The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-25

Yet ! am not sure that her novels are the
best things Miss Seawell has given US.
At all events L am sure that her
short stories. collected In the volume
called MAID Marian, and Other
Stories," give promise of still higher
performances in the future. These
stories have an extraordinary range of
subjects, and their versatility called for tn
much remark at the time of their publ C a.
ti0n. But Miss Seawell determined upon
an incursion into the field of juvenile lit
erature. She had always soft spot for
boys, and this sympathetic tenderness for
them showed her straight path to their
hearts. 1t Isnot surprising. therefore, that
her first story for boys, Little Jarvis"
won prize of $500. offered by the Youths
Companion. 1t is the true and touching
story of 13-year-old midshipman, a regu-
lar "piekle" in the early days of tile Amer
lean navy, who, in the language o I the reso-
luton of Congress in his honor, 'gloriauslv
preferred certain death to the abando on
ment OF his post" As an enthusiastic critic
wrote of this story: "All the reading world
loved the book" 1t had an instant sue
cess. Critics WED with each other in
praise of its pathOs. Its humor ana its
tenderness. IL was read aloud in schools
and at children's celebrations, and Miss
Seawell was inundated with delicious.
smudged letters from boys whose hearts
were won by the heroic Little Jarvis"
So great was its popularity that it was
made the first of series. entitled young
Heroes of Our Navy" published by d.
Appleton 81 Co. 1t is beautifully illus
trated aud bound in nautlcatstyle. The
second volume, "Midshipmau Paulding,"
had equal success, although Miss Seawell
herself owns up 10 weakness for Little
Jarvis" - "ihe only thing | ever
wrote that came anywhere near pleasing
me-" she says. She found q mine of heroic
H..
when there were boy lieUtenauts aud al
most baby middies, and she intends ex-
posing it to the full. She is now putting
the last touches on Paul JONES'" the most
daring sea story she has yet attem pied.
and undoubtedly the most imposing SUBJ
ject. Very lately she has brought storm
from certain quarters about her head.
owing to lively essay published in the
New York Critic ION the Absence of
Creative Faculty in Women." Miss Sea-
well takes the conservative ground that
men had monopoly If the very highest
form of creating intellect. The discussion
went on fam0usly. and Andrew Lang,
Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a great
number of ambitious women and the press
generally took a hand in it. The Critic
says that this essay attracted more atten-
ton than any single article ever published
in its columns.
"Maid Marian" was first produced AT
Days Theater. New York, April 10, 1893,
Ii was given at every performance for four
consecutive weeks-an almost unprece-
dented run in Miss Vokes' repertory, who
usually changed her bill two or lhree
times week. Miss V0kes opened the
season of 1894 with il and played 1t until
the hand of death was upon her. She
gave it for the last time in Washington
on Saturday. December 8. the last day she
ever played. AS she was almost carried
from the stage, weak and gasping, she
sent Miss Seawell a pathetic message,
"rel her," she said, 81 have done
the best / could with the play. But /
could not do much, for ! am almost dead"
Within six weeks she had breathed her
last. Children of Destiny" which is
undoubtedly Miss Seawel's best work.
was published by the Appletons ln March.
1898. Paul Jones" was published by the
same firm at Christmas, 1893. ID. Lothrop
81 Co. OF Boston published very hand
somely i'm book form, also at Christmas.
two bows stories of Miss Seawelrs that
had appeared serially in Wide Awake
Through Thick and Thin" and "The
Midshipman's Mess" decatur and
Somers" will be published during 1894.
serially, in 81. Nicholas. beginning in the
Nav number. 1t will be published in
book form Christmas, 1894, by ID. Ap-
pleton az Co. of New York, making the
fourth In the series "Young Heroes of Our
Navy"
So far Miss Seawell has had unbroken
good fortune in her literary career. But
she is still unspoiIed by her success and is
as natural and unaffected as any woman
could be.