Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-05-27
BOHEMIAN QUEENS.
women writers who Early Rose to
Prominence ON the Press.

Prominence ON the Press.
Some two weeks ago the accomplished
editress Of the Woman's Department Of
this paper, in speaking of "Miss
Grundy," said that the latter's experience
in rising to prominence was phenomenal.
"Miss Grundy," at the time of her
sudden entrance upon Fame's vantage
ground, became only one OF the notable
women who had congregated at WASH
ington, the place then offering the best
opportunities for their advancement in
journalism. If the success Of one was
phenomenal, SO was the success OF each
and all Of the dozen women who de-
cade and a half ago had made themselves
known and felt in the bright galaxy of
writer's at the National capital.
"Miss Grundy" miss Austen Sneed>
made her reputation, not on the World,
but as the Washington correspondent OF
the New York Graphic. Miss Sneed en-
joys the honor of having created special
and original department OF literature.
She was sparkling correspondent, and
her letters, richly and delicately seasoned
with the spice of life, displayed master
hand. Miss Sneed was born in Ken
lucky and was connOissetV in horsefiesh.
Her information was 30 extensive in this
direction that it was generally acknowl-
edged that she was the best writer on
blooded stock in this country. But the
faculty divine was given Miss Sneed
as birthright. "Fay," the mother Of
Miss Sneed had before her daughters
time earned well-deserved reputation as
.....S.e,,, ,a-a,k1a x,ritar 10 I raaa11
her she was most earnest, vivacious
woman, in appearance extremely youth
ful-looking younger even than her
daughter. ..
The other women, who came into
notice with "Miss Grundy" in the
decade of lS70-sO were Mary C,emmer
(now dead, Marie LIE Baron, Mary A.
Foster. Anna Hustled, Mary James,
"Olivia" dead, l think, Mrs. Ems
worth, Helen M. Barnard and Mrs. j. A..
Holmes.
Mary Clemmer (Ames) occupied high
rank in general literature, and she was
universally known through her pthy and
able letters to the New York Independent
and Cincinnati Commercial, with which
two papers she was permanently con-
nected. She was tall, elegantly formed
woman, with dark ha'r and deep, hazel
eyes. She was agreeable and self-pos-
sessed and a charming and bright con-
versationist.
Marie LIE Baron, the sweet lyric singer,
now in Philadelphia and older
grown, was in the years flown a
marvellous compound of perfect nerv-
GUS organization and genius. Her
poetry is characterized by warmth,
delicacy OF sentiment and power. In
person she is the reflex OF her poems
golden haired, dainty, with pure
Grecian profile and wondrous, luminous
grav-blue eyes. Her prose writings are
terse and brilliant-,feuiuetons say--fol
she has dash of French blood in hei
veins. .-s..
Mary A. Foster is still in Washington
| believe Her work is graceful and re-
fined. She is of Mexican parentage
petite, nervous and dark, with the ex
pressive, magnificent eyes of the Gas
tilian, As a Spanish scholar she is sale
to stand unrivaled.
"Olivia" Mrs. Briggs made money
with her pen and was wealthy. She al
ways had a newspaper fight on hand anC
was one OF those women of brains wh(
thought that they were not fully appre
ciated.
Mrs. J. A. Holmes, widely know
through her novels, is still in Washing
ton. She is a gentle lady with fine
womanly attributes. Perhaps her full
share OF honor is withheld from her
In the old days, when l knew her, sh
was employed in the Bureau of Educa
ton and was one OF the most competen
of the staff of that important department
Helen NJ. Barnard was, and is, rega
woman, earnest, thoughtful and pro
found. Her forte was politics, in whicl
she displayed extraordinary sagacity
| She is now a staid married woman, re
sides in New York City, and is editing
! special monthly journal.
The three remaining names which fol
low complete the dozen women contem
porary with "Miss Grundy;" )" but l hav
lost track ofthem, orr at least, cannc
recall their whereabouts atthis momentt
writing, ..ii-sg ]. s5iadlIt gli1, -iha
Anna Husted was d. sketehy, brigh
and humorous writer-rather a3idresse
of news and gossip than adwriter. Q Sh
, lashed men lapd things with q shar
tongue, and in Newspaper Row she we
known as Z. Becky Sharp She was (
! medium stature, fine featured, with eols
| gray eyes, fair brown lkair and an q,
3 pressiye mouth hu4msb g1in1s9i edi ibg,f
Mary James. tbs. co4ssp9 pdent OF sth
f2aHHIa nd 1Go eog!
J featured Young woman, but O. bright az
: powerful Writer. She was, one Of .tbot
3 remarkable women who, Instead OF tai
: ing the rights admitted them, saggre
/, sively demand them. 4, rat'',g VI sIjf,
!. Mrs. Ellsworth, the correspondent
, the Burlington Archire, was a saut
brunette and Hourished saucy pei
4 She was a woman OF great capabiliti