Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-04-29

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 The Doomswoman. Los
Cerritos" shows that the author is an
original student and investigator, not Il
compiler Besides. Mrs, Atherton's
genius is itself a 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, nephew of the famous Ben
janin. 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
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 HaT
York and was a noted figure in o.
literary world. more on account OF l;e
celebrity given her by that work than
from a desire to pose us lion. She
avoided general society, protesting that
she was nevsr 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 II
California paper, Mrs. Atherton said
some things which ON second thought
she regretted, and for which she apol.
ogizcd, regarding the personal appear
ance of another famous literary woman
/ The aggrieved lady answered by n chal-
lenge that called Mrs. Atherton's friends
to her defense, and her dressmaker gave
to reporter these interesting facts re-
garding her patron;
Bust, 80; waist, 23t; upper arm, l6.
neck, 49, front length, II; back length.
| IS; skirt front, 80; skirt back, 43 Now
that" continued the dressmaker, lis Il
very well made woman.
Mrs. Atherton has better figure than
nine women cut 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 a great
deal, which is very trying to skinny
women"
is she q very dressy woman?" asked
the reporter.
mo; she always wants her street cos
tunes very quiet. She is rather exact
ing. but she dresses like a lady, and her
word is as good as the money only
wish there were more like her"
Mrs. Atherton is not of the class of
writers who in hovel or garret dream
out scenes of oriental splendor for their
books. 1t is almost like stepping into "a
bit of woodland to enter her dainty
drawing room. hung and furnished in
different tones of green. Mrs Atherton's
favorite color, us was also Hernia Suy
cams. She sits in chair over which is
thrown a great white fur rug, capital
background for the graceful woman
whose gown Of soft green india silk har-
monizes beautifully with her picturesque
personality and surroundings