The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-05
A TALENTED YOUNG WOMAN.
Captain Sigsbee's Daughter and Her
Art Prizes

New York Journal: While Captain
Charles D. Sigsbee, born in Albany OF
old PATRON stock, was the initial nero
of the present war through the disaster
to the Maine, and is now CALAMITY per-
forming patrol duty on the bridge OF
the big cruiser st. Paul, his young
daughter is winning art laurelS in the
fields of peace. Miss Mary Ellen Si2s-
bee, who strongly resembles her dis
tinguished father, has been fond f
drawing from childhood, and long
worked exclusively in the Art league
of Washington City. She took de-
cidedly after her father, too, in this
taste. Many years ago he contributed
a number of commendable sketches to
the old Graphic OF this city, long since
defunct. Miss Sigsbee, during the past
season, came over to New York aSd
entered the Art league here in competl-
ton for the life class scholarship and
she carried of the prize with a sketch
in the nude. With this triumph in
hand she will continue her studies at
the Washington league and has had
charge of a morning class in antique.
Miss Sigsbee has already had some
sketches accepted by periodicals Of this
city. One was entitled An Inexpen-
sive Summer Resort" catchy design
of figure in q. bath tub. Miss Sigs-
bee has a turn both for the artistic and
the literary. For some time past her
illustrated stories have appeared
regularly in a we'll known Washington
journal and have won the author-artist
corsidera BILE credit, as well as a sub
stantial increase in pocket money. In
common with her two sisters, Mary
Sigsbee enjoys an allowance from her
father, but because of her success with
pen and pencil she is looked upon as
the wealthy member of the family. This
doesn't hinder her, however, from con-
stantly overdrawing her allowance
just like other girls. Not long ago
when she approached her father and
told him that, although the month
wasn't half up, she was bankrupt.
You don't take care of your money
as you should he said. why, only
the other day I heard of your taking a
lot OF your schoolmates and treating
them to So worth OF candy That's
very true, papa" was the answer, but
you know a girl must sow her wild
oats some time" There was a prize
offered by one of the New York art
schools this winter, for which Miss
Sigsbee, with a number Of her friends
decided to compete. The other girls,
however, declared that they would not
enter if Mary sent in her work signed
by her full name. Your newspaper
sketches have made you known" they
>
chance of winning" "All right" said
Mary, "I'll sign them X" which she
did, but tx" took the prize. Miss Sigs-
bees first contributions to the Wash
ington journal were sent by mail. Even
after she had become a regular salaried
member of the staff she still posted
both the stories and the sketches. One
day, when several months of steady
work had begun to make her feel like
an Old contributor, she went down to
the office. The editor was surprised at
seeing a young girl in short skirts and
with braids down her back, and when
the customary weekly check arrived
the young girl found that this Surprise
had taken the form of a reduction in
her salary. Then Miss Sigsbee paid
the office another visit. IF my work
isn't worth what you thought it was
before you knew l wore short skirts
and braids down by back" she said,
lit isn't worth anything, and I'll give
it up altogether The editor assured
her that, short skirts or long skirts,
her work was wanted, and at her own
rates. He was as good as his word,
too, for the next check was a raise
upon the original salary.