The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1889-1889, 1889-04-27
ROCKS AND WRITER'S.


Discriminating re. dets Of the Post have
noticed recently IN that journals editorial
treatment of many matters, and especially
in the woman's department oi the Sunday
edition, style of writing wholly different
from any other, rapid in movement, bright,
strong, yet delicate, and full OF quaint
little surprises This Is the work of MIS-.
Florence Huntley, tire widow of Stanley
IIuutley, who was best known to the pub
lie, at the close OF his life few years ago,
0s the author of the famous Spoopcndyse
papers. Since her husbands death Mrs.
IIuntley has spent Der time In the North
west, most of 1t in Dakota, where she has
written for magazines and newspapers,
earning a high place among the many
American women who are making their
way with the pen.
Mr.. John A. Eea, Que of The foremost OF
the Dakota literary boomers, once wrote
the following interesting story of the origin
OF The Spoopendyke papers:
"Spoopcndyke WAS Stanley Huntley in
bis moods. He was more eccentric than
spoopendyke. Huniley was always writing,
"t..king" things, and inventing scoops.
His wife was In sympathy with him, aud
was not slow at suggestions herself. One
day he met the fifteen puzzle, and had a
time with IL that would put to shame the
most remarkable adventure that ever befe'l
the Knight of the Sorrowful Countenancc,
better known as d. Q.
"'Giye me topic for tomorrow
Eagle
"'Write up your experience with the
puzzle suggested Mrs. Huntley.
"'I'll do It,
''The next day Spoopendyke appeared n
the Brooklyn Eagle for the first time. 10
culation increased, and the Sunday S.lad,
including Spoopendyke's exploits, became
the feature of the paper"
1t has been said that Mrs. Huntley wro'e
some of the Spoopendyke sketches, but
she denies this. She wrote some OF the
bright paragraphs that went to make up
her husbands department In the Brooklyn
Eagle, but the Spoopendike papers were oil
his. She merely now aud then suggested a
subject for one.
Mrs. Huntley is very much delighted
with Washington. which she thinks is noS
only the most beautiful city in the world,
but is sure to become the centre Of che art,
and the learoing and OF the rich home life
of America.
From d. Lothrop & Co., Eostoa:
FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AND How THEY
Grow. Dy Margaret Sidney. Quarto.
Illuminated board cover, 25 cents.
A worry tratty hnnlr npt pau. btt e,nh n
book as children should read and have read
TO hem.
AMERICAN HOMES, No. A. Issued by the
Phoenix Insurance Company of Hartford,
Conn. Western aud Southern Depart
ment, Circinnati Ohio II. NJ. Magill,
general agent.
A very handsome collection of handsome
houses, handsomely presented by u hand
some general agent. Hlnd some more out,
please, to The general pablic.
From Belford, Clarke 4 Co., Chicago:
The AMERICAN VENDETTA. by T. G.
Crawford. PEPPER, 25 cents.
Tbs is an interesting sketch OF the Hat
fleld-McCoy fcud IN the "rcd brush" coun-
try of West Virginia and East Kentucky,
very fairly written for man who had been
in that country only few days.
From J. s. Ogilvie, publisher, New York;
"THAT DUTcHMAN,n or the German D,--
ber's Humorous Sketches. By Julian E.
Ralph. Paper, 10 cents A collection OF
the funny barber stories appearing in the
New York San.
IzMA; OR, SUNSHINE AND SHADOW. A
rovel 1y NJ. O-e'li Shields. Paper, 25