The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-09-18
ABOUT OLIVE LOGAN.
sketch of Her Career as Lecturer.
Author aud Playwright.


WOMAN who has built fer herself a
name and q fame, is 10 honor and re-
>pect her. But only those who have
the pleasure os a personsi aeanain-
lance can fully appreciate the nohie
daaii les of her remarkable mind and
the sympathies with struggling hu-
naanity with which her heart is con-
stsnt,y Overlooking.
She VAS born in Einira. y. Y.,Aprii
=. Is4t. When quite a child her pa
rents removed TO Cincinnati. where
she received her education. first In the
wari schools ard later in the Wes-
ieyan Female College. and in sn Eu-
gii>h school known as Miss floyd's
Finishing Academy"
Her father. Cornelius Logan, the
weit-known poet of the West. and her
sister Eliza, the celebrated tragic sc
tress, were both upon the stage.
Those who today recall the remarka-
BILE powers Of Eliza Logan, speak OF
her as the Mary Anderson of her
day."
Naturally. the younger sister, Olive,
was frequently called upon as child
TO take little parts. and as q young
lady PLAYED occasionally, principally
at the old Arch Street theater, Phila-
delphia, under Mrs. John Drew. Her
taste, however. led her to prefer the
lecture field rather than the stage, and
her remarkable success in this line of
work proved her choice Q jud;cious
one.
Olive Logan has been twice welded.
In 1857 she married Southern gentle
man, named De Lille. and went inn
mediatety to Paris, where she was
very much noticed by literary people
From Paris she wrote q series of let
tiers for the London papers. afterward
incorporated in q volume. called
Photographs of Paris Life"
Soon after it vas published she re-
ceived personal letter from the En-
press Eugene, thanking her for copy
and for writing such charming book
Her next work was q novel, entitled
Chateau Frissac;" or, Home Scenes
in France" published in London by
Smith. Elder & Co., and afterwards in
New York by Appleton.
Later she published Thoughts on
Women and Theaters, Get Thee Be
hind Me Satan" They Met by
Chance" and others. all involving
high moral ideas, among them series
Of Christmas stories which appeared
during several successive years and
had large sale.
She also wrote several plays which
were produced in New York with great
success. Among these THE Felon's
Daughter" .'Evelyne" and q drama
tization of "Armadale" are still eulo-
gized by the theater- goers of that day.
Among her later dramatic produc-
tons Is La Cigale, one of the favorite
plays of Lolita.
Her active and highly successful ca
reer as a lecturer. covering q period of
eight years. brings her almost daily
pleasant reminders in the form of per-
sonal meetings with people who lis
tened to her during that time.
No place is equal TO Washington for
meeting people from all over the
world, and have frequently stood by
her when people have been introduced
for the express purpose of telling her
of Che pleasure and profit with which
they once listened to her, one gentle
man declaring that her lecture on
Successful People" influenced his
whole life. in fact was the making of
him. She is still constantly deluged
with invitations to deliver 1.-The Amer
lean Abroad" Nice Young Men,"
Paris, City of Luxury" and others,
but while she enjoys lecturing she
breads the fatigue OF travel and pre-
fers the quiet library and the COM
panionship of her books and pen.
In Washington, however, during
the past few months she has fire.
quently delivered lectures, or given
Rotations to aid societies Her poem.
1.-The Librarian" is greatly admired
wherever heard. IS il has been in the
most cultivated circles of London,
Paris, New York and Washington.
She has just completed novelette,
understood by her friends TO be story
of Washington life.
Returning to this country imme-
diately after the breaking out of the
late civil war, Mrs. De Lille. even then
widely known as Olive Logan, stood
ready to give time, strength and the
use of other versatile talents to the
Union which she so dearly loved
Lecturing, writing, singing, wherever
the opportunity offered, to raise
money to help the Northern soldiers,
or in any way forward the success of
the Union arms. Her patriotic poems,
upholding the power OF the stars and
stripes, are among the finest produced
at that time.
In 1872 she was married i'm New
York TO William Writ Sykes, a cele-
brated author (Robert Collyer officiat-
ing). and upon his appointment, IN
1876, as consul TO Cardiff. Wales, &C
companied him To his post, where
they remained until his death in 1888.
Mrs. Sykes turned with renewed
vigor 10 her literary work, seeking
relief from sorrow in the labor she
loved so well.
She continued to be a copious con-
tributor to the American, French and
English press, producing poem, novel.
essay, drama and correspondence
with equal facility. Her poetic
dramatic idyl. The Stroller" was
produced last year at the Princess
theater, London. with great success.
Olive Logan has received kindly
words from two empresses-first,
from the Empress Eugene, and later
from the Empress Frederic. of Ger
many. who, at a private presentation,
held out her hand, saying: as this
really Olive Logan" adding a pretty
compliment. She has had frequent
presentations 10 royalty, ana mas al
WAYS been treated with the highest
distinction.
Although making London her home
thaving two sons engaged upon the
London pressl, Olive Logan crosses
the ocean about every other year 10
visit her native land, and not only
feels but expresses the same warm
interest in American literature and
politics g. of old. She is an ardent
Republican. and her pen is ever ready
to advance the interests of this party
In recent interview with Secretary
Blaine, pointing To the women jour
ualists by whom she was accom-
panied: "Our sex debars us from
vUting for our party. but the types are
exieSs
"Ahl Mrs. Logan" responded the
statesman. Il notice that when you
use the types, you infuse q great deal
OF masculine strength into them.
Olive Logan does not forget the pa
tent struggles which we're necessary
To achieve the name and fame which
are now hers, and she never loses an
opportunity to- encourage and assist
any one, especially any woman, who
has a m ara, hfttlss tn engage IN literary