The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1888-02-11
Mrs. E. j. Nicholson cpearl Riversy.

handsome and deserved presentation OF
Mrs. E. J. Nicholson, joint proprietor of
the old and popular New Orleans Plea
yune. Both as worker and writer, Mrs,
Nicholson has been power, not only
in the progress OF this celebrated news
paper, but her intelligence, and pure
brave womanhood has shed light upon
thousands of our southern homes. We
take pleasure in presenting her exem-
nlarv character taken from Frank Les-
lies illustrated Newspaper, not only
for her sake and for truths, but be-
cause she has relatives in Grenada who
dearly love her for her many sterling
feminine virtues, her rare talents and
her practical usefulness. In connection
with the article below, Frank Leslie's
illustrated Newspaper also publishes a
well executed likeness OF Mrs. Nicholson:
A visitor to the editorial rooms of the New
Orleans Pcayune, one of the Oldest end most
influential of the great newspapers of the
South, will probably come in upon aslender,
soft-voiced little woman, who viii instantly
turn from her task to give pleasant greeting
and make the new conner sure of "A welcome
1t often ppens that such a visitor chats
with the little lady in the big char, is ems
chanted by her gentle conversation and frolc-
4 some wit, and finally goes away pleased, but
Il all unconscious that she who entertained him
is the present owner and director of the
paper-Eliza j. Nicholson,
4 Mrs. Nicholson, who is a young woman, be-
ing vet in tho thirties occupies nn unusual
h position in the world of journalism. She is
perhaps the only woman in the world who is
a at tn head of q great daily political newsp0-
n per shaping It's course, suagesi ing its enter
y prises and actually holding in her slender
" hands the reins of its government The
d pcayune was the bequest to Mrs. Nicholson
i of her late husband, Col. A. NJ. Holbrook. 1t
4 has now been under her management for
Il more than ten years. By the exercise of
pluck, patience, and that fine, unconscious
courage to which genius should always be
mated, she has lifted the paper from slough
4 Of debt and disaster TO is present standing
among the good and able newspapers of the
ountry.
Mrs Nicholson was Eliza j. Poitevent,
Z born of u fine old Huguenot family, whose
Il descendants settled in Mississippi. Her child
\ hood and girl life were spent in rambling
A old country house near the brown waters OF
Pearl river She was the only child on the
place; q lonesome child with the heart Of
poet, and she took to the beautiful southern
woods, and made them her sanctuary. Being
born poet, 1t was not long before she found
her voice and began to sihg, in a shriil, sweet
falcon voice, tie fairy stories OF the WoodS
These songs reached out into the world, and
the gray heads of Other poets Were bent to
a listen. She became a constant contributor
the New York Home Journal and other
papers of equally high stan ling, and the
III name OF "Pearl Rivers"-the ,tler name Of
M the editor and proprietor ottle Picayulpe-iS
home that is held dear and cherished by those
#who have read her exquisite verse, she is
III he poet-laureate of tle bird and tower
Efyord of the South. Her poems and fantasies
|&lbout the birds and flowers and otherf small
&tolk of the pine scented Mississippi wood
a lands are the very airy ephemera and cob
#webs of poetic thought-so dainty, they
#mieht have been etched with n thorn on the
Xpetal of dog.rose bloom,
N 'Pearl Rivers" first published article was
&ccepted by Mr. John W. Overall NOW editor
Mi the New York Mercury, and from whom
M he received the confirmation of her own
#hope that she was born TO be o writer. While
kt,ll living in the country the free, luxurious
2R ife of the daughter Of q wealthy Southern
gentleman, Miss Poitevent, or "Peari Rivers"
Has every one now calls her, received an invi-
#ation from the editor Of the Picayune to
zcome to New Orleans as the literary editor OF
<Ihis paper a newspaper woman was then
Eunhea.G Of in the South, and it is pleasant to
#know that the foremost woman editor of the
MSouth was also the pioneer Woman journalist
*of the South.
II Miss Poitevent fwent on the staff of the
Pcayune with n salary of s2j Ia week. The
work suited her, and she the work, and sho
Hound herself possessed of that rare faculty in
women-thc journalistic faculty. After q
Htime Pearl Rivers" married Eol. A, NJ. Hol.
brook, the owner Of the Picayune. When he
.lied she found herself with nothing in the
world but u big, unwieldy newspaper. almost
wamped in q sea of debt. The idea of turn
Il ng her back on this newdutS did not occur to
Il HE new owner. She gathered about her q
brilliant staff of writers. weiht faithfully and
&batiently to her ''desk's deadwood," t" worked
arly and late, was both bnterprising, and
After years of struggle.won her battle and
khade her paper n foremost power in the
Mouth, yielding her a handsome, steady in
E4ome. To those in her employ she is always
xkind and courteous, and her staff honor and
esteem her, and work foF her with enthu-
[n)asm.
I'm 1878 "Pearl Rivers married Mr. George
Nicholson, then business mipnager of the pa
Ser. and now part proprietor. In their hos.
Sitable home the gentle poets proudest
2oems-her two boys Leo4ard and Ycrke-
brighten and gladden. the peaceful days.
Rivers" has published but one vol
xme of poems--"lyrics, BY Pearl Rivers, -
Eought out by J. b. Lippintott Brothers. In
LIS book is some other most charming work,
{&hich caused Panl II. Hayne TO write her
om his home In Georgia. "Iour own
XWeet poems genuine lyrics indeedl
hive pertlsed with real pleasure, and regret
understand that you have almost given up
friting."
bne oil g earl Riverss" mcast scholarly crit
4, Dr. w. II. Holcombe, writes as follows in
6review of her Lyrics: "Thle most striking
Characteristic Of this poet is her subtle and
&hereal personification ofnhtural forms and
Fces investing them with human thoughts
hd passions, and thus spifNtuai2ing, as 1t
Ere, the whole world around us. This is the
ghest Office of poetry, and distinguishes the
hume seer from the Wor4d-painter and
aupt n. III A.