Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-07-02
Won the So, 900 Prize.
Mary E. wilkins Led 1000 Compel
itors in Writing the Best Story.

Mary E. wilkins, a former Brattleboro
lady, has achieved another distinguished
honor, by winning the $4,000 offered by
the BatCheller, johnson S Batcheller
syndicate of New York for the best de-
tective story, against a field of over 1000
competitors, representing all parts of the
globe. The syndicate's announcement
of prize story competition was made last
winter, being the result, no doubt, of the
great interest aroused in detective stories
by A. Conan Doyle S sherlock Holmes" ."
The stories were to be about 1000 words
each.
Advertisements of the competition were
inserted in the leading magazines of this
country and two or three English publ
cations. When the contest ended May 1st
stories had been received from all parts
of America, England, Ireland, Scotland,
Greece, Australia, canada, Germany,
France. the West Indies, and Mexico. Mr..
Batcheller and a staff of experienced as
sistants passed Judgment upon these
stories until 80 were selected as excel
ling all others. John Ii. BOner, editor of
Literary Digest, then chose 13 stories
from the 80 and handed them to Hamil-
ton w. Mabie, editor of the Outlook. Mr..
Mabie finally wrote to the syndicate his
decision, as follows:
81 have read the stories submitted to
me in typewriter manuscript with spec
ial regard to dramatic interest, invent
iveness, novelty and simplicity and di-
rectness of style. In my judgment the
story which combines these qualities in
the highest degree is that entitled The
Long Arm Next in order of excellence
| should place that entitled The Twink
ling of an Eye"
The names of none of the writers had
been known up to this time, as it was a
condition of the contest that the stories
should be distinguished only by some
mark, while with each manuscript was
sealed envelope giving the authors
name.
When the sealed envelopes were opened
it was found that the author Of"The Long
Arm" was Miss Mary L. Wilkins, the
well-known writer of stories of New Eng
land life and character.
The author of 1.-The Twinkling of an
Eye" was discovered to be Prof. Brander
Matthews of Columbia college.
Miss Mary E. Wilkins, who has thus
boldly entered a field hitherto entirely
foreign to her, and has taken first rank
in it at the first attempt, was born in
Randolph, Mass. She lived for some
time in BrattlebOro, but on the death OF
her parents returned to Randolph, which
has since been her home. She is still ac-
lively interested in BrattleborO and a
holder of real estate there. Miss wilkins
wrote verses almost as early as she could
talk. Her first serious literary efforts
were in the direction of childrens S
stories. Afterward she became con-
tributor to the Harper's publications.
Probably her strongest work is Penn
broke" Next that she herself ranks ga
New England Nun" and Jane Field" 1"
Rev. DR.. Phillips Brooks pronounced "A
Humble Romance the best short story
ever. written. Her understanding of New
Englsnd life and grasp of New England
character have given her a worldwide
reputation.
Prof. Brander Matthews, the winner of
the second prize, is professor of English
literature IN Columbia University.