The Portland daily press., 1894-11-19
WIVES OF AUTHORS.
Some of Them Do Not Even head ihelr
Husbands Books

That prophet is frequently without
honor in his own domain IS SHOWN py
the fact that very many famous writers
nave wives who do not even 5aKe tne
trouble to read their husbands' produc-
tions. 1t is said that Mrs. William
Dean Howells does not read the novels
SO freely turned out by "America's
novelist" and that, were it not for his
daughter Mildred's criticism, he would
not discuss his works at nome. Fer
haps Mrs. Howells thinks he should free
his mind now and then from his writ
ings.
Mrs. Rudyard Kipling enjoys her hus-
bands stories immensely. 1t was these
that first made her like him. She is
not very great critic. though, and is
content to take his books as she hnds
them after they are written.
Tolstoi, until recently, had no audience
in his wife. She did not approve the
course he took to antagonize the Russian
rulers, and begged him to desist. and
write the stories at which he is SO apt.
and which pay him SO handsomely. At
ter a time, though, she, too, was convert
ed to the severe style Of thinking fol-
lowed by her husband. and now callers
see the couple evenings bending over
plain wooden table while the Count
reads aloud his written pages with the
days ink fresh upon them.
John Stuart Mill had the most appre-
ciative wife writer ever had. In one
of his books ne has a dedication inscribed
to her, declaring that, but for her
bright, clear light" he could never
have penned line worth reading. 10
her criticism he attributes all his sue
cess.
Rebecca Harding Davis, herself a
famous tale writer, is responsible for the
career of two Others well known in liter.
allure. Her son, Richard Harding Davis,
thanks her for his literary career, which
she encouraged by getting all his first
good stories in print, and destroying
others that would not add to her sons
reputation. This she did until he could
"go alone" as one says of child. Then
there is her husband, Clarke Davis Of
the country, and who thanks his wife
for her advice on all knotty editorial
points and questions of literary judg-
ment.
Mrs. Gladstone is not an intellectual
woman, yet her husband says she has
"he]ped" him very materially in his
speeches and writings. And she has
than by her actual deeds. For one
thing-and she herself boasts of this
she has not bothered him when he was
getting out a new speech OF printing
something on the vast number of SUBJ
jects he has treated in the last sixty
years; and she has kept the children
quiet too. Not always has he read his
xuriffpn G m hQr bQpanco thaE
were often on topics which she did not
clearly comprehend. Yet to her Mr..
Gladstone gives all the praise showered
upon himself. Once she had carriage
door slammed upon her hand as she was
getting in on her way to hear her hus-
band speak. And she did not tell him
until afterward lest it keep him from
doing himself justice in his speech.
Charles Dickens did not have this kind
of wife. When the truth is told. after
time has softened its hard outlines, it
will be learned how difficult it was for
the treat novelist to work at home I'M
til he and his wife @agreed to disagree"
in the way they did. Both are now at
rest. arsftS
Thackeray had terrible time with
his wife. She neither would listen to
his writings, nor allow him to continue
to work with his pen. Finally it was
discovered that the poor lady was hope
lessly insane. And for years the great
hearted man supported her in luxury in
private asylum, while he Brought up his
bright children the best he could. Mrs.
Thackeray died only last spring, having
outlived her husband 80 years.
Many living writers have wives that
are true helpmates. Among these help
ing women are the beautiful Mrs. Eugene
Field, Mrs. Robert Louis Stephenson,
who herself writes well, and Mrs. Julian
Hawthorne. 2Ee6rge Parsons Lathrop
has an authoress wife: MIR. Peary, writer
ana explorer, has wife who. in Scrip.
tural utterance," holds up both his
hands toward heaven;n Thomas Nelson
Page has wife, who though not long
married to him, is intensely interested
in every written word, and Will Carleton
has home and appreciaUive household
second to none other in the wor.d.-N.
Y.Sun.