Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-03-11

New York, March l1.--WhO Ia Anne>
Rittenhouse2 For the last eight or
ten years. women from the Great
Lakes to the Gulf and from New York
to tho Pacific Coast have asked each
other that question. AZ tho Anne
Rittenhouse fashion page appeared In
many OF the Sunday newspapers and
frequently In Every Evening. they
eagerly read II to SEQ what Milady
should wear, all the time wondering II
she was a real person after all. She
must be, they argued, for her writing
had real individuality, and she gave an
interest to fashions that no other
newspaper writer had ever obtained.
As her success grew. her fame went
abroad and she began writing about
the all-absorbing topic OF clothes for
the women OF England. Australia and
Scotland. And they. in turn, wondered
about her, who was she. what was she
like and was Anne Rittenhouse her
real name after all?
And then the editor Of Every Even
ing thought that he would find out for
his women readers whether Anne
| Rittenhouse was n myth or a reality,
and ne commissioned me to find her
and write a story about her, so that
in the future when you read the Anne
Rlttenhouse fashions. you can feel
that you really know her.
i located her very quickly. for she
Is quite a parsonage and Is just as
charming and interesting as the page
which she writes for you every week.
She lives in New York City, in sight
OF Washington Square, preferring the
quaintness and atmosphere OF what
used 10 be the most aristocratic sec
/ ton OF New York 10 the present ia sh-
ionalle uptown district.
First. l must tell you that she IS
Southerner and that it was in the
city Of Augusta, Ga, that she started
her newspaper career, selling her first
story TO the Augusta Chronicle.
Her real name Is Miss Harry Dele
/ Hallmark and Anne Rlttenhouse is
her pen name. but that is going ahead
of my story.
Before she was out Of her teens
Miss Hallmark became interested in
newspaper work. an urfheard OF thing
almost, for women IN the South al
/ that time. The originality and pluck
which made her so successful were
with her from the first and despite
tiiscouragements and the stern dis
approval OF her family. she applied e
/ the managing editor OF the Augusta
Chronicle for a job. Pleasant Stovall
now publisher OF the Savannah Press
occupied this position and Miss Hail
mary says that she will never forge
his kindness to her, or his word o.
advice:
IF you are going 10 write, the frs
thing you must learn IS 10 write abou
the common daily things OF nfe, littl,
happenings. little incidents. Always
be guided by what interests you"
Shortly after her talk with Mr.
Stovau she came North 70 spend sew.
eraI months with a party OF friends
She Immediately attended a lecture b,
Chauncey Depew. and sent back {
story, In tho nature OF character
sketch 20 the Augusta Chronicle. /
was printed and the game day 1t ap
peared. there was an editorial, statins
that "our new reporter seems 10 show
ability 70 sketch with her pencil
rather than 10 report IN the usua
manner" This was rare praise for s
beginner. and IL so encouraged Mis-
Hallmark that she sent back numer
Gus stories.
on her return 10 Augusta she wa
given the position Of society editor o
the Chronicle. which she did not keel
very long as she came TO grief Il
rather a humorous fashion. In thos
days the St Valentine Ball m August;
was an event 10 be compared il
social Importance with the ST. Cecili
Ball in Charleston. S. c, and III
newspaper account Of IL was an iier
OF special interest. Miss Hallmark the
at the pleasure-loving age. and rean
more interested IN having good tim
at the bali, than in the task OF re
porting II, went. Guests were ad
mitted only by invitation and In
cards were collected at the doe. a
the time drew near for the youn
! society editor 10 send m her story. sh
4 secured these cards for her list {
] guests and when she found a car
{ bearing the name OF Mr.. James Smit
2 for example, she also added Mr.
e Smith. Blithely she sent in her stor
&c the Chronicle and thought no NOR
e about it. When she reported at ne
= office the next day. she was sunrnone
s t. the Office of Mr.. Edward Hook, the
{ managing editor. Very solemnly h
q told her My dear. you are bound
= be an unparalleled success; you hav