The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-08
THE LATE "B4B"
AND HER WORK.

! Clever, kindly Bah no more? 1t is
woman in America could boast so many
friends as she. Her own friends, those
who loved the woman Isabe! A. NAL
Ion, are legion, but compared with them
those who knew and loved the writer
are as the sands of the sea- for she was
not simply one writer. but many. There
was Bah. gay, brilliant. light hearted
Bah, beneath whose most mocking SAL
les of wit one could detect the true,
sweet womanliness of the generous
hearted writer. Then there was Ruth
Ashmore. the discreet and tactful gen.
tlewoman who wrote entertaining axi-
oms for the guidance Of uncertain girl
hood. standing. more diffident than re-
luctant, at the half open door. which
means the step from childhood to wo
manhood. wondering. with all the self
consciousness OF youth. just how this
step might be most gracefully accom-
plished Thousands of young girls in
America considered Ruth Ashmore the
last court of appeal in mooted oues-
tons OF etiquette and propriety. ID
the role Of an authority on fashion Mrs
an occasional one under her OVID name
for short stories OF fiction.
Her death, while q surprise to the
outside world. was not altogether IN
expected. For some months Mrs. Nal
Ions health had been bad. Her moth
err. to whom the daughter had always
been devoted and who for many years
had been her constant companion and
friend, died In October. This preyed
on the mind OF the gifted. high strung
woman and made the conquest of dis
ease an easy matter. She died the day
after the Christmas holiday. Dec. 81
Once Bah said, After all. we southern
women don't know very much. any
how. except how to love and be loyal to
what we love-
hrs Mallon was native Of the pic
turesque city Of Baltimore. whose boast
it is that all it's women are beautiful
and all its men brave and chivalrous.
Her mother belonged to one Of the most
distinguished OF the families Of Della
ware and her fathers people. the
SIoans. for five generations had occu-
pied the old mansion in which the writ
er was born.
The little Isabel had every advantage
which wealth could give her fashion
able governesses and masters. When
she was little more than a child. she
married William Mallon. a good looking
young Irishman OF fine family and pros
poets. Ever since she was II years OLD
she had known him. and the match met
with the entire appreciation Of both /
families. with the single objection 70
the youthful years Of the bride. She vas
Is. and Mr.. Nallon was seven years her /
senior.
After the wedding they went abroad. /
and several years were spent in travel !
On their return they made their home I
in New York city. Unfortunately Mr. I
Mallon was not strong. and after 4 few /
years consumption began To make fatal 1
inroads on his health. With this came /
financial disaster and the young wo-
man who had never known what X Z
meant 10 have a spoken wish ungrati- 4
fed found herself with an invalid hus-
band and no means OF support
She made an effort TO secure en- 4
ployment- The daughters OF luxury do (
not often bring marketable wares into {
the business world, but she vas an ex 4
The manager Of A great pub
fishing house 10 whom she applied was .
struck by her courage and sincerity
What can you do" he asked
Anything" she replied. choking hack I
a sob; scrub your floor. Il you've moth
ing better for me TO do"
The publisher thought the matter
over He had man 10 scrub his floors
and while he did rot doubt the vii %
the slender pale faced young woman