Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-06

thing gons uaf the slender gold chain about
his throat which held the locket containing
the picture Of bis beautiful mother. Even
the sayayes, woo drained his life blood with
their assegai ,hrusss. had spared that.
Mrs. Mary E Bryan Is known and loved
not ouly in the SOUTH where her own people
take an aifectioaat- pride in her, but Is .
writer Of more than national reputation She
Is usually spoken Of as novelist and poet,
but doubt ii there Is any kind of literary
work that she has not done, and done with
finished s.iIl Her novels are highly ORA
matte and absorbing, her poems deep and
pure, her criticisms the discriminating iruit
Of wide eulture-all that she does Is OF the
highest ortier Size Is \ small woalan, grace
full and quick in her1nsyesnegits. ner hair IS
dark and abundant: her eyes are the glory
and light Of her couulenance. full OF depth
and passlou Al one time she wrote almost
an entire weekly paper; editorials on art,
science, literature, popular reforms, spicy
fashion letters, book reviews, poems, CORE
spondence, short stories, long serials, besides
putting into readable English much contrib
utsd matter.
She also corrected proof, wrapped with
her own hands and addressed a greater Por-
ton Of subscribers list on mailing day, aud
attended to much Of the large business CORE
spondeuce Of the paper. In addition TO this
she went out a good deal into society, rarely
denied herself to friends " no called, recited
often at entertainments for charitable OBJ
jects, kept house and reired TO honorable
manhood and wonannooj several children!
Those VINO knew her in her hard worked and
poorly paid days rejoice at the recognition,
some y hat tardy, that she has found in her
present. engagement with Munro, OF New
York, where she edits The Fireside Weekly
and The Fashion Bazaar. After many days
tins aspiring and unquenchable woman Of
genius has reached the tableland Of just 70
ward, and has come, happily, into her right
full possession of honor and ease.
"Betsey Hamilton whose negro and
cracker stories and sketches have enriched
Harpers publications, The Atlanta Colstitu-
ton, Sunny South and other papers, is Mrs
Idora u. Plowman, formerly OF Alabama,
now Of Atlanta Ga. believe that she was
driven TO literary work as a distraction, for
her Life has been Swallowed by great trag-
edy. Her husband, gifted and promising
Young lawyer, was killec in his office by Il
man whom he had helped and defended, and
whose wrong was wholly fancied. Mrs
world, as she has large family circle who
love her and are proud Of her. Her charac-
ter sketches from the rural parts of Ala
bama are equal to Craddock's delineations
Ct the mountain people Of Tennessee, Joel
Chandler Harris moonshiner stories and
the work Of all other masters of that style Of
writing Her negro sketches and sermons
are wonderfully good and have won for her
. wide circle of readers 1t is, however, in
her approximations that she is seen at her
best, when, in cracker" dress, with spin
ming wheel and pipe, she sits down and reels
of at the same time her cotton and other
yarns" She is a born actress, and her per
sonations are marvelously accurate and life
like Personally she is attractive. She is
youthful looking, fresh and fair, with high
color, merry eyes and a ready smile. Despite
the cloud that must have darkened her inner
most heart for all time, she is an element Of
help and cheer and comfort wherever she
goes. MEL R. CoLQUIrr.