The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-28
FAMOUS WRITER
HASPASSED AWAY
Bab" Died Yesterday at Her Home
in New York City.
HER WRITINGS WIDELY READ.
She Was as WeIl-Known by the Nom
de Plume of Ruth Ashmore" as
That OF "Bab"-Her Record
Was Remarkable One.
HER WRITINGS WIDELY READ.

NEW YORK. Dec. 27.-Mrs. Isabel
Mallon, best known by her nom de
plume OF Bah" and Ruth Ashmore,
died at her home i'm this city to-day, Of
pneumonia, aged thirty-nine years.
Isabel Allderdice Mallon. one Of the
most famous newspaper women CORE
spondents in this country, author OF
"Bab's Babble." comes Of the old Sloan
family OF Hartford county. Maryland
Her paternal ancestors dwelt for hve
generations in the big mansion In Balti-
more where she was born, and lived until
her marriage Born and reared in lux
ury. she never went to school, but was
attended BY governesses until foreign
travel and residence gave finish TO her
education. She was but sweet sixteen,
hanging her hair I'm two long braids when
she and her afllanced husband, William
Mallon. a big, handsome Irish youth, stole
away to New York and were married In
Trinity church.
BEGGED FORGIVENESS.
Immediately the young bride and groom
returned to Baltimore where the child
wife flung herself into her mothers arms
and begged forgiveness for running
away.
II was granted with a mothers bless
ing. for there had been no objection 10
the marriage except the daughters youth
During the fatal illness Of her husband
the necessity arose which created Bah
She was engaged at a salary OF $40 a
week 10 work at the office OF q pattern
publishing house nine hours A day. With
the few dollars thus earned she was able
to do FOR her husband all that loving
human hands could do During the last
few days of his Illness she was allowed 10
do her work at home She wrote Of the
fashions by his bedside. For Just one
day did her courage leave her-that upon
which he died. But she sent word to the
Office that they should receive her copy
the next morning; and they did. For three
years she worked faithfully at her task,
which had become that OF providing sus-
tenance for herself and others.
During these years her salary was rails
ed from time 10 time. and about six years
ago she left that position and began writ
ing her Bah letters. The idea OF the
letters was her own. and no one has sue
cessfully initiated her. though there have
been numerous attempts.
REMARKABLE RECORD.
In connection with her "Bab's Bnbble'
letter she had a remarkable record in
that. though she wrote IL continuously
for nearly seven years. she never missed
a single week during that time although
the work was occasionally done from a
bed Of sickness.
Mrs Mallons home was IN New York
city With her mother and a maid she
lived quietly in a pretty little Nat near
the Park avenue hotel There are hardly
more than half dozen rooms. but the
walls are covered with paintings. etch-
ings. and photographs Of famous people
she has met. and the numerous book
cases are filled with standard and the new
EST books ''Bab" read nearly everything.
including literal piles OF daily news
papers. Her favorite authors were Thack-
cray. Balzac. and Swinburn. Aside from
the great amount OF time she spent in
what might be called routine reading
she worked several hours a day a her
writing. Each morning Immediately after
breakfast she began debating 10 her
typewriter. never writing a word herself.
except personal letters. She entertained
a great deal and was a delightful hostess.
having that rare gft-especially in a
young person Of making each visitor APP
pear AT his or her best. and this without
APPARENT EFFORT.