The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-08-27
A New Woman of the Right Sort.
BRILLIANT TRIUMPH OF A Mis-
SISSIPPI QUEEN

SISSIPPI QUEEN.
How This Southern Girl Smashed
Political Ring-Her Love for Fathe
and the Truth.
THE latest "new' woman Is bril-
liant daughter of the conservative ole
State of Mississippi, who, during th
exciting days of the past week .whel
all eyes were conferred upon the Demo
central figure, and, with no intention
whatever of a pun on her name, was {
decided power. New" you may cal
her by courtesy perhaps, but she is ole
in the sense of being womanly; and i
was no desire whatever for persona
ACKNOWLEDGMENT which led her to enter
into the whirlpool of politics, but was
instead, that sweetest of sentiments, 8
daughters love for her father.
The story comes to me from Merid
ian, where one of the most exciting
State conventions known to the Demo
cracy of that famous old State oi
chivalry has just come to an end. AL
most every county in the State had q
candidate end every candidate was on
hand with his friends and active
workers. Excitement ran high. Many
diDtips Iished men were there ana the
halls that resounded with the match
less eloquence of Prentiss, McClung,
Lamar and Davis were converted into
lobbies where the politicians were at
work. 1t was q convention notable in
many respects, but notable and unique
was 1t from the fact that for the first
time in the history of any Southern
State O woman took an active part in
political CANVASS. That woman Is
Miss Katherine Markham Power, of
Jackson, who SO successfully conducted
the canvass of her father, j. l.. Power,
! for Secretary of State. Everybody is
| singing praises and the most expe-
rienced politicians are telling of her
work, describing it as being truly mar
velous.
Miss Power is a young woman who
has, by reason of her exceptional per-
young womanhood. The daughter of
d father born in the Emerald isle and
q mother in whose veins flows the
blood of the passionate South, Miss
Powers qualities are, perhaps, more
mixed than is usual in one frail
frame. Tall, slender, dark, with
shining black crown" adorning a
beautiful head splendidly poised and
eyes of marvellous depth of color, she
is typical specimen of Southern wo-
manb ood, physically, mentally and 80
cially.
AS girl Miss Power was student
brilliant ana ambitious. While still
very young she entered Miss Baldwin's
seminary in Stanunton, Va, where she
studied three years, coming home at
last with numerous rolls of parchment
and little badge of gold given for
" excellence in English composition"
In that lay the guide of her future.
Her return to her native city might
have been marked social triumph
had her tastes been in that. But they
were Tor more serious pleasures.
While full oflife and all the qualities
that give youth and happiness, even as
child, Miss Power was fOnder of a
book than of q card, more partial to
drives through natures gardens than
to dance meath flaring gas; and to
quote one near to her, infinitely fonder
of reading men and the stories they
have to tell, than of listening to them,
no matter how prepossessing the mar
ratOr or rOmancer.
Immediately after her return from
school this brave girl entered her fa-
theirs Office, he then being editor of
The Clarion, the official organ of the
State, since which time she has filed
every position in u newspaper Office
AiohiA Ptooii SouOi iP w ouhVoi' hohO 10
now editor and proprietor of Kate
Powers Review, the only paper on the
gull coast owned by woman, edited
by woman and published for women.
This paper has had phenomenally
successful career, having attained
the fourth place in circulation among
the State weeklies and having kept up
an exalted lit ,rary standard.
Three weeks ago, while in an eX.
hausted condition from the summers
work, Miss Power left home for va
cation. She had beenoabsent two days
when recalled by telegram announc-
ing her fathers serious, perhaps fatal
illness. In great distress she returned
to find the father, who has been mure
OF brother and companion to her, ly-
ing at deaths door, hope having
been abandoned by family and physi-
clans.
But not so with the daughter. For
nine days and nights she never left her
fathers bedsides except to go to her
study and with her younger sisters
take up the pen in her fathers defense
in the canvass then at its hottest for
state offices. Power was candidate
for Secretary of State. His illness,
coming as 1t did in the midst OF his
canvass and before he had visited more
put an end TO his chances, he having
two. young and very vigorous oppo-
nents.
The position OF his daughter was
difficult in the extreme. Grieved al
most to abstraction because of her fa-
TIERS sufferings, she still kept herself
so well in hand that never for one
hour did the work of flooding the State
with circular and personal letters fall
ter. She had Ia this most able assist
ants In her brothers and two younger
sisters, willing to execute her decision
in the direction of the canvass.
AT the most critical time In his i'll
ness certain complications arose in his
own county by which 1t seemed that
the county would be wrested from him
for some political reasons.
Miss Power Was for days helpless,
her fathers death being probable al
any hour; but when, on Wednesday
before the county election on, Thurs
day, the beloved father passed the
Crisis, this girl with lions courage
In tender womans heart, kissed the
brow OF her father and with that kis,
as benison, started forth on her labor
of love.
After travelling in a day one hun
dred miles by rail and road combined
visiting every one of the 125 delegate
to the county convention at thei
homes, and returning late at night Il
. the be6side of her father she WOul,