Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-02-01

TO many readers of Mrs. Wilson
Woodrow's breezy stories that from
time to time appear in the popular
magazines it will be surprise TO
learn that the author Is slight young
woman with curly blond nar and al
together feminine in manner and ap-
pearance. The vigor. breadth and
masculine viewpoint of her stories
have caused many persons to imagine
the author was man masquerading
under feminine pen name. But Mrs.
Wilson Woodrow Is really the name of
this very clever little lady. Her hus-
band and Governor Woodrow Wilson
of New Jersey are cousins, named aft
err uncles with the surname Of Wilson
and Woodrow, respectively, and the
Christian names Thomas and James.
and when the boys grew up the au-
thor's husband dropped the James and
Woodrow Wilson dropped the Thomas.
So Mrs, Woodrow can't help her name
nor the fact that she's woman.
When Mrs. Woodrow was asked to
account for the masculine viewpoint
in her writings she replied: Il was
brought up in family which included
more men than women, which taught
me perhaps to handle my male char
ncters in n fashion true to life. l am
not college graduate" she continued.
II never went to school even. When
l wanted to learn anything and said
so | had teaahers provided at home"
Before going to New York city ten
years ago from her home in southern
Ohio Mrs. Woodrow had written no
fiction, and her first short story, whose
scene was laid in a mining camp, was
submitted to New York newspaper
syndicate, and check for 500 was
sent to her two days later for the
story. with the request from the same
firm for series Of stories based on
mining camp life.
The same week Mrs. Woodrow sent
Il humorous sketch to Il society maya
zine, which was accepted with re
quest for more copy of the same char
acter.
This was the start. and the dainty
little authoress thought the letters so
wonderful that they found n place Of
honor as n decoration on her study
wall
Mrs. Woodrow thinks that "pull" has
nothing whatever to do with the plac-
Ing of manuscripts and as for person
ality influencing editors and publishers
h,..l Ia Il IL
ance of her stories rs her stuff was
sold before she had met the editors.
When asked recently If she intended
to Coutlnc herself 30 short story writ
ing, Mrs Woodrow answered; "Oh,
dear no feel rs II had just be
out. My best work. hope, is to come,
and this, | think, Will be expressed in
hong stories For one thing. novels pay
the better One puts almost as many
ideas and rs much work into short
story MS into a novel and for com
parativcly small return. The follow,
ing is how Mrs. Woodrow's days are
spent when Il long story is being writ
ten:
Il cut out social pleasures almost en-
tirely- that Is, anything likely to dis
tract my thoughts from the main
trend | don't go to the theater. for in
stance, nor to teas nor dinners. nor To
entertainments where shall meet and
talk with lot OF people. can't stand
play at such times. get better re-
suits by working steadily when | work
and playing only when my work is
done or course | don't mean that
write all day long | get To work ear
ly, soon after I o'clock, and stay ut
my desk tin O'Clock or SO. doing per
haps $500 words After lunch | walk,
motor or do something that doesn't dis.
tract my thoughts too much. | wish
flying machines were In fashion, for
II seems to me that would be an ideal
ly secluded way to take pleasure and
exercise at the same time When
come home | may work couple OF
hours more. going over proofs or re
vising something already written. but
| don't resume work on my story until
the next morning"
The Rev. DIR. Anna Howard Shaw
is said to have preached in more coun-
/ tries than any other woman in the
ministry. Besides this country. Dr.
Shaw has preached in England. Ger
many. Sweden. Denmark and Holland