Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-07-07
ELSIE REAsONER's FAIR ROMANCE,
# q u Il " u u u II II II Il 4,

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The Boston Post tells this interes
ing story Of former Abilene girl
romance:
She is a slip Of girl. only five fe'
tall--just like china doll--and sh
seemed altogether out Of place on th
battlefield. But as the shells shrieke
and the Mauser bullets sang, sh
walked cheerfully around, watchinI
the wounded men fall, and then afte
she had helped them, asking then
questions about it. Nov and agail
she paused to take snapshot photo
graphs.
As she was the only girl war cor
respondent, 1t was her business to b.
there. And such brave little body
Nothing seemed to daunt her. 1t Il
no wonder the war artist fell in Low,
with her. He couldn't help it. They
were married few days ago.
He is Lester Ralph, the con Of the
famous war correspondent, whose Wal
pictures are known throughout the
world; she was Elsie Reasoner. Her
graphic pen pictures Of the American
campaign in Cuba-made when she
was only 19-illumiued the pages Of
the magazines.
Elsie Reasoner was reared in the
atmosphere Of the editorial room.
Her father, the Hon. Calvin Rsasoner,
now retired from active work, was for
many years one Of the most forceful
writer's Of the west. She was reared
in Leavenworth, Kansas, and later
went to school in Washington, D. G.
When she was graduated she began
the serious work Of life under the
tutelage Of her father, upon a news
paper in Salt Lake City. Miss Rea-
soner began by writing art criticisms.
Art criticisms are not very exciting,
but still they are newspaper work,
and she liked them.
She wrote so well, too, that before
long the editor Of newspaper in Chi
cago found out about her. Then she
went to Chicago, and her studies Of
cart in the West" made there are
quite famous in their way. Finally
the Spanish-American war broke out.
War stories are more interesting
than art criticisms. Even the lay
man can understand that, but only q |
newspaper woman or newspaper man
can really appreciate the difference.
The newspaper blood in the veins Of
Elsie Reasoner began to simmer with
the first rumor Of war. When war
was actually declared she found that
.rt really didn't interest her any
more.
n was determined to 60 to that
var" she says, land I wrote to my
ather and told him so. He advised
ne to 60 by all means if felt that
way about it. So I hurried to
Jew Yoak and tried to get an appoint
nent as correspondent from some Of
he magazines there, but none OF
hem would send me. They said 1t
res no sort OF work for q woman and
couldn't possibly do 1t.
"Aiter all the others, | went to
lectures. A whole lot Of CORES
ondents were held up Of Key West !
that time waiting for chance to t
0 to Cuba. The outlook was mot &
romising for my getting there. l b
ust confess, but was bound to 60. 3
hen l saw Mr.. Mcclure and made II
y proposition to him he refused o
lint blank to send me.
Why, It's foolish, he said. You 81
MT get through. and even IL You II
ould you might not come back 81
I've. won't take thsrssponsibility. fl
1t II you do 90 I'll be glad to take "
,atever you write
IL thought long and hard over the pr
nation, and made up my mind that ID
, chance Of getting to Cuba BY way as
Jamaica was better than Florida, vi
/ took steamship for Kingston
It very day. On landing, l hurried tn
rail 10 Port Antonio. and BY great RI
ID luck, the Red Cross steamer th
10 Of Texas came into the hsrbor XII
4 very night. wi
i was we'll supplied with letters Of BIZ
reduction from influential public an
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