The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-20

The st. Nicholas 'NANOHo H. bO mil
and read mostly by children Many who
occasionally turned over the leaves Of
this magazine TO look at its beautiful
Illustrations, and noticed the pictures of
the Little Lord, did not dream that the
pages contained a literary gem: one of
those brilliant efforts that appear at in
tervals. 10 shoot far beyond their fellows
But when the story appeared in book
form and began to be read by men and
women its charm was recognized at
once Since then il has been steadily
growing in favor, and upon the produc-
ton of the play in New York has taken
a new start. and now is moro read and
more talked about than any other book
first published in America.
Mrs, Burnett is now getting 10 the
close Of her "thirties.' and may be re-
garded as nearly middle aged. She is
said 10 have the customary attendant
upon most people Of genius, eccentricity.
10 is understood that she doesn't take
kindly TO her own sex, but is especially
fond Of the society OF younger men than
herself, and avails herself of their COM
paniOnship more than any other class
Being q grass widow, she is not troubled
with the presence Of a husband, and her
position Is Independent from the large
returns from her books.
-
Mrs. Burnett israthcr short and plump
She has auburn hair and blue eyes. She
dresses in the Kate Greenaway style,
and is said 10 have attracted consider
able attention by the uniqueness Of her
costumes worn ut social gatherings.
hrs. Burnett was born in Manchester,
England, and at 10 years of age, upon
the death Of her father, came 10 Amer
lea. I'm the rear of her home in Eng
land at the end Of the yard was an alley
on which were situated homes Of work
Ing people. When o years old she saw
the face Of a young girl who she after
wards dreamed into That Lass O Lou
ries." On coming 20 America, the fam
ily went 10 Knoxville, Tenn. where an
uncle resided. The mother took farm
upon which her three sons and three
daughters lived with her and worked.
Frances, like many young girls, used TO
scriDble stories She sent a story 20
Ballou's Monthly, who accepted it, but
declined 10 pay for It. The young au-
thOrc8s declined 10 write for nothing
and recalled her story. To raise money
for the postage 10 insure is return she
gathered grapes with her sisters and en-
gagged a colored girl TO sell them in the
town. There IS a remarkable contrast
10 this pitilul resource for getting back
the manuscript of a rejected story and
the successful authores5 and playwright
receiving checks for thousands OF dol
lars. ~ II she sent her rejected story
and other manuscripts 10 Cooley & Peter
son, and az last sold her rejected story
for 53j TO Cooley. This gave her a mar
ket Tor her work.
She was married in 1878 to Doctor
Burnett, a young physician OF Knox
vile, and soon after went to England
with her husband where he studied
lie is now an oculist in Washington.
Mrs. Burnett is very young TO have
climbed to cminence by stepping on each
successive round Of the ladder, and not
by Legitimate means. One would sup
pose that she would be willing TO rest Oh
her laurels. She has certainly spent a
good deal of time upon society, by which
She has been much courted. She has
been approved by the cultured circles Of
Boston, and seems to prefer being lion
lied by BOstOnians TO any other people.
still, she works much OF her time, and
doubtless new triumphs are IN store for
her.