The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-13
4 yIRGINIAN AUTHORIZES.

The author of Throckmorton is the
subject of the following graphic sketch
by Mr.. Murat Hastead: Miss Molly
Elliott Seawell whose novel Throck-
morton is about TO be published by u.
Appleton q Co. is young lady now
living in Washington city. She is "a
niece of ex-President Tyler, and her
father wasa lawyer of distinction in
Virginia. Although now living in the
whirl of great capital, Miss Seawell is
proud of being country-born and coun-
try bred, and looks back with pleasure
10 her childhood spent in the peaceful
provincial life of Virginia country
neighborhood.
Tier first dash in literature was in
Lippincott's Magazine, to which she
contributed number of Russian stories.
In 1895 Maid Marion appeared in Lip
pincOtt &. and was great success, ne
cessitating an extra edition OF the maya
zine: and she was asked by the editor TO
write him a complete novel, and Hale
Weston was the result. Ii was very
well received, and she had highly flat
terlng letters from literary people slim
ulating her ambition. She soon com
pleled a novel, The Berkeleys aud their
Neighbors. The Berkeleys was reco-
gnized as something remarkable for its
force and naturalness, aud the review
ers had many pleasant things to say.
Miss Seawell's latest success is the
taking of the five-hundred dollar prize
offered by the Youths Companion OF
Boston, with her story, Little Jarvis
(which will be published in the au-
tumn by ID. Appleton & Co.. She is an
occasional contributor to magazines OF
short stories and articles which are dis
tingulshed by a sparkling quality of
style and much delicate humor.
IL may be- Of interest to German
readers to know that this young lady
is a near and direct descendant Of a
German family. the Armisteads. who
came from Hesse-Darmstadt, and who
named their estate in Virginia Hesse,
in affectionate remembrance of the
fatherland. This family has tradi-
tional reputation for brains, aud their
descendants, especially through the
female line. show an extraordinary
number of distinguished men. Among
them may be mentioned Gen. Robert
T.. Lee. the general-in-chief of the
Southern army during the American
civil war, and John Tyler, ex-fresident
of the United States.
la Wises Seven Decades Of the
Union it is said Ut the Armisteads:
The daughters OF this family have
deem strikingiy remarkable for their
strength Of character aud beauty of per-
son. auC the CONTIGUOUS line of their
male descendants has marked the name
of hero after hero on the tablet OF their
countrys history. They were emf
neutly strong, yet pure, refined, chaste
delicate, and modest, given to house
hold cares, frugal, practical. and COM
uelled 10 be heedful OF the life and It's
events around them.
The merit most characteristic and
highly priced in the writings Of Miss
Seawell is the truth to life of her pen.
paintings of Virginia and tho Virgin
ians. especially those places that ar:
marked under the revolutionary
changes Of the war that broke up ths
old ways. and infused so much thai
was peculiar in current and pathetic il
ancient association.
Miss Seawell is true Southern wo
man-tall. graceful and gracious, ami
mated and handsome-and her piquan
personality and sweet and charming
geDtleness, added TO her literary repu
tstion and social accomplishments, Civ
her a warm welcome among the man,
who value her friendship Murat Hal
stead,