The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-30

woman humorist of any other land
| equals her. She told me of her first
book, MY Opinions and Betsy Bob
Belts" A publisher had expressed a
| desire to examine her writings. .
81 sent him specimens of three kinds
said Miss Holley-"poems, serious es-
| says-these both in good English-then
some humorous dialect sketches. He
wrote back asking me to prepare for
him book in the dialect talk. 1 was
bitterly disappointed. L wanted him to
choose my good English.
Nevertheless she Immediately shut
herself up and wrote my Opinions and
Betsy Bobbett's.'' No one outside her
family knew what she was about.
Il have found out it is not a good
plan to say anything about book am
writing till the book is DONE" says Miss
Holley.
She discovered thus for herself the
occult law that works through silence.
Plans and forces are scattered and
come to naught through being pro-
claimed to all the world. When the
book was written it had Immediately
great success and was quickly Tepub-
lished in England. Betsy Bobbett"
was the first in a series of some of the
most successful books written in Amer
lea in recent times. OF these "Saman-
tina at Saratoga" is an especial favorite.
Miss Holley has a lovely home at
Pierrepont Manor, N. Y near the spot
where she was born. She herself plan
ned the mansion and had it built to suit
herself. Into her studio, where she
writes, sunshine comes all day long at
the bay front. like the mans revolving
house. The garden and grounds are
beautiful as good taste can make them.
"T always wanted to live near the
water" says Miss Holley. $50 I had
ponds dug on my place" Thus she
made the water come to her.
Miss Holley is methodical in her hab-
its and accomplishes much work. She
can write best in the morning. so rises
early. BY O'Clock she breakfasts and
is often at work before s. Before sit
ting down to her desk she arranges her
hair carefully and makes a neat toilet.
She respects her PROFESSIONALS for it
something of the feeling that prompted
Michael Angelo to paint his great pic
lures upon his knees.
I've got to be dressed. I cannot sit
down to write in a kimono and sloppy
slippers with my hair uncombed." says
Marietta Holley. i
She writes very rapidly doing her
best work when the mood is on" She
writes with a pencil the first rough
draft of a story. then corrects and con-
siders it carefully and finally dictates
IL 10 ner typewriter. several of her
books were talked into a phonograph,
from which the typist copied them. In
stories of pathos. like Sweet Cicely''
she often cries with the people she Gre
ates: in comic scenes she laughs with
them. When something she writes
makes Marietta Holley herself laugh or
cry she knows it will affect her readers
likewise. ass
AS 1 took my leave Miss Holley gave
me a rose from a rare bunch of Amer
lean Beauties and herself came and
stood framed in the doorway with
the soft light upon her strong. true
kindly face. the face of one who never
smiled sweetly on sister woman and
spoke words of praise to her. then |
when her back was turned assailed her !
with poison tongued malice and ridi- !
Guile. The lady. the light and the rose
left with. me "a remembrance like the |
perfume ofg3rgood deed.
ELIZABETH LEE.