Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-02-15

| 70 congress OF pny sIcians that had assem-
| bled in that city. MIR. Forbes was at that
| time man OF strong physique and youthful
| appearance His face, though not handsome,
| was so resolute and intrepid as to attract at
| tention anywhere. There was so much force
aud courage ia the man that it showed in
every line of his couutenance He wore
many handsome, glitterinS, foreign decora-
tions on the left breast Of bis evening coat, as
was suitable at q ceremonious and pubic re-
ception. He converseG in quiet, repressed
voice, with marked briliancy and epigram-
| maticverve, and his words made a lasting inn
| preston on ell who were fortunate enough to
talk with him.
remember his reply, in answer to ques-
ton Of mine concerning beautiful and dis
tinguished Georgia woman who had married
ali English marquis: SIS she happy? OF
course, because she is loved The women who
love, my dear madam, are doomed to unhap-
piness 1t is the Indifferent woman, who
takes but does not give, who is happy"
During his stay in Atlanta he delivered O
lecture before the Young Mems Library as
ISOLATION. His audience was small, but that
fact had no influence on the interest of the
speaker. 1t was the best lecture ever heard,
and 1 have heard many. His style was simple
enchantment-so facile, so full OF anecdote,
Of glowing description, of fire and shot and
shell. He told of forced rides of almost in
credible distances and swiftness taken alone
through hostile countries, through darkness
and storm and gloom-all to reach the little
point of wire that would send the news Of
some great battle flashing around the world.
And oh! the touching, heartrending ac-
count Of the death, in Zulu land, Of the noble
and idoliZed young Prince Imperial How
his face softened and his voice trembled as he
told of the dear. dead boy lying SO far away
from the land where he was ''born to the
purple" and his adoring mother. What a
picture. The stark figure cruelty cut to
death, robbed even of his clothing-every-
thing gone but the slender gold chain about
his throat which held the locket containing
the picture of his beautiful mother. Even
the savages, who drained his life blood with
their assegai thrusts had spared that.
Mrs. Mary E. Bryan is known and LOVED
not only in the south, where her own people
take an affectionate pride in her, but is a
writer of more than national reputation. She
is usually spoken Of as novelist and poet,
but doubt if there is any kind OF literary
work that she has not done, and done with
finished skill. Her novels arc highly dra
matte and absorbing, her poems deep and
pure, her criticisms the discriminating fruit
of wide culture-au that she does is of the
highest order. She is small woman, grace
full and quick in her movements; her hair il
dark and abundant; her eyes are the glory
and light of her countenonce, full of depth
and passion. AT 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
uted matter
She also corrected proof, wrapped with
her own hands and addressed greater por-
ton Of subscribers list on mailing day, and
attended to much of the large business CORE
spondence OF the paper. La addition 20 this
she went out good deal into society, rarely
denied herself to friends who called, recited
often at entertainments for charitable OBJ
jects, kept house and reared to honorable
manhood and womanhood several children!
Those who knew her in her hard worked and
poorly paid days rejoice at the recognition,
somewhat 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
this aspiring and unquenchable woman of
genius has reached'the tableland Of just re-
ward, and has come, happily, into her right
full possession of honor and ease.
'Betsey Hamilton" whose negro and
''cracker" stories and sketches haEeenriched
Harper's publications, The Atlanta Constitu-
ton, Sunny South and other papers. is Mrs.
Idora H. Plowmou, formerly of Alabama,
now OF Atlanta, GA. l 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 killed in his Office by
man whom he had helped and defended, and
whose wrong was wholly fancied. Mrs
Plowman is childless, though not alone in the
world, as she has a largo 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
cf the mountain people of Tennessee, Joel
Chandler Harris moonshiner stories and
the work of ell other masters of that style of
writing. Her negro sketches and sermons
are wonderfully good and have won for her
a wide circle of readers. 1t is, however, in 4!
lei AHpei SoNStdNuS thht SIG Is seen az IlST
best. when, in CRACKER dress. with sAn- |
ming wheel and pipe, she sits down and reels
off at the same time her cotton and other
yarns" She is born actress, and her per- |
are marvelously accurate and life |
ike. Personally she is attractive. She is
youthful looking fresh and fair, with high |
color, merry eyes and ready smile. Despite !
The cloud that must have darkened her inner /
most heart for all tine, she is an element of |
leip and cheer and comfort wherever she |
goes. MEL r. COLQUnT.