The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-06-27
RUTH M'RNEAY STUART.


has become personally known to more
than a limited circle. Within the past
season or two she has given a number
of parlor readings, however, and the
appearance of a second notable volume
of short stories by her, "Carlotta's In
tended, and Other Tales" renders
slight sketch of her life and surround
ings fitting and desirable.
Mrs. Ruth McEnery Stuart was born
In Avoyeles parish, Louisiana. This
parish is situated about in the center
of the state. Her mothers family, the
Sterlings. had always lived there; they
were planters and large slave holders
Her grandmother people, the Rouths,
were also sOutherners and slavehold-
ing people. She was taken to New Or
leans as a child. where her grandfather
held leading position as a banker and
where her ia Their engaged in mercantile
pursuits, and she remained in that city
and vicinity until her marriage. As in
the case of all members of old fam
lilies in the southern states, Mrs. 9tuart
is widely connected with people OF
prominence in Louisiana affairs, past
and present. but, as was 20 universally
the case with these same old families,
her people were impoverished by the
war and her schooling ended shortly
after that event. Mrs. Stuart attended
the private and public schools of tee
place and time. and she tells me that
parents were then glad to avail them
selves of any educational privileges
that could be obtained for their chill
OF the south.
The recollections of my childhood.
Mrs Stuart said. are very strange and
troubled: il is as il the atmosphere npOn
nv mental canvas were dimmed with
the ire and smoke of war, and only in
spots do seem 10 get a glimpse Of In
dividual experiences back of il all that
are recorded there.
Il never was a great reader. l was
fonder of people than OF books. Really,
people interested me more than books
though had my favorite authors. a.
every girl has-still I was not q great
reader.
Il have always fel. Interested IN the
common folk. but never thought seri-
ously about writing them up until aft
o. my husbands death. Il was in 1857
when ! first thought about writing. and
II ISIS my first story was nu blishad-
sent two stories e the Harpers- 10 Wa
IN this way: / wrote an anonymous
letter 20 them, and in reply received =
very pleasant note from Mr.. Charles
Dudley Warner who Afterwards sent
one Of nv stories % Prof Sloane, Of
the Princeton Review. and kept one for
Harper's Magazine The Princeton Pc
view thus happened % lie the first
70 print a story for ne
During nv ulsrriesf life lived on
NJ husbands plantation IN Arkansas.
and most OF my negro character stud
with the negroes while there. We
lived right among theu-there were
hundreds OF negroes 70 one white per
son Ny Arkansas life covered aboys
Eve wears. from ;s7e 20 late II lsos.
"As % writing dialect. did rot do
i Intentionally; simply wrote dialect
stories because when demanded 81
myself story i ~as the recollection
CT the negroes which made il possible
for me % write Il / cD1ld Do: help
writing dialect
There seems % Re = popular isapres-
saou-not among literary people. who
know better. bat among the people gen
erally-thst dialect Is reooroznerss>-
ton - story. whereas the r-verse i
really - fact
I'D the -lesvru--< convey superst5fious
hcljefs % tEe children n their charge,
Airs- Stz&rtf-
-Many. tines yes AID ret ]. Wa.