The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-05
S''0IQ|tl| |
\ ). q.
BY MARY WASHtNG ON EARLY

believe that John Pcpdleton Kennedy,
author Of 81 Horse SHOE Robl1sont was
the first soutliefi, noVellst5of prominences3
lilo was ii native Of baltimore, born 1885
and llo WINS u sfltln OF varicd nld vcrsnt tile
gifts. He devoted his life alternptely
to law, politics and literature. He sketch.
ed Southern llfe8very much US Washing
ton Irving has done that Of New YORK..
showing such delightful touches Of humoir;
and geniality as have led him to be com.
pared to and classed with the author%of
8"Tho Sketch Book. = y M s,$ i 5
Swallow Born 1850 gives an outline
of plantation Ills In Virginia. u Horse
shoe Robinsonn (iss5) the best known and
most popular Of his tales, Is founded on
the story Of a South Carolina ley0lu tiofit-
nry soldier, whilst Rob Of the BowlI'
relutes to the early history Of Maryland Ia ID.
He also snatched time from his profess
slonul and political ENGAGEMENTS to pre-
pare the llfegand correspondence Of VIII
liam Writ in two volumes, which appenri-
ed in 1S49. He likewise wrote a great
many brochures. & His works were suffl-
cicntly numerous to iii ten volumes when zen
COLLECTED together. 4
Early In life, Kennedy served in tho
Maryland Legislature, later In CongrnaAls
and then Roilee Nmors In the Leg Stature!
In 1862 President Fillmore appointed Ken
nedy Secretary@of tho Navy, and during
his administration Commodore Ferry,
expedition to Japan Wns fitted out and
encouragement given to Kanes Arctic
explorations. i8 .}I III ft5a 3$$S
EElienned v was Provost OF the University
OF Maryland from $40 TIL the time Of his
DEATH which occurred Il, 1870, He I was ~
also chairman OF tile trustees Of the Peil7
body Institute and a member&o OF many
scientific and literary Institutes. JILL
life has been written by II. =. Y. L uclse rs
man. ~ q, 2 S., iii55 a ,s,3s y. q K q
may mention Augusta j ]. Evans (now Mrs.
Wilson,, e who was born nenra Columbus,
Ga, though, after several moves, her
father finally settled In Alabama. IN
1866 she made her debut as a writer IN
"Inez,. but II was not success, being
filled with&pedantry and religious argu-
ment. $$9T here iss not q natural character
and scarcelySa natural phrase8in It, was
the very just sentence passed on 1T by
| the Southern Quarterly Review.
~ In 1850, she published 'Beulah,' which
was a complete success, running through
| ten or fifteen editions inn few month rs.
| In 1854 she published "Macara, 4 which
| was a war tale and being In sympathy
| with the popular mood, at the time, was
kindly received. # Then followed [" st. % i
mo" which was Numerically rldlculed
by some and handed to the skies BY
others. Then appeared 'Vashti, TN.
fellce" and cat the Mercy Of Tlberlus."
After long years of tquiescence, Mrs. VIII
son has recently come to the front again
lin tale! entitled A Speckled Bird
| treating of the Reconstruction period. s&.''2
Her works are very stilted and much
dlsflgured by pedantry, and they lack
l{"'the touch of nature that makes TIE
whole world kim Nevertheless, she has,
lin her day, commanded a large audience.
AS Mrs. Sou thworth Is generally clnssed
with Southern writers, 1 Will adhere to
] the usual classification, though Its strict
accuracy maybe questioned She was
of Franco English, descent and was born
in Washing tons city in 1878 She 1 mar az
rled early and unfortunately, finding her
self ito use her own phrase) Ia widow
| in fate, II IL not In fact. and reduced TO
great poverty,,,'and with little children e,
dependent on her. Under this stress ' !, q :.
circumstances, she turned 4 to&auth orship
4 and . strange to say, in six months she