Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-01

the Ledger. and every year provided the
paper with new novel, Looking back over
all that she accomplished, and thinking OF
the great changes in American literature, r
recent writer, who was reviewing hsr life
and work, said that, contemplating th1s're-
markable career-this continuous stream OF
story telling-On entertaining popular tic.
ton, running through period of forty
years, one cannot resist the conclusion that
her pen has been potent factor in the edu-
cation of the popular mind
The authoress had her own habits, and
adhered strictly to them. Ordinarily, she
labored five days each weak from noon to
midnight scarcely taking time to eat. 1t
was always a real joy to her to look for
ward to the two holidays of the week-Sat-
urday and Sunday. For the past six or sew
en- years her working periods changed con-
siderably, on account of her increasing age.
Inspired Barbara Freitchie.
Her home in Georgetown was frequently
visited by many prominent writers, nearly
all of whom have passed away. From the
time that Robert Bonner stood on the porch
of her home, nearly half century ego, and
admired the view, up to the present year,
many celebrities in literature, when in the
city, paid their respects to the authoress.
She was a friend of John G. Whittier, the
poet, and it was claimed that she was the
one to suggest to him the story of Barbara
Fraitchie. This claim has been disputed by
some but be it asst may, Mrs. Southworth
has among her effects the following letter
from the poet, dated =.
"AMESBURY, 8 Mo. 8, 1863.
my Dear Mrs Southworth:
Il heartily thank Thea for thy very kind
letter and its inclosedl message 1t ought
to have fallen into better hands, but ! have
just written off a little ballad of Barbara
Freitchie,' which will appear in the naxt
Atlantic. If it is good for anything, thee
deserve all the credit of it. I wish l could
accept thy kind invitation to thy pleasant
cottage home, but am too much of an in
IN dor 70 he In tntJr .Ar11Y
thee none the less, however, for asking me.
l shall go there in imagination, if l cannot
otherwise. With best wishes for thy health
and happiness, l am most truly thy I'd,
JOHN G. WHITTIER"
Mrs. Southworth met, Whittier in 1S47, and
an acquaintance began which lasted until
the death of the poet. In 1873 Mrs. South
worth made a TRIP to Amesbury and called
upon thu aged poet, and with some friends
was entertained at lunch having quite a
chat
Harriet Beecher Stowe the author Of
Uncle Toms CABIN was also an intimate
friend of Mrs. Southworth. The views of
both coincided on the slavery question, and
this common tie bound their friendship all
the firmer.
With Lady Brown.
1t was while The Hidden Hand was
being published in the Ledger that Mrs
Southworth took trip to England being
invited by the publisher of the London
journal, who was anxious to secure the ex-
elusive English sale of her books, as well
as to arrange to secure an international
copyright. When she reached London Mrs
Southworth found that "Capitola' was as
popular there in the English metropolis as
In America, and there We're Capitola boats
Captola race horses Capitola hats for la
dies and other Capitoia fads. While in
England she was the guest of Lady Byron,
an intimate and dear friend. 1t is needless
to add that so far as effecting an interna-
ional copyright the trip was failure
Nearly, II not all, Of the novels written by
her have been translated into foreign
tongues.
Personal Characterised
Mrs. Southworth's individuality was
clearly impressed on one. She had a kindly
face, Intellectual in every line. and the i'm
preston she made was always favorably
remembered. 1t was often a wonder to her
why SO many of her Sex would embark in
novel writing, and after securing the pubi-
cation of one or two stories would leave the
world of literature and be forgotten. no
matter how good their stories might be- In
her opinion, woman had a more active mind
than man. She did not think it remarkable
that she should possess such combination
of mental and physical activity, as writing
was never arduous to her, even up to the
time she practically retired from her inces-
SAINT laDOrS. This of har