The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-05
WOMEN HAVE INTERESTING
 DISCUSSION OF SUBJECT
Social News Throughout eirmir sham and the State of Alabama oirgs
 of a Week in the World of Women.
BY ANNIE kENpRIcK WALKER.

A GROUP of bright Birmingham wo- "A men, discussing recently certain popular novels at the time of their pub lication, but now seldom heard of, re- ferred later on to the literary work of Alabama women that is considered of permanent value to literature.
 Fiction, poetry and historical works were discussed and the recognition that Alabama claims in these separate fields of literary achievement was declared to belong to three women.
 In fictlon-Augusta Evans Wilson.
 In poetry and fiction-The late Mar garet O'Brien Davis.
 In history-The late Leila Herbert
 These three women, from the very per manency of their work, will necessarily remain in that distinctive class of writ CTS that precludes any criticism of their claims in contributing to literature all that is claimed for them.
 Mrs Wilson's star was in the ascend ency many years before the birth of either of the two younger women; in- deed. she had risen to the most dazzling height of her literary career and had already realized her ambition as pre-em- inently one of the great writers of fic- ton.
 Her popularity apparently did not di- minish, for after the lapse of sixteen years the announcement that she was to publish a new book brought forth an order for one hundred thousand copies in advance of the publication. The sue cess of her latest book, "A Speckled Bird" was no more remarkable than that of her earlier books but 1t was mo- table because it revealed the permanent hold of the author upon the literary world
 To the late Margaret O'Brien-Davis, whose early death was more widely de- plored than any women of the time, the state is indebted for much of what is permanent in literature. Her achieve ments will always remain distinctive and no young woman has yet become known possessing anything like the poetieal gen. jus of Margaret O'Brien. In prose. as well as poetry she achieved 8 brilliant reputation, and her stories ana sketches revealed her wonderful strength and delicacy, and brought her recognition from the most critical literary circles of the country When "Judith," her first novel, appeared 1t was greeted with the highest praise, the critics everywhere pronouncing her style to be both grace ful and fascinating, and the story one of absorbing interest showing historical ac- curacy and archaeological research. The young author only a short time before her death, was at work upon her second novel, and her literary talents pointed to the most unusual and brilliant of ca- reers.
 Her versatality gave promise of a fu- ture which would bring her fame as a writer of historical fiction, but her dis tlnction as writer of verse is sufficient ly great to give her unquestioned right to be classed among the immortals-to be the gifted one to whom Alabama turns for what is enduring in her poetry.
 In historical work, the name of the late Leila Herbert stands out most con- spicuously.
 Miss Herbert was the only young wo- man among Alabama's literary women who devoted her talents exclusively to historical works Her book, "The First American" pronounced by leading critics to give most complete comprehensive and accurate history of the life of Wash ington, is the most valuable contribution to the Washington literature. and will always associate the name of its author with one of the most permanent contri- buttons to Alabama literature.
 The personality of the young historian was no less charming than her literary style. As the daughter of the former