The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-22

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
There is one spot in America where MRS
Wigs of the Cabbage Patch" II not popu-
lar. This statement may seem incredible
after reading the list Of popular books from
the Atlantic seaboard to the Golden Gate.
1t is. nevertheless. true. and the place Is
the Cabbage Patch.
1t Is not generally known outside of Lou
1sville. Ky, the home of the brilliant young
authoress. Mrs. Gale Young Rice, much be-
ter known under her maiden name Of Alice
Caldwell Hogan. that the Cabbage Patch
IS not n fictitious locality. happily named
from the writer's imagination. but a gen.
uine settlement, nestled in the suburbs OF
Louisville, yet retaining distinct entity OF
its own and bearing more the aspect Of q
country hamlet than OF struggling city
outskirt.
many and whose wide optimisri ana mis-
fortunes, bravely borne have touched with
mingled mirth and tears the thousands OF
novel readers are to large extent real peo-
pie. But thereby hangs tale.
A serine quiet has reigned over this little
village within city ever since an architect
VINO mad lost some tools jerked his thumb
over his shoulder and ordered his nien to
go and hunt for them I'm the cabbage
PATCH" where a cottage had gone up In
the middle OF a truck garden. That was
the christening OF the commons, where the
tracks" and though the city directory and
the real estate mems rent lists call II Burck-
hardts Addition, 1t Is the name that has
stuck and the one by which It will live.
Bus the quiet .hat has reigned 30 long
unbroken is turned to turmoil, and In the
little grocery store, where the folk Of the
Cabbage Patch gather. there are many ex-
pressions of Indignation, made by people
who have not read the book, but understand
tnat they have been painted for the world
as community Of poor people," and who
relish not being taken out Of oblivion to en-
tertain the reading public.
ORIGINAL MRS. w1GGs
INDIGNANT AT PUBLICITY.
And an old lady. who has been pointed
out as the original Mrs. Wigs, goes with q
chip on her shoulder and feeling Of wrath
In her heart because she has been pointed
out as the old woman who Didn't feel like
nuthin' belonged to her till she had passed
It on TO somebody else"
To ask the original model IL she 10 Mrs.
WIGS Is mortal insult, and IL my son
Jimmy happens to be present 1t is one not
entirely free from personal peril.
rms condition of revolution will, in all
probability. pass away in time, but now It
Is at fever heat and when the writer pre-
sented himself at the head of the rickety
stairway, up which Straly and the others
are supposed 10 have climbed SO often, and
announced himself to the old lady whs
came TO the door. he was ordered of the
premises with scant courtesy and fervid in
functions to stand not upon the order of
his going. but go at once" lest Jimmy
should happen and wreak upon him the
vengeance he has in store Cor all 'newspa-
pers editors men are all editors
with Mrs. Wigs.
The Characters In the story are all com.
posite. and the woman who resents the an.
piication OF the title role to herself is the
model In only few of the points, The
authoress asked that the real name Of this
part original OF her heroine be withheld. be-
cause OF sympathy with her modest shrink.
fng from publicity. The wishes of one who
has so materially administered to our de-
light must be regarded as commands IN h
obeyed. The name would mean nothing. for
the real Mrs. Wigs boasts a limited circle
of acquaintance.
The Cabbage Patch sprawis over sixteen
acres of commons. and boasts no brick
house in fits borders while two story frames
are scarce enough to be regarded with awe.
All about the little community stretch va
cant lots, brown with briers. and, when
visited the now historic spot was elisten-
ing with sieet crystals. A broad unpaved
main street." which is q continuance Of
Twelfth street. runs through the center, and