, 1890-04-29
MISTRESSES OF THE PEN.
ANNIE ISABEL WILLIS WHITES OF
SOME WOMEN WRITER'S,


Lillian ~
Their Work and Methods
Copyright isol
Prominent among the circle of New
york women who are active with h
ren Is Mrs Mary V. II. Terhune. This
name will probably convey no idea to
thousands who read il, and were not two
magic words added many would confess
that thew had never heard Of her. The
words are Marion Harland," and at
their appearance puzzled faces become
clear again, for this woman is a house
bo,s s.iend 10 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 a woman as can be found.
Much Of her editorial work is done at
her home in Brooklyn, and such is the
well ordered routine of her daily work
that she says she a get through with
the days preliminaries Of rising, break
fast, prayers and giving orders and have
her household in running order, with
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 n
Brooklyn clergyman She is a tall wo-
man. of digniied presence, strong face
and gracious
Another Brooklyn writer who does
not need 10 leave her pretty home to at
- - L. -. sUHAEE - Mr. GltUa
Thorne Miller. She has a speciality, and
n unique one-descripdons of birds and
their habits. Some Of her books are
Bird Ways" and ''In Nesting Time"
1t is not necessary for Mrs. Miller to go
out into woods and fields and country
byways to observe the pets of which she
writes II vas 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 a family-could not 10 that,
50 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 its name. Her articles on
this subject are seen in all the leading
magazines, though she does not coniine
herself TO her specially.
She has recently been engaged on a
series Of papers called 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 a
very motherly air, and her pleasant face
and kindly smile would indicate that she
is an ideal mother.
Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge is lear 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. no to speak Of her lovely
poems for young and old. She is n liv-
ing proof Of the efficacy Of her formula
for successful literary work. She says:
'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 n
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 IL may, Miss
Whiting is n 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 writers be high or low-that she has
many friends, as her receptions at the
hotel where she lives a~bundantly testify.
Mrs. Sallie Joy White is another well
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 a public
library, had unwittingly given n copy Of
Little Women" Oust OUT to Miss AL
colt, and when the latter refused it with
assumed disgust. had Indignantly defend
ed the book, only to learn later that she
had been scolding the author. The little
tale was attractively told and was signed
'Sallie Joy White" ! pictured her us a
young woman with the usual vague fea-
lures we are prone to give to unseen per
sonages, and always thereafter read my
thing Of hers with great interest. Re
Gently l had ar opportunity of meeting
the unknown" and found thai she was
a middle aged woman, OF good height,
with a figure inclined TO plumpness, a
strong, searching look, a brisk air and a
clear, ringing voice.
She has been for twenty wears In news
paper work and other writing, and has
been connected with three Boston papers
Tho Post, The Advertiser, and, lastly,
The Herald, on whose staff she now Is,
Mrs White has dark hair and eyes and
looks ON the world through a pair of eve
glasses. She is enthusiastic in ANYTHING
she undertakes, and this enthusiasm
hows itself in every motion. She talks
easily rapidly and TO the point. and has
comforted. encouraged and helped many
aspiranIs in the field Of pen and ink.
ASSE ISABEL WILLIS
Iluexngu = En. N-