The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-26
Wrote a Famous Book.

Miss Mary Johnston. the author Of
10 Have and to Hold.' and prisoners
Of Hope" was born in Buchanan, Va,
a little town on5the James river. where
It breaks through the Blue Ridge, in the
midst OF u region OF great natural
beauty. In this town her childhood and
early youth were chiefly spent. though
she was familiar with other sections OF
her native state, and with that portiOn
OF West Virginia which had been her
mothers home. She was quiet child.
liking to be out of doors, but caring lit
tie for gnLdes or play. and when indoors
always Wanted u book. Her education
she received ut home.
Her fathers mother was Scotchwo-
man of rare beauty and force Of charac-
ter and OF fine intelligence, and by her
Miss Johnston was taught from her
fourth to her eighth year, and then her
grandmother died. Then her aunt
taught her for several years, and was
followed by governesses. 1t was all easy,
desultOry schooling, Her health was
always frail, and there were many In
terruptions, but whether sick o. well
she was continually reading. There
was no restriction laid upon her In this
respect, and she reGd what she pleased
poetry, history. fiction whatever
came to her hand. Scott and Dickens
she read and re-read, and she early ac-
quired love for Shakespeare.
Her father, who nuG served in the
Confederate army as major Of artil-
lery, returned after the war to his pro-
fessIon, the law. Becoming interest
ed in railroad matters, first in Virginia,
and then in the farther south, his af-
fairs finally called him to Birmingham,
Ala, and to this city, in Miss John
stones sixteenth year, the family re-
moved. 1t was their custom, however,
to return yer by year to Virginia for
the summer months, and thus Miss
Johnston's associations with the state
which she still calls home have re-
manned unbroken.
Up to her nineteenth year Miss john
stones life had been passed chiefly in
the mountains. During the year follow
ing her mothers death she crossed the
ocean with her father, visiting France,
Italy, England, Scotland and Ireland,
and at various times during her girl
hood She had been for awhile AZ this
or that seaside resort. but she did not
know and love the water as she did the
hills. The summer after her return
from Europe was the first OF n series
of summers spent upon q small island
Off the eastern shore of Virginia. 1t is
interesting to note that the mountains
and hills OF which she was SO fond of
have figured largely upon the pages OF
prisoners Of Hope" while several
shore and marsh descriptions in TO
Have and to Hold" were drawn from
the authors close touch with the ocean
at Cobb's Island.
In 1898 the Johnstons removed to New
York City. and lived there four years,
going to Virginia every summer. Miss
Johnston's health had always been DEL
icnte, and in the second year OF her
stay in New York she became for 4
time practically an invalid. Forced to
lie still, she could yet read and study,
and as 1t was easier to hold Il pencil
than n book she began to write for her
own amusement. In the winter OF 1856
she began prisoners OF Hope" For two
years she went quietly on with the book,
able to write but little at time, and
never able to foresee the next chapter.
Finally, about the first Of May, 1898, the
story was finished. and submitted to
Messrs. HouGhton. Mlfllir & Company,
who at once accepted 1t.
Previous to the completion OF "PrlF-
oners Of Hope" Miss Johnston had with
her family returned to Birmingham.
where her nome 49, 70 rave uuu 10
Hold" was written with many inter
ruptIOns by Illness. BY reason OF her
fraU health, the care due to her Faith
er's house and her habits OF study, her
life has been to n great extent a lulet
and retired one; and now that writing
has become to her something to be pur-
sued with more earnestness than can
be ATTACHED to recreation, she u row
more than ever at home.