The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-03
Notes About Some
Famous Literary Women

1t is not many years since women were
constantly reminded of their duties in life,
lest they should step outside of the mar
row circle known as "woman's sphere"
Jane Austin, out of Difference to her rela-
tives, concealed her writings from the
gaze or chance visitors by laying hand
kerchief over the pages of her manuscript.
Mrs. Somerville was efltreated not to bring
disgrace upon her family by persisting in
her studies of mathematics. Even the
clergy was disquieted and she was con-
demned from the pulpit. Caroline Her.
schel's remarkable work in astronomy was
done amid discouragements and there is
something dramatic in the thought that
her laborious life was embttered by social
prejudice. But the most gifted women
have been womanly. Prof. Marie Mitch
ell left most delightful memories to her
pupils, and many student endured the
mathematical work of astronomy for the
sake of the professors personality. One
of her pupils said that she had forgotten
all she ever learned about the sun, moon
and stars, but she never could forget the
gathering where Miss Mitchell was the
hostess, and she should always remember
the bouquets and souvenirs at every plate,
and the poetry, in that print handwrit-
ing, composed for every one of her guests.
In the Villa Des Rosters, in the environs
of Dieppe, France, lives John Strange VIM
ter, author of Boobies Baby" In private
life John Strange Winter is. Mrs Arthur
Stannard. Her husband is an agreeable
man and charming host, and he retains
his individuality even though he Is the hus-
band of Celebrity Mr.. STANDARDS
i'll health made it necessary for the family
to leave their attractive home in Birching-
ton, England, and go to a milder climate.
Last year Mrs. Stannard finished her f1f-
tieth book before reaching her fortieth
year, which is remarkable and unusual
achievement Her publishers sent her a
handsome gold watch to celebrate the pub
location of her fiftieth story.
Eighteen hundred and ninety-seven was
indeed an eventful year for Mrs. Stand
ard, as a baby girl was born, who was
christened with six names, those of her
sponsors, Alice, Margaret, Louise, Nancy,
Henrietta, Josephine, Sir Henry Irving and
Sir Joseph Barnaby were two of the god
parents. Her eldest child is daughter
now IA years of age, called Noel, because
she was born on Christmas day. Twin
girls bear the names of two of her favor
lite characters, Eliot Cordelia in Cavalry
Life and Violet Mignon In "Bootie's
Baby" Mrs. Standard has written so
much about Dieppe that it has made the
quaint town quite famous, and the comiti
de publiciti expressed its gratitude by pre-
senting her with beautiful diamond ring.
Several of Mrs. STANDARDS books have
been dramatized THE Truth Tellers'
has been sold to Miss Martha Morton, the
American dramatist Mr.. and Mrs. STAN
aard are enthusiastic cyclists. Their house
is said to be very beautiful, and 1t contains
many rare works of art. Mr.. Stannard
Is civil engineer, but he has given up
his profession to manage the business af-
fairs of his wife. "Booties Baby made
its first success in America, and Mrs.
Stannard is most anxious to visit this
country.
When Charlotte and Emily Bronte were
little women they lived hard, desolate
life on the bleak Yorkshire moors, and
found the chief pleasure of their young
lives In playing with a set of very ugly
wooden dolls.
The Bronte dolls had very exciting lives
indeed, but their end was not so sad as
that of Jane Welsh Carlyles doll. This
clever woman was precocious as a child,
and she loved only one doll. When at
last In her studies the girl began to trans
late the first book Of Virgil. she decided
It was time to give up doll games. Ac-
cordingly. she piled on it's bed all the dolls
clothes, added several lead pencils, few
sticks Of cinnamon, grated over this some
nutmeg, and emptied over the funeral
pyre a vial OF perfume. Finally, with
many tears, she pretended that the doll
had stabbed herself, and laying the un-
happy sawdust corpse on the bed, set fire
to It. When the fire began to burn the
doll Jane Welsh's feelings gave way. She
snatched 1t from the flames, but all too
late. and the toy was soon reduced to
ashes.