The Washington times., 1910-07-04
MRS. BRIGGS. OLIVIA.
LAYS DOWN HER PEN
Brilliant Newspaper Work in
Sixties Won Her Last
ing RenOwn.
MAPLE SQUARE"
MECCA OF FAMOUS
Pioneer Woman Journalist in
Washington Field to Be Buried
in Chicago

Lying wrfnDed in her ShrOud IN q little
darkened room on the upper floor Of the
quaint, rambling old building that for
forty. years has known hez- presence, lies
the BODY OF Mrs Emily E Briggs, the
most noted and brilliant newspaper
woman Of her day and age
She died yesterday afternoon at 2-30
O'Clock after an illness of nearly one
year. during which time she was only
able 10 make known her few wants by
signs TO her ever-present nurse and
loved ones Of the family
Maple Square" the house wherein she
passed away, lies amid he foliage Cf
great maple trees in the square bounded
by South Carolina avenue, D street,
Sixth street and Seventh street south
east and IS one Of the landmarks Of the
District, famous for having sheltered
such men as Francis Scott Key and
many Senators who attended the Con
Eress that declared war against Great
Britain in ISI2
Mrs Briggs became famous for her
Journalistic work away back III the
early SIS. VIXEN she wrote Washington
news letters for the Philadelphia Press
She also worked for the old Washing
ton Chronicle. edited bv Col John W
q
membered by the older residents Of the
city
Mrs Eriggs. following her services for
the Philadelphia Press. was the Wash
inEton correspondent TOT the Philadel-
phia Times. under Col Alexander X
Mcclure
Original Newspaper Woman
Mrs Briggs bears the unique distinc-
tjon Of being the original newspaper WO-
man. for uU TO the tiue she entered
the field as correspondent for daliless
the woman Journalist was unknown
The best known Of Mrs BriEEs' books
was compilation Of her newspaper cor
resnonIence. published und'r the title
OF olivia Letters" which Won fo- their
author wide popularity
Perhaps her most famous piece Of
rep0rt0riaI work was the Impeachment
trial Of Andrew Johnson She intro
d1zced a new feature into Journalism
Instead of reporting merely the dry
official business OF the trial. Sne moor
porated Ia her stories great deal o.
descriptive work.
she described the peop-c in the gal
ieries and told CEarmlDglE or what .IleF
cid when General Butler made his
s-rech she uIinuteIv described the man
After that she slowly gained the conf
deuce Of statesmen 70 whom women l.1
a
herself a national reputation
Born In Chicago.
Mrs. Briggs was born in Chicago al
most eighty years ago. and was the
daughter Of wealthy Robert Edison She
received an unusually liberal education
for a girI. and as Miss Emily Edison
became prominent socially In Chicago
and New York. During her early years
a wealthy husband was selected for her
bv her father, but Miss Emily WASH {
so inclined. She did not love the suitor
picked for her, but braved her parents
wrath by marrying John r Briggs.
the editor OF the Daily Gate City OF
- Gate City Iowa Mrs Briggs deter
mined 10 1T herself 10 become assist
ant TO her husband in newspaper WoEh,
and how well she succeeded may De
seen bv the fame she won
II is almost forty years since Mrs.
Br1SEs came 20 Washington and pur-
chased Maple Square, a house uullt OF
bricks brought over irOT England SnCL L
Iy after the Revoluton2Iy war There
she has lived summer al-E winter and
the ceutUry-oId halls have TUuE with the
meFriueut of young voices and childish
laughter for Aunt Emily dearly loved
children and always had them around
her.
Entertained Famous Men
To the historic old house also came
men of national fame To chat with the
brilliant woman Journalist and swap
opinions on the political questions Of the
day. There she entertained with lavish
hand until insidious ase creeped. upon
her and she was forced 10 abandon
many Of the gayetiCs she had been ac-
CuStOued TO
NeighbOThOOd MOuTus
EIsou Briggs, a prominent real estate
broker of Washington, said this morn
tne that some one had been continually
With lis mother since she began to fail
The peaceful I'D came at just 2:3a
9C-oCE Yesterday afternoon BY her
Bedside was her only son and his wife
and their two little Cf fiIdren.
The body VIII be taken to Chicago
Wednesday morning. following funeral
services tomorrow afternoon at Maple
Square lIr- Briggs and his wife VIII
accompany the remains Iuterment viii
be made iu beautiful EoseEHI Cemetery,
the huryiuZ ground Of the Briggs family
for half century. Olivia VIII rest
beside the graves OF her three sisters,
her father and mother and near reIa-
tives-