The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-04
MISTRESSES OF THE PEN,
ANNIE ISABEL WILLIS WRITES OF
SOME WOMEN WRITERS.
Mary Virginia Terhune (01ariOn Harland1,
Olive Thorne Miller. Mary Mapes Dodge,
Lillian Whiting and SaIlie Joy White.
Their Work and Methods.
Copyright, 1901

Prominent among the circle of New
York women who are active with the
pen is Mrs. Mary V. II. Terhune. This
name viii probably convey no idea to
thousands who read it, and were not two
magic words added many would confess
that they had never heard Of her. The
words are Marion Harland," and at
their appearance puzzled faces become
clear again, for this woman is house.
hold friend to countless members of her
sex who have never seen her. She is
well known to novel readers by some
! dozen or more works of fiction. and in
later years to young housekeepers, to
whom her sensible works on culinary
matters have been godsends. She has
won her latest success as editor of The
| Home Maker, now well established, and
is as busy woman as can be found.
Much of her editorial work is done at
| her home in Brooklyn, and such is the
we'll ordered routine of her daily work
that she says she can get through with
| the days preliminaries of rising, break
fast, prayers and giving orders and have
! llCl llOuOCl1Olb III lOl4iIll4S OIuC1y Will
! the whole days work arranged, by half
! past s. Then she is ready to sit down to
| her desk. Mrs. Terhune is the wife of a
| Brooklyn clergyman. She is a tall wo-
man, of digniied presence, strong face
and gracious manners.
Another Brooklyn writer who does
not need to leave her pretty home to at
! - =
Thorne Miller. She has specially, and
! unique one-descriptions of birds and
! their habits. Some of her books are
'Brd Ways" and "In Nesting Time"
1t is not necessary for Mrs. Miller to 90
| out into woods and fields and country
| byways to observe the pets of which she
writes. 1t was very well for Thoreau TO
live in the woods, and Mr.. John Bur
roughs may and does find it convenient
to lurk about slyly to surprise the shy
inhabitants of tree and nest, but Mrs.
Miller, being a woman-and moreover a
woman with family-cOuld not do that,
so she wisely contrived to bring the birds
! indoors.
She has a room fitted up exclusively
| for her pets, and never were birds better
| cared for, according TO all accounts.
| Here she can observe and train and eX-
/ pertinent. The results of her observa-
tons are jotted down in blank books, of
which there is one for each bird, in
! scribed with it's name. Her articles on
| this subject are seen in all the leading
magazines, though she does not confne
herself to her speciality.
She has recently been engaged on a
series Of papers called 1.-The Daughter at
| Home" She is well fitted to write on
such a subject. for she has brought up
daughters of her own. A total stranger
would suspect it, for Mrs. Miller has
very motherly air, and her pleasant face
and kindly smile would indicate that she
is an ideal mother.
Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge is dear to the
hearts of all children because of her popu-
lar books, Hans Brinker" and Donald
and Dorothy" and by her work as editor
of st. Nicholas, not to speak of her lovely
poems for young and old. She is a liv-
ing proof of the efficacy of her formula
for successful literary work. She says:
1.-The only way to succeed as a writer is
to produce good literature" She is one
of the busiest women imaginable, for al
most countless manuscripts fall to her
share to be examined, and that is not all
Of an editors work by any means. Mrs.
Dodge is a somewhat stout woman, of
middle age, with a still young face and
cordial manner.
Miss Lillian Whiting, of The Boston
Traveller, has been called somewhere
"the most popular newspaper correspon-
dent who dates her letters from Bos-
ton" Now, Boston is full of bright
newspaper women, whose ideas fairly
make the columns of their respective pa
pers sparkle, so this statement may not
still be true. Be that as it may, Miss
Whiting is a deserved favorite. She has
for some years had charge of the literary
department of The Traveller, and is es-
pecially liked by its readers because of
her work in that department. She is
the author of many beautiful poems,
and is a hard worker, remaining closely
at her desk in The Traveller Office. Miss
Whiting is so kindly disposed toward
her fellow workerS-whether their rank
as writer's be high or low-that she has
many friends, as her receptions at the
hotel where she lives abundantlv testify.
Mrs. Sallie JOY White is another wei
known Boston writer, who does news
paper and magazine work. A year or
two ago there was an article in Wide
Awake which told Of an amusing Incl
dent when the writer. clerk In Q public
library, had unwittingly given a copy of
Little Women Gust OUT to Miss Al
colt, and when the latter refused 1t with
assumed disgust, had Indignantly defend
ed the book, only 10 learn later that she
had been scolding the author. The little
tale was attractiveiy told and was signed
''Salhe Joy White" / pictured her as a
young woman with the usual vague fe2-
lures we are prone to give to unseen per-
sonaSes. and always thereafter read any
thing Of hers with great interest Re
Gently had AZ opportunity Of meeting
the unknown" and found that she was
middle aged woman, OF good height,
with figure inclined 10 plumpness, 4
strong. searching look, = brisk air and a
clear, ringing voice.
She has been for twenty years IN news
paper work and other writing, and has
been connected with three Boston papers
The Post, Tie Advertiser, and, LASTLY,
The Herald. or who's staff she nos Is.
Mrs White has dark hair and eyes and
looks On the ord through = pair Of eve
glasses. She = enthusiastic n az thing
she undertakes. aud this enthusiasm
shows itself ln~eveTy motion. she talks