The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08
llA WEEK IN NEW ORLEANS
 Il WITH ELLA WHEELER WILCOX

we'll Field of Chicago took the part of MT. Joyce of Washington, who was claiming to have written it. This brought about an enmity between Mrs. Wilcox and Mir. Field, and to a mutual friend. Miss Pit kin, letters from each came. The tone was. Who is Roswell Field?" and Who is Ella Wheeler Wilcox?" By an accident Miss Pitkin sent MT. Fields letter to Mrs. Wilcox. This fight between the great Chicago satirist and the great poet of love became. as 1t were, nations se- cret, and the whole of literary New Or leans shivered deliciously at the prospect of the meeting. It was planned that the meeting should take place in the box party. but MT. Field was not brave enough to accept the invitation and be one of eight guests invited to meet Mrs. Wilcox. We were disappointed. At Miss Pitkin's reception they were companion guests. This news reached Chicago and all during the two receiving hours tele- grams were arriy ying from Chicago. They were from four to ten lines. and were rich, all bearing in humorous way on the reconciliation of the poet and journal list.
 These were not shown to the two great ones during the reception. Mrs. Wilcox only saw them after the callers had gone, and then expressed her great displeas- ure at the undignihed proceeding.
 VISIT TO A DYING GIRL.
 When Miss Pitkinss reception was over she asked Mrs. Wilcox to go with her to visit brilliant young girl living near who has been suffering with consumption for two years and who begged to see her. We three went and were ushered into q dear little den; beautiful with books, piano, pictures, cushions and bric-a- brac. There, in a large wheeling chair, sat the girl. Such a pcture She wore a light blue kimono with pink handpalnted bor- der. At her throat hung d soft mass of pink satin and filmy lace, and her wavy hair was brushed back from her brow and hung in plat down her back. She greeted Us with smile. Her sweet face lighted up with pleasure as she met the poet whose words have cheered her young heart and whose face beamed on her now with all the force of a strong. loving sympathetic nature Ella Wheeler Will cox held and stroked the hand of the dying girl and the two talked and laughed merrily.
 As we were about to leave Miss Pitkin took a seat at the piano. and playing a jolly air said: Do, Ella please dance the cake walk for Bessie.'
 Mrs. Wilcox looked just little demur- ring then her face changed.
 "Yes, I will" And there by rag time music played by the stately. beautiful Helen Pitkin, the world famed poet. in her white reception gown. did the cake walk for the young girl whom they say has only a few weeks at most left of life. We left and as the laughter died away a big lump came in my throat RECEPTION AT
 ST. CHARLES HOTEL.
 A brilliant reception was given on Thursday evening at the Palm Garden of the St. Charles Hotel when about 1,50O guests were invited to meet Ella Wheeler Wilcox and from the throng who came 1t seemed that all accepted. Eager to meet the woman with whom the general public is so familiar.
 All the book stores in New Orleans had windows devoted to the poet during the week. There were vases of Her favorite flowers" the carnations; there were pie lures of her, and there were her books galore, even all the novels she so deplores that she ever wrote.
 BREAKFAST AT BEGUE.
 On Thursday at Il o'clock thirty eight