The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-06-27

The old woman who had been my
mothers nurse, old Aunt Fanny. (she
was never called nanny in the fam
ily), seemed to have few superstitions
indeed, believe I can recall but two
that made any special impression upon
me; one was that the cry of black cat
was the sure sign of death. she would
say TO the children:
DE day yO' gran'ma Stirlin' died a
grea' big black cat come a-meanderin'
long onconcerned, payin' no 'tention
tell he come by de front hall do! Den
he gle one look inside an he say
miaow! des so.'
This was always given with telling
effect and gave US children thu cold
shivers.'
Den she continued, we knowed
death was on de way. An Miss tmis-
tress) she turned whiter'n what she
was already-an' one month fom dat
day she answered de call
Aunt Fanny was nothing If not
dramatic. Her other superstition was
about splitting salt
EFF you spills SALT she would say,
its sho' TO make trouble less'n you
th'ows a pinch of it in de FIRE an de
flames II quart an fuss. Dat'u take
de dispute off o. yo' hands,"
did these little superstitions make
On impression upon you personally,
Mrs. Stuart?"
well, perhaps so. I confess have
dropped pinch down lamp-chimney.
in lieu of fire, since / have come down
10 taking my warmth from the regis
ter. i do not quite believe in il, you
know, but when peace is at stake and
salt is cEeap-weu, / just do it. The
little lamp flares up, and life moves
easily. If split salt and do not throw
pinch into the fire, l should have %
be notifying the fates or the gods in
one way or another. But, joking aside,
It is strange how so slight thing could
impress a child's mind, so that !, for
instance, thirty Yeas afterwzrd.
laughing while I do it, actually pour
salt on gas fame-I did that yester-
day. However, it is really more senti-
ment than superstition. The time I
learned this the air was full Of yellow
butterflies, the bees were droning, and
everything was lovely. so, when
do it, realize once more Aunt Fanny
and my childhood day; it seems some
how TO make communication with the
long ago when we played with the
picayune roses in the old garden"
tbs there not considerable literary
activity in New Orleans At present,
Mrs Stuart?'
Eyes, the city is quite well repre-
sented just now as regards literary
matters and there has been quite an
awakening within the past few years
Some Of the authors down there are
Miss Grace King. Mrs Noble Moore
Davis. Mrs. Mary Ashley Townsend and
her daughter, Mrs. Adele Townsend
Stanton. who Is doing some charming
work. and Of course, Mr.. Gable, al
though he is no longer a resident.
Then we have Judge Gayarre, who
wrote the History Of Louisiana DR..
William NJ. Holcombe, who has recent
II died, and his daughter. Mrs. Ada
HOlcombe Aiken, who is beginning 20
be known there as one OF toe Younger
poets These writer's really have
formed = literary center for The south
There Is, think, more literary activity
in New Orleans than At any other
point in the south. There are a great
many literary clubs A few OF them
have been IN existence several years
and have done good work Tho
'Quarant' has large mem oeysA5p, con-
posed chiefly q society women Then
there Is the Geographic numbering
among its mem bers 4 god many it,
erary women, The mem bership Il small.
but they really do serious work"
Mrs. Starts first book. 4 Golden
Wedding and Other Tales" ras pub
hshed, g rc1nembe-, tust & year ago.
Il brought the author very high com
mendations from the press. bat nothing
which pleased hey 30 much ss casual
remark made bv Herbert spencer IL
regard 20 one = the stories. 20 the
effect that there were touches IL -
equal 20 George Eliot