The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-09

child born among the lumber forests of
Maine. nurtured amid the prim provincial
ism OF old Newburyport, and educated
within the austere limitations of Pinker-
ton academy, In New Hampshire. But
one sometimes finds flaming IRE lily of
scarlet among the pale blossoms of New
England hiiisides
Her mother is said TO have been intellec-
tual and high bred, but rather proud and
reserved; her father brilliant, tender and
prodigally hospitable, and withaI de-
scended from what DR.. Holmes calls ''the
Brahmin race of New England" Mr..
Whittier many years ago described Har-
riet Prescott 70 me as delicate and shy as
wildwood anemone." This was great
shock TO preeonceived notions of the
brilliant writer. Like III H." in her
childhood, she induced a playmate to
start of with her TO find the Dumping of
place" OF the world, which her Imagination
vividly pictured. Great was her indigna-
ton 10 be brought back ANONYMOUSLY By
kind farmer, who found them footsore,
but persevering, two miles from home
She was the delight of her girlish friends
by her ability to write dramas for school
exhibitions, many of them resting on q
historical basis. These dramas have sur
yiyed their generation and also served the
purpose of the schools of today. Her first
literary success was winning the prize for
an essay on Hamlet" offered TO the
pupils of the Newburvport free school
This attracted the attention of Thomas
Wentworth Higginson. whose keen in
sight discerned her ability and encouraged
and developed her genius.
Among Harriet Prescott's books are ''Sir
Rohan's Ghost. "Azarian, Thief in the
Night and THE Marquis of Carabas, -
and the summer hammock viii afford no
better entertainment than the companion
ship of an hour of the admirable stories
I'm Cellar" or The South Breaker It
is sometimes objected that Mrs. Spofford's
story show no definite moral. This is re-
freshingly true, tor most OF the modern
writers not only have . very barefaced
moral. but they TOO often insist upon
pounding it in till the gentle reader rebels.
4 childish friendship between Harriet
Prescott and the Hon. Richard s. Spofford
ripened into belrothal and after many years
eliminated In marriage Their only child
dying in infancy, left grief in the mothers
heart that time has not effaeed- Until Mr..
SDofford's recent death they spent 2 part of
every winter al the Parker house, and were
beloved by circle OF Boston friends. Mrs.
Spofford still occupies their unique and ex-
Quisitely beautiful home az Deer Island.
picturesouely situated between Newbury-
port and Anesbury. Great pine trees on
one side and the river rushing past on the
other make the seciusion complete, and
Vet DlALS l4AS14 W Tile
whence the street cars lead TO the two
towns. Her sister. Mary y. Prescott. who
also has the gift Of story. telling, shares
her home Mrs. SpoiIord has written a
book. Art Decoration Applied TO Furni-
ture,' which proved helpful 20 those who
wished TO make artistic interiors and
didn't know how TO do ii. Her short
stories are frequently seen IN the various
Harper's periodicals, aud her last book
was juvenile story, The Lost Jewel. !"
which little friend pronoances perfectly
lovely"
Names often have a peculiar fitness 10
the persons bearing them. as If the good
fairy al the cradle foresaw the future per
sonality. Again, 3 name Is strangely Ill
adapted 70 its recipient. DID you ever know
a gawKy woman named Grace, and dark,
muscular one whom fate had unkindly
christened Lily? Mrs. Spofford tells per
sonal incident in this same line. One of her
colored servants in Washington asked per-
mission 10 name her baby after her mis-
tress. but when the little darkey was
brought for inspection its name proved 10
be Genevieve. OH said Mrs Spoaord,
~ thought she was 10 be called Harriet,
after me-" aOf course, Mis- Spoflt, said
the mother. "but you see Geneveive
'spresses You a sight better'n Harriet
does -