The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-16


A tale Of Spanish-America "Los Ger
ritos," appeared after Hernia Suydam'
had run course and been forgotten by
its critics. The scene is laid in Califor-
MIA before the American rule, the terri
tory and the people that lend rich color
and rapid movement to ''The Doomswo-
man." Like 1.-The Doomswoman," LOS
Cerritos" shows that the author is an
original student and investigator, not
compiler. Besides, Mrs. Atherton's
genius is itself q product of the soil
where its rare fruit has been gathered.
She was born on Rincon hill, San Fran
cisco, quarter since fallen from its
former eminence. In her blood mingles
opposing streams from the older states
New England and Louisiana. She was
reared by her grandfather, Stephen
Franklin, a nephew of the famous Ben
jamin, one of the pioneers of California,
editor of its first paper, The Golden Era,
and man of strong literary tastes. From
him Gertrude's inventive faculties re-
ceived their early direction.
While at school she supplied her mates
with original fiction, and at fifteen wrote
a play which was acted at Benicia. Fin
ishing her education at Lexington, she
married into leading Californian fam
lily, whose estates included the pictur-
esque mission of San Antonio. Early
widowed, she spent much of her time in
travel, but in 1890 returned TO her native
state to study the primitive period-the
prehistoric period, it might be called-of
its career. For this purpose she took up
her abode in old towns and hamlets. and
diligently cultivated the sad lingering
remnant of the original Spanish settlers,
aiming thus to gather material which
had never before been utilized in Ameri-
can literature.
At the time when Hernia Suydam"
appeared Mrs. Atherton lived in New
York and was a noted figure in the
literary world, more on account Of the
celebrity given her by that work than
from desire to pose as lion. She
avoided general society, protesting that
she was never happier than when en-
gagged in literary labor. She is now
about thirty-four years old. In New
York letter from her pen, printed in
California paper, Mrs. Atherton said
some things which on second thought
she regretted, and for which she apol-
| ogized, regarding the personal appear
ance of another famous literary woman
The aggrieved lady answered by chal-
lenge that called Mrs. Atherton's friends
| 10 her defense, and her dressmaker gave
| TO a reporter these interesting facts re-
| garding her patron:
Bust, 80; waist, 23i; upper arm, 16;
| neck, l3; front length, II; back length,
IS; skirt front, 80; skirt back, 43. Now,
that" continued the dressmaker, "is a
very well made woman.
"Mrs. Atherton has better figure than
nine women ont Of ten, and she can wear
as low bodice as anybody.
Her skin is lovely-just as white as
satin-and she wears black velvet great
deal, which Is very trying TO skinny
women"
as she very dressy womanT asked
the reporter.
! "No; she always wants her street cos
tunes very quiet. She is rather exact
ing, but she dresses like lady, and her
word Is as good as the money. Ionly
wish there were more like her."
Mrs. Atherton is not of the class of
writer's who in hovel or garret dream
out scenes of oriental splendor for their
books. IL is almost like stepping into
bit OF woodland to enter her dainty
drawing room, hung and furnished in
different tones Of green, Mrs. Atherton's
favorite color, as was also Hernia Suy-
dams. She sits i'm chair over which is
thrown great white fur rug, capital
background for the graceful woman
whose gown of soft green india silk har-
monies beautifully with her picturesque
! persensli.y and sayToundingn