The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-16
EHE DoINGs OF WOMEN FOLK.
Notes of Notable Ladies - Gleanings il
Scattered Fields.

Notes of Notable Ladies - Gleanings in
Scatter ed Fields.
NFw YORK, April 14-Harriet Beecher
Stowe is failing, not physically, but
mentally. Her closest friends do not con-
ceal the fact from themselves. Her general
health is excellent, better than at any time
since Prof. Stoves death probably, but her
memory grows daily more treacherous. A
year ago a report to this effect was circu-
lated and at once Indignantly denied. At
that time those who were with Mrs. Stowe
daily were confident that she had every
whit the intellectual vigor she had ever
had. More recently and especially within
! few weeks past they have noted a change.
Mrs. Stowe is much of the time her old self,
conversing on all topics in which she is
interested with great intelligence and
fiuency. But there are intervals, not in
frequent during which she forgetS the
names of friends, loses track of her own
business concerns and cannot speak accu-
rately of the events of the past In some of
I these forgetful intervals she has denied all
acquaintance with people whom she is
known to delight to honor and occasloned
no little temporary embarrassment thereby.
Her condition is not like what Emerson's
became in the days when he asked question
three times over in ten minutes and could
not remember the fact that it had been
three times answered, but it is increasingly
evident that the author of "Uncle Toms
Cabin" will write no more. 1t is another of
the melancholy cases of decay at the top
first.
The authorized biography of Mrs Stowe
will be written by FlOrine Thayer McCray,
whose house is not far from Mrs. Stoves
in Hartford far
ance novel, Environment" won such
hearty encomiums from that author. Mrs
McCray has known Mrs. Stowe intimately
for years, and will speak with the discrim-
mating Intelligence which comes from such
acquaintance. Much of the material which
she will use has been furnished by Mrs.
Stoves son and daughters, who are lending
her all the help they can In the work. Mrs
McCray was in New York recently doing
her spring shopping" task which she ac-
complished with such hearty enthusiasm as
to afford another illustration of the truth
that literary woman may be quite the re-
verse of a blue stocking.
Frank Leslie defined her attitude ON the
woman suffrage question the other day: 81
attended ball at the American Legation
in Paris once" she said, lat which DR.. Mary
Walker appeared in starched shirt and
pants and with the American flag draped
about her. That was woman suffrage
enough for me. But since that time | have
learned to respect the movements in Eng
land by very heartily respecting the lovely
women engaged in it there. Why some Of
them are Duchesses and people of very high
standing. Then last Of all | met Mrs
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and it is fact she
almost converted me. No, ! don't know
that | want to vote, and yet at heart | sup
pose | believe in it, too"
Mrs. Alice Freeman Palmer, ex-President
of Wellesley College, has been spending
few days in the city. Mrs. Palmer looks in
thoroughly good health and buoyant spirits
since her marriage, not at all as if she re-
pented abdicating the chair of the Princess
Ida for her firesde seat in Prof Palmer's
home. She seems, indeed, the very embodi-
ment of sound mind in a sound body, with
her erect, rather stately young figure,
serene brown eyes, dark hair and fresh
coloring. Prof Palmer is very quiet
gentleman, who seems to be proud of his
wife. Mrs Palmer does not propose to drop
educational work altogether, and would be
glad to promote plan for college com
mission which should take in representa-
tives of Vassar, Smith, Bryn Mawr and
Wellesley Colleges, who should formulate
scheme for united work in raising the stand
ard and obtaining progressively better
students for the womens colleges.
A fragile-looking woman, tall, slight,
with a graceful, yielding, willowy figure,
shadows under her eyes, and ghosts looking
out of her eyes, attracted some little atteh-
ton, standing in front Of glowing mass of
dark pansies in a florists window a day or
two since None Of the passers had ever
see1ssuite such an embodiment OF the
pail the wistful, the spirituelle. Every
body turned to look second time at the
large eyes. the sad curves Cf the face, the
melancholy mouth that looked as If, should
il smile, it would light up the whole counte-
nance gloriously. BY and by it did smile,
and cordially, at little child who ran up to
look at the pansies too. The woman was
beautiful. Nobody recognized the quiet
figure, but it was that Of a writer whose
name is signed to some of the strongest
verse Of the day. Edith Thomas, who has
recently come to New York to make the
city her permanent home. Her sister, who
would be like her if she we're not of moro
rugged, vigorC us build, accompanies her.
and the two are often seen together in the
park, where they have something of fancy
for the monkey cages, and in morning
walks on the quieter side streets. Miss
Thomas has spent much of her life In the
West, but finds cordial welcome from the
literary set here, who have long recognized
her as one Of the few genuine poets Of the
day.
Florence Kelley wischnewtsy, the daugh-