkable simplicity
Of her vocabulary. To the visitor
she is quite communicative,
and declares that her greatest diff
6culty with her books is the pains
taking care that characterizes hei
in the preparation Of her manu-
script. She never preserves 0
page with a blot, an erasure or
an interllneation upon it. She
has IN her library a massiye
lcather-bound book fastened with
a huge clasp. 1t. is the manu-
script of "Vashil." /" 1t il entirel,
in her own handwriting, and II
as clean and neat as the freshly
printed page. There is but ont
alteration In it. and that is on tht
title page, and consists Of a slighi
change of terminology made by
| the publishers. The handwriting
is clear, distinct and flowing. ant
is exceedingly handsome In effect
The volume was bound for tn
authoress, as a birthday presen
BY Mr.. Wilson.
| The manuscript of the nev
work has not been sold. 1t vii
be published on Mrs. Wilson
own account, and the demands 70
1t are said 10 be pouring in upo
the publishers in oyerwhelmin,
numbers. The manuscript o
"Vashti" was sold to the Carle
tons for $4,000. They realize
so much more than they had ex
pected from the outlay that they
after becoming more than satlsfie
with their profits. made Mrs. Wi
son a present OF the COPYRIGHT