Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1893-11-21
4 SELF MGos WOMAN
How lIrs. Amelia Il. tlarr Attained Farns
Aftsr q late start In Life.

How BITS. Amelia ~. Barr Attained Fame
Amer q late start In Life.
Mrs. Amelia r. Barr is a Lancashire
woman who married q Scotchman and
came with him TO Galveston, where he
was a merchant and where his married
life was spent. In the terrible yellow
fever visitation Of 1897 Mr.. Barr lost his
life IN his gallant efforts 10 minister to
the stricken Indians, and three sons also
psrished in tie pestilsnce. with thres
daughters left her at IS and passed
from afiuence 70 poverty, Mrs. Barr
camo to New York with an introduction
TO Mr. Bonner, the well known editor Of
the New York Ledger. ,ElIe took from
the arst an interest In the brave woman,
who showed such an undaunted spirit Ia
her heavy calSmitiss- He put work In
her way.
At an age when successful writers
have usually made their mark Mrs. Barr
was struggling with the initiatory drudg-
cry OF the profession. She wrote adver-
tisements, circulars, paragraphs, verses,
etc. She spent hours daily IN the Astor
library studying the secrets Of her craft,
getting up materials for descriptive ar
ticles and historical stories. For q long
time she considered hOrself rfch II eiO
note stood between her and the future.
''Jan Vedder'B Wife" established her rep
utation ss q novelist, and easier times
began for her.
She has the business as well as the Gre
ative spirit highly developed, executes
her literary engagements with scrupu-
lous punctuality and exacts from her
publishers the same puDctuality. She
tells how on one occasion a firm had en-
gagged to pay $4,000 (f9, ,OOO) down for
the serial right Of one Of her stories on
the receipt Of her manuscript. The novel
was punctually delivered, but the pub
fishers asked for q short delay, which she
granted on condition Of receiving 10 per
cent for the loan Of the sum until pay
ment was made.
Mrs. Barr's study IN Cherry Croft, her
homs In Cornwall-on-the-Hudson Is q
large, unoarpeted room, plainly and solid
ly furnished. The lady writes standing
at high desk set in the embrasure Of q
window overlooking gamagnihcent noun
famous landscape, through which the
course Of the Hudson may be traced for
20 miles. Here may be seen sets Of draw
ers. In which are stored the penciled first
drafts Of her books, that run along one
wsIl that is nearly covered with files
holding her business letters, contracts
with publishers, etc. Her husbands por-
trait, the only picture in the room, looks
down from the opposite wall. Above the
bookcase hangs the motto she chose when
hrst she entered upon her literary career,
'Isay to my Maker, Thanks for the days
work that my Lord gives me-"
She Is as tireless q worker now as she
was when her own and her childrsn's
daily bread depended upon hsr exertions.
She rises winter and summer at dawn.
In the summer breakfast is often laid on
the veranda at IA. IN. The meal Is par-
taken Of in the open air as the sunrise
glows behind the hills and the river ro-
fleets the dawn Of tho new day, while
the birds weave above q network Of
song. Cherry Croft is known for the
feathered ninstrels that haunt its or
chRrds and gardens. It IS computed that
about zoo different species are to be found
there, attracted by the nuts and other
dainties specially prepared for them by
the mistress Of the place. After break
fast Mrs. Barr goes up to her study and
works till noon, at which primitive hour
dinner is served. After siesta she re-
turns to her study to type the penciled
draft Of the morning. Providence Jour
| nal.