The times., 1897-07-11
JOSIAH ALIENS WIFE. 7"
Miss Marietta Holly Paid 100000
for Her Books.

New York, July S.-Despite the popular
Yallacy that women are wanUingin humor,
one of, if not the best, paid laugh-makers
I'm the United States, is Josiah Aliens
Wife"
More copies of Samantha at Saratoga
have been sold than of any single work
OF Mark Twain's. Almost quarter Of
century has passed since MY Opinions and
Betsy Bobbits' evoked the mirth of the
American public and founded the literary
fortune OF its author. Miss Marietta Holly.
Woman's rights was not popular in the
early seventies. Nevertheless Josiah Al
lens VIE put her shoulder blades 10 the
wheel. the great -Pubuck Wheel Tc.lin'
on slowly, DRAWN tie FemaI Race into
Liberty"
In the holaely humor, the causuc WIT
snc rs.a a. .il,,l >-us.. uf .-ausanUi,a- s'Il'5
tae yine-clinE EinE = rhapsodies Of Betsy Bobblt
(who is not without counterpart il the
fin dc steele autosl, told in the north
country dialect, Marietta Holly, to quote
Frances Willard, has done more for the
enfranchiseluent OF women than platform
agitators.
My Opinions and Betsy Bobht's" was
way into all parts OF the world sanan-
tina is a vital creation, in its way a classic.
a dramatic version made by Mss Holly has
been played IA schools and churches for the
pss. 49,. -.a yeaTs Sell Burgess lnc0r-
porated the character into one Of the most
popular plays, paying Miss Holly a royalty
OF $50 per week. 1t is stIn favorite
with public readers ana i!lpersonators-
..It Apu ltpul,. 10 VVT.ls ~ was
aSkpd Miss Holly.
II seir specimens of my work" sac
Miss Hoilv, poems, essays ard dialect
stories. WIN ch had been printed in coun-
try uapers and PeteTson's Magazine, To
& publisher. He Liked the dialect stories.
and proposed that I sfould write book
In iaIect and he would publish 1t. If il
IL hadn't bcea Tor that publisher I would
never have had the courage TO under
take q took. / was q year writing My
Opinions and Betsy Pnubit's'-the latter
name, by the way, was typographical
error. in the original manuscript I had
written Fahbt.
Il put said Miss Holly, everything I
knew into that book. -
Samaritan a1the Centennial, Paris, Sar-
aioga. tie Worlds FAIR followed, and, while
their publication has never been heralded
as literary events, they have and continue
TO Command enormous sales. Within the
past few years one pubIisher-she has sey-
eraI-has credited her with 100000. Miss
Holly has received as high as $1,000 cash
payment fOl q single manuscript. Most Of
her dialect books sell by subscription.
MANY people have a wrong impression or
my books, once observed Miss Holly. They
are disposed TO treat them superncally.
Therenever We're books written more prayer
fully; written with more earnest desire to
do good Samantha" is virtually Miss
Holly.
It Tadiates from every feature of her
handsome face, cTUwned NTH beautiful
V hite hair that emphasizes the soft twinkle
OF dark, velvety eyes. Hersis a wholesome,
inspiring presence. She is an interesting,
suggestive talkeT. with fascinating little
lisp not wholly free from the north coun-
try dialect. Born aud reared in Jefferson
county, New York State, she has ever been
a housekeeping woman On the site of
the old homestead, on the old coach road
between Pierpont Manor and Adams, she
has reared by her pen "Bonnieyiew, a
rambling Queen Anne of more than twenty
To"ius, in the midst Of seven acres of wood
land, diversified by walks, rustic hooks,
FISH ponds aud luXuriant flower plats. The
house, whicR commands fine view Of the
surrounding country, with glints Of Lake
OHt,srio, is replete with the comforts and
luXuHes inseparable from good taste and
generous purse. The family circle com
pIises sister aud little girl Miss Holly
las adopted. The stables of '-Bonnie-
view are well stocked, aud afternoons its
mistress may be met spinning over the
splendid country roads In vehicles OF vari-
Gus styles.
Miss Holly's study is in the second story
large, sunny room, abounding in book
cases hidden behind doors and inbedded
in side walls OF the broad chinncy-piece
notw outstanding that she has long sinc>
outlived the necessity TO write. Miss holly
oonluucs the meihodical industry of ear
Her years. Her working hours are from 8
until = in the morning She jots down in
her studya rough outline of tie copy she de-
sires to make then she mounts to the tower
.eadiHg from The study, where the work is
completed.
Readers OF Samantha at the Centen-
NAL, Paris and the Worlds Fair will be
surprised to learn that Miss Holly did not
attend the Centennial, has never been TO
Paris and did not 20 to Chicago Until after
the publication OF Samantha at the
Worlds Fair" To each OF these vol
uInes she gave years study. Supplied
with maps and documents, 50 accurate and
thorough was her knowledge Of the local
lite shat she has frequently had the pleas
ure of correcting friends who were in per-
sonal attendance.
Forty Thousand copies of Samantha a,
the Worlds Fair We're sold during the
exposition.
A"Josiah Aliens Wife, is extremely
musical She VS. t..nsic Fearhs.i. in her
giylhood, snd has written musical com
positions Hen essentially poetic tenipcra-
mcnt finds expression on the organ A
plano ami an extensive collect IN of musical
cylinders recording some OF the most IA
ppus voices and instrumentalists which