The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-22
MARY ,MAPES DODGE DEAD.
FRIEND or EVERY BOY AND GIRL
PASSES AWAY At ONTEORA.

Her story Of "Hans brink e." Read In Man,
TonGues-Associate Of Mrs. STOW and
Editor OF "St. Nicholas" From III
Start--Had been In Failing Health.
Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge. editor-in-ohiei
Of 81. Nicholas and writer OF children
stories, died at Onteora Park, In tho Cats
kills, yesterday morning.
Mrs. Dodge had not been we'll for several
months. She Lived In the Osborn apart
ments, at Seventh avenue and Ffty-sev-
enth street, and she complained OF III health
when she left there for the mountains In
June. She was 81 years old. having been
born in this city in 1888.
Her father was q we'll known scholar.
Prof. James j. Mapes. He was noted 40
. chemist. inventor. civil engineer and
author. She WAS educated at homo with
two sisters. and when she was 8 years
old she began to celebrate family ami
versaries by poems and short stories.
When she was young girl she married
William Dodge, q lawyer who lived only
few years and left her with living to make
for herself and two sons. Il started writing
to educate my boys, she wrote to friend
about that time. These sons were Harry.
who died-twenty years ago, and James A..
who il the president at the Link Belt Com
pany Of Philadelphia.
Her first literary venture was "The Irv-
ington Stories" q collection Of tales for
children Published In 1884. They were
eagerly accepted by periodicals., who sent
requests for more.
X am almost sorry to confess Mrs.
Dodge once said. that my literary career
has been without struggle. Perhaps 1t
has been too easy-everything wrote
was kindly received
While reading Motley's history OF the
Dutch Republic the outline Of story for
en- ber ed 70 t 3ee BLOT
from the same true character which was
converted by Washington Irving mp Up
Van Wrinkle. In few months Hans
Brin ker, or the Silver Skates" was written.
Mrs. Dodge found herself famous. The
and Russian, and was twisted into the
language Of its own native scene, 30 that
thousands Of small Hollanders read 1t with
pleasure.
Hans Brinker" was the most famous Of
all Mrs. Dodges stories. In writing, It
she ransaoked libraries, wrote innumerable
letters and had each chapter critically re-
vised by two Dutch friends.
From 1870 to 1873 Mrs. Dodge was asso-
ciate editor with Harriet Beecher Stowe OF
Hearth and Home, taking charge Of the
and Juvenile departments. When
the owners Of the Century Magazine founded
st. Nicholas, an illustrated monthly for
children, In 1873, Mrs Dodge became the
In that capacity she be-
came a very near friend OF thousands OF
children in this country and England. The
name, ST. Nicholas, itself was imported
straight from Holland by Mrs. Dodge.
Under her management the magazine BE-
came very successful.
Notwithstanding her busy editorial life,
Mrs. Dodge found time to publish many
books. @Theophilus and Others written
in 1879. was a collection Of stories for older
people Then she wrote Rhymes and
Jingles,' Along the Way and Donald
and Dorothy This last, Mrs. Dodge
said, was her favorite book.
She permitted none OF her small heroines
to be sentimental. Miss Ellen Eliza Dandy
In one Of her books. Ia severely taken to
task for coddling pet chicken instead
Of helping her tired sister tend the baby.
Mrs. Dodge also wrote The Land OF
Pluck when Life Was Young" "A New
Baby World and a sketch entitled Miss
Ma oney on the Chinese Question"
While retaining the title Of editor-in chief
Of 81. Nicholas and making occasional
contributions to the magazine, Mrs. Dodge
had retired from actual editorial control
for the last four years.