The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-29

for a great many years in the state and
resided several years in Birmingham,
where her husband Rev. Dr. w. l.. Packard,
d. D., was the pastor of the First Baptist
church. DIR. Packard is one of the most
distinguished ministers in the south. and
was one of the most popular and beloved
ministers in the city. He, with his bril-
liant wife, is now living in Cleveland, o.,
where he has charge of one of the largest
churches in that city.
Mrs. Prickard's first literary work, The
Ides of March," a romance of the south, is
being discussed most favorably by review
ers. and her friends in the city will hear
with pleasure of the great favor with
which the book is regarded.
Mrs Pickard's family is one of the Oldest
and proudest in the SOUTH and the follow
ing sketch of Mrs. Pickard and the famous
family, of which she is a descendant. re-
Gently appeared in a Cleveland paper:
Mrs. Piekards father, Colonel Thomas
Willingham. was a princely old-tbme gen
tleman He was South Carolinan of
the old school and a graduate of Harnil-
ton college, New York. In the slavery days
he was a millionaire. owning more than $50
slaves and an estate in proportion. And
to the day of his oath, a few years ago,
all his old slaves for whom he could not
find employment remained with him.
By the war, Colonel Willingham lost his
vast fortune, but afterwards accumulated
a large estate again. He was one OF the
foremost spirits in the development OF
Georgia after the war. His home was dhe
rendezvous of governors, congressman ana
senator's so that while the author Of 1.-The
Ides of March" in no sense tells her own
story she has lived in such circle as to
oe able TO write of the south as few yet
have written. She was born near Beaufort,
S. c., in 1851. While yet A little girl her
father moved to Albany, Ga. and later to
Atlanta Her education, that of all her
fa iIx- xx,ac t11orOuoh At the age OF Ii
she entered the Wesleyan college at Ma
con, Ga. There she remained till she nm
ished the junior course. Then she went ITO
the WOman'S college at Richmond. va
There she spent one session, but left be-
cause the art department at that time was
not equipped as she wished She then went
to the famous Presbyterian college, tine
Augusta Female seminary at Starton, va.
where, after three years, she graduated
with the highest honor ever won py any
pupil under the famous and rigid MISS
Baldwin. Soon after her graduation sne
was married to Rev. DIR. w. L.. Pickard'
who was then a young man VINO had Just
won the laurels al the university at Macon
Ga From that day each mas been tne
others literary critic and sympathetic
helper Mrs. Pickard is an artist of rare
genius. Her painting have several tunes
won the preiums when in competition WIEN
professionals. Her power as an artist Is
clearly observable in her book She mas
received many letters from all parts OF the
country expressive of appreciation of "Tne
Ides of March" She is a characteristic
American woman. Modest, gentle, put
fixed in her views on every subject OF
which she makes a study. Mrs. Plckaru
is now engaged in writing another book
which will be published as soon as she can
finish IT, But as she takes her literary
work as an artist, mot plying for bread,
she will take her time about it, Her nus
hand was asked the other day what were
her striking characteristics, and replied:
Her motherly nature; she is a perfect
mother if there ever was one, her staolll-
ty of character, as unshakable as the gran
tie hills; and her consumate ability ITO learn
all about any person in a few moments
and leave them in perfect, blissful ignor-
ance about herself. She reads character at
a glance and rarely have l known her TO
make an untrue estimate. And another
chara ctersItic of hers is her sense OF JUS
tice. Her soul holds in utter contempt that
spirit which can foster injustice. Her con-
science is finely poised, and waivers only
toward the right as she sees it.