Wichita eagle., 1889-11-08
Daily r as1e
AUTHORS SOCIAL HOURS.
GOSSIP ABOUT THOSE WHO WRITE
FOR THE PUBLIC.

Samuel Woodwork - william Gilmore
simms--Paul Hamilton Hayne-Joaquin
Miller Mile w. Carpenter Charles
Warren Stoddard-AIrs. e. v. Battey.
Especial Correspondence
AUGUSTA, Ga, Oct. S2-When was quite
child. MIR. Samuel Woodwork, of New
York, editor of The Youths Cabinet. spent
several days at my fathers He seemed a
great man to me because he edited The Cabi-
net, then about the only monthly magazine
Issued exclusively for the entertainment of
children Mr.. Woodwork was frail, spare
man, rather reticent and melancholy, but ell
that fitted in with my youthful ideas of the
Immense work and responsibility Of an edi-
tor. L had imagined that that august and
mysterious dfgnitary made the whole maya
zine, wrote all the articles, drew the pictures,
printed the whole thing, seved on the covers
and mailed them with his OWL hands. When
learned that he was the author also of the
famous ballad ''The Old Oaken Bucket" of
late years introduced with such touching
effect in Denman Thompson's "Old Home
stead" my admiration for so many sided
and marvellous a creature became limitless
The next great man TO come within my
home circle was William Gilmore Simms.
He had been expected for days and the young
people of the household had caught each other
several times in the library poring over ''The
Scout, - katharine Walton" and other nov
els Of his-books that had been read over and
over again with unbounded pleasure. We
thought that, of course, Mr.. Simns would
want to talk about his books, and we desired
to show our thorough acquaintance with the
charming personages of his creation. But
when he "ore, rough, loud voiced, shaggy as
to hal card and eyebrows with eyes that
lived and intimidated, his manner master
fui and overpowering we found it quite i'm
possible, we younger ones, to talk to him at
all, much less to indulge in friendly Chats
with him about his heroes and heroineS.
He conversed grandly, with striking origi-
nality and splendid force, and doubtless his
visit was as much of a treat as it was an
honor to the heads of the horde. An illustra-
ton Will show his robust methods He was
approached gently and somewhat timidly by
lady guest in the house, a woman of refine
ment and culture, much reduced in her means
by the war, which had just ended. Mr.
Simms, she said, what are we poor south
ern women to do in this great crisis OF loss
and ruinf How are we TO 60 to work and
make living for ourselves"
Madam" he replied to the fragile little
widow, "a woman, southern or any other
kind, who has reached the age of 20, 80, or
40 years without knowing what she is fit for,
deserves to die, go to hell and be damned for
everT Indignation flashed into the lady's
dark eyes, but she made no answer, and has,
for over twenty years, made such a fine
record as journalist on The New York Sun
as to prove that her appeal to Mr.. Simms
was superfuous, as she knew what she was
fit for" and has done her work with cour-
age, talent and fidelity.
Then came Paul Hamilton Hayne the
most beautiful man, the rarest genius, the
sweetest spirit in the world. He was loved
guest of ours for several months-''an angel"
entertained, not "unawares" for we all
loved him from the FIRST listened with rapt
attention to his matchess conversation, treas
ured the golden hours when he would read
aloud to US in voice Of perfect melody, and
priced above all things the poems that he
would write on old scraps Of paper and on
the fly leaves of books. One of his sweetest
poems, 1.-The Nymph Who Dwells In the Lau-
rel Tall" was written in pencil on the last
blank leaf of a novel by Shirley Brooks
called 1.-THE Silver Cord" and was after
wards printed from that very slip in SCOTS
Magazine, first class monthly published in
Atlanta, Ga.
Mr. Hayne was slender, with small hands
and feet, delicate features, brown hair and
soft luminous brown eyes. He was the very
spirit incarnate of sweetness and gentleness
He was singularly unworthy guileless him
self he never looked for it in others lie was
almost devoid of humor in its broadest sense,
and rarely joked or laughed at the jokes of
others He was patrician in every feeling Of
his heart, and his manner was always marked
by the most engaging and charming cour-
tesy. At the time / write of he was tempo
rarily separated from his wife and only son,
to both of whom he was passionately de-
voted. He is canonized in his wife's loving
heart, and his son, William h Hayne, has
demonstrated, in his literary life, that he is
the son, not only of the dear poets body, but |
the offspring also of his beautiful mind.
Many will remember the delightful recep- |
lions held ten or twelve years ago in New
York by Mrs. Esther Greeley Cleveland, SIS |
ter Of Horace Greeley. She Yves assisted in |
these Tuesday afternoon receptions by her |
two daughters, Cecilia author Of "The Story !
of Summer and Margaret and her stately |
and beautiful niece, Gabrielle Greeley. Be- |
ing ushered in there one afternoon, my at
tention was riveted on blonde, outre hand |
some man who was seated on the floor ''tailor
fashion" reciting poetry in a low, caressing
voice 10 Cecilia Cleveland, who sat near him !
in a deep armchair Ii was told that it was
Joaquin Miller. / had read his glorious DO
aY,S and ouita recently had read his spinl-
Countess novel OF power but carelessly |
written, and was glad TO meet the poet of the .
Sierras
He had lately returned from England I
where he had been much admired and enter
tanned and was quite a social lion In New
York. He went out great deal, not only to
fashionable houses, but to clubs and small |
meetings of literary and artistic people.
he was, at this tine, untrammeled by domes-
tic ties. His former wife, poor minnie |
Myrtle" had just been married 'oYt west to
q man much younger than herself Mr.. /
Miller was said to live in very fluctuating
fashion, one week in cheap lodgings on
Fourth avenue or some equally poor neigh
borhood, the next in Gramercy Park hotel,
the Coleman or Sturtevant.
Wherever he was ne surrounded himself
with his dearly loved rugs of wild animal
skins and other treasures culled from bis saw
age life in the west, and, am sure, in the
most sumptuous suite Of hotel quarters, as
well as in the poorest lodging. he cherished
in his loyal heart the love for nature, the
longing for the strength and calm of the ever
lasting hills that made his poems-particu
larly the one called ''Homesick"-so thrill
ingly beautiful He was asked 10 dine with