Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-25

Among the younger generation of
those of Names daughters whose Spe-
cial talents have brought them promi-
nently into public notice and won for
them more than merely local recogni-
ton and well deserved praise. Mrs.
Florence Brooks Whitehouse of this
city easily maintains her early earned
position in the foremost rank.
Imaginative, sensitive and emotional.
keenly observant. and gifted with an
unusual power of self-eXpreSsiOn, Mrs
WhitehOuse even as Il child in the pub
lie schools of AuSuSta-her native city
was alluded from the great ma jor-
ity of her schOOlmates. Her strong
individuality, evinced almost from in
fancy made her not only a leader. but
ut the same time a favorite, among
her companions; while her exceptional
mental gifts and her proficiency in her
studies, won her the admiring approval
of her instructors both in the common
schools and in st. Catharine'S Hall,
where she studied languages previous
to being enrolled as regular pupil,
finishing her school education there
with honor to herself and the faculty
of the institution.
Before she could write at all 'little
Florence Brooks" secretly printed
stories for her own amusement and
edification upon such stray bits of pa
per as came in her way. Later her
school slate was frequently covered
with condensed and necessarily ephe-
neral novels; and when she was less
than IL years of age she sent ro-
mantically dolorous tale to Harpers
Magazine. which venture so prompt
ly came back to her that her literary
ambition was entirely crushed for the
time being. After being graduated
from st. Catharine's Miss Brooks spent
several winters in Boston. where. al
though social favOrite. she devoted
a great deal of her time to the earnest
and absorbing study of art and music
adv ancing rapidly il; each of these
branches to q degree of proficiency
rarely achieved by an amateur.
An extended tour abroad during the
year 1929 added greatly to her al
ready large store of knowledge, and the
journal that she kept, illustrated by
her own clever sketches. during her
leisurely tourney through Europe
Egyut and the Holy Land. has proved
of invaluable assistance to her since
taking up serious literary work.
In 1894 Miss Brooks was married 70
Robert r. WhitehOuse. former
schoolmate. now one Of the ablest and
most successful lawyers of this state
and during the next few years wrote
some clever short stories which APP
reared in the Youths Companion and
other publications, and also several
plays which have been successfully
presented in this city and elsewhere
under her direction. The most popu-
lar of these plays is 1.-THE House Par
IT," written in collaboration with Mr.
Whitehouse. which has been played II
Portland, Brunswick. Augusta ano
Squirrel Island and other places. WITH
| its Joint authors. both of whom have
unusual histrionic ability, in the prin-
cipal roles.
| In April 1902. Mrs. Whitehouse's first
novel, 1.-THE Gcd of Things" was pub
lished by Little. Brown & Co. of Bos'
| ton. and was SO unusual both in plar
| and execution as to call forth wide ant
| extended comment. and also goot
deal of criticism so individual as Il
be. whatever the critics intent, mos
decidedly complimentary in these day.
| of machine made praise of mediocre
productions. 1t will interest the man!
readers of this popular book to know
| that as originally written it terminated
| with the Gath chapter-a far more
| artistic dcsinence than that acceded t
| the plea of those who begged for {
"happy ending"
During the fall and winter of 1903
Mrs. Whitehouse was made prisOne
nv an illness so severe that she wa:
unable even to sit up for over 81,
months. and it is to this long season
of enforced retirement from othel
duties domestic and social that thu
reading public owes her next book
"The Effendi."
Originally written as play. 9Th
Efendi" contained possibilities whicl
successfully appealed to the novels
side of Mrs. Whitehouse's intellect. an,
after remcdeiinS and expanding tn
plot, and changing the character
y about with the ruthless absolutism o