The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-14
HIS FATHER A DIPL oMAT.
Mrs. PouItney Bigelow and Her
Literary Successes.


oop down. his crlUclsm OF Vn6 Troops In
Florida and their condition Is likely to ad-
vertise him far more effectually than did
his expulsion from Russia In 1891 or the
cold shoulder alleged to have been present.
Cd to him by Kaiser Wilhelm In 1899.
Poultney Bigolow Is q thorough cosmop-
olite if ever. there Yves one, In spite OF his
AmegldRn pafentage He became citizen
Of ~ world through the fact that his ia
thor, long . member Of our diplomatic
eorvjoo, lived abroad for many years, and
naeQrAIly IN the circumstances perhaps,
educatef his con at foreign schools II was
while be was attending the same gymna-
uium In Berlin - the then kaiser's grand
son that Poultnsy Bigclow became 40
qua1noed with the reigning kaiser, and IL
r highly probable that the resulting
friondship had good deal to do with
Bigolow' 3 present characteristios Whether
he and the kaiser are now good friends or
NOT n 3 matter on which the public is
not well Informed. There was certainly
an interruption to their friendship seven
years aGo when the American went TO
Berlin a. agent Of lot Of life insurance
companies and attempted to "work" the
kaiser onthe strength Of their school fei-
Iovship.
Ths Elder Bigslow.
John Digslow, the father Of Poultney,
was both politician and s'litery fell
Ter. He was editor Of the New York Even
ing Post for nine years before the OWL war,
and he eerved his country during the con-
tinuanoe Of that struggle 1T Paris, first as
CONSUL and later es minister. After A.
pomattox be devoted himself mainly to
the production Of really able books of
American biography, etc. One Of bis most
tmpoztnnt pieoas of work was the editing
Of Samuel J. Wlden 3 speeches.
h = iptsFsstfns that living In France %
long ~ be did John Bigelow chose 20 ssnd
his s9n 10 : German school, though this
may be aoceunted for perhaps by the fact
that the impartial Frpnch govornmont to
which he We accredited fell soon altar his
term Of diplomatic service expired At all
events, be sesmed TO have intended that
hie ron should be > Journalist, like his "a
thar before him, and there are reporters
walking Park row today who have worked
alopgside Poultuey, writing up public
meoting one night, murder ths next end
perhaps scandal the next.
PoGsib1y ~ was the pFomiscuous nature
of tho npli round rsportor's work that
Jw1tchcd young Bigelow into other chan
bela though some who know him well de-
liars bis desoFtion Of journalism was more
}robably dpe 10 the severity and stesdi-
bees of effort required. At all events. his
lepoFtoFial oAreer was . short ono.
Altar its Close he went into business az
Che publisher Of magazine devoted to
0uteide sports but while IL was perhaps
IN artistic suecess under his management
the 1nspcial showing was highly unsatis-
factory, and he sold cut after conducting
tho periodscal few months only.
Ms. psaltnsy Bicslev.
This was late in the eighties, and his
marriage to the fascinating Miss JafRray,
grnnddaughter Of one Of New Y0rk's most |
famous and successful merchents, was al
most eoincident with his abandonment of |
she pu1lishCF's role.
A. young woman Miss Jaffray, most |
beautiful GIRL by the bye, moved In the
Inner social circles Of this oity. She was
Also clever as well as comely, and soon aft /
~ hps marylaGp she branched out into lit
urA1ugo on her own account, her drst book /
being study of New York life
u the farm q fiction. II was offered to
The world - about the same time as the
1rgt work Of those other two New York
pocieey women who have gone In for liter
nturo. HrA Burton Harrison and Mrs.
Van Renpqo1aGR QSpger Julien 0ordon).
While MIS- Blgeiow's dction could hardly
% considered on par with theirs still it
poseessed acknowledged merit and met
With such degree Of success as to tempt
h@ - ~ Npakipg u TWO or thrue subse-
Iuent literary ventures, sll of which were
IavOtahiy noted By mo critics ana have en-
|0yo4 respectable sales. t y m
Ar 3 girl Miss Jszfpay aave no s-ecfal
promise Of literary ability. She was a
yrd9s ,eadg, - b SURF, and her favoritc
oooke WeSe found among those which are
'ermed standard, but the writing instinct
was not aroused until after she had be-
'oWe > wemher Of literary family by
narxlago. Aside from q pronounced love
" eecial li1s her most notable character.
stlp bsfose marriage vas fondness Tor
'uedoor Azppaepsnts, end she was known
= :, ene = the most expert horsewomen In
" New York.
Writer end Traveller.
II va said when she took mn her nan
has Mr.. BjEelow had permanently laid
~ aelde. Time proved othcrwiso' how'
ver, and Il was not long before ne becas
--'@~s'ss " e4~4<s<8 vi luDITI0nI 1
oPacs - The naeasines. II was while en-
|agsd An the eollsotioa Of mAgsxine ma
eFlal tbet hewas orisrsd out OF the ozer's
lomanions HE magazine work since then |
- oAsn voluminous and valuable. espe-
Tally when he has let American topics se-
erely alone. HE White Mans Africa
o. instance was exoeedlngly enlighteninq
ma written I'm q clear, direct and fasci-
qfipG style.
~. bigelow must hAvs been very well
'nane4 ~ reporter In spite Of the fact
nae his trainlng was brief, since these
nd other papers which he has prepared
Ftcr making extended Journeys through
ountr1es little known have shown exccp-
onn1 sbility both to Gsther facts and pre-
~ them sttraouvsly. whenever he has
ya9oen o. American subjsctS, however.
. he's shown hirnsslf possessed OF an
nnzlng quantity of partial and false in
This has evidently arisen from
'e fnct thse be has taken lees trouble 20
- hlnec1f upon the affairs Of his own
'0n1y fh9p apy other and few extended
- ther1 trips oyer the United states
ouId unqpeFionabIy add 20 his love a
noytce end bis usefulness a. n writer.
0e@lnallv Mr.. Bieslow e described a.