Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-25

Harrow, England, Aug. 24-(By A.
P)-kate Douglas Wiggin, the
American author. died last night.
The novelist was taken seriously
i'll on ner voyage to England last
June and went to a nursing home in
Liverpool for treatment. Her condi-
ton, however, was not regarded as
critical and in few days word came
that she was able to spend much of
her time out of doors.
The novelist later underwent an
operation from the effects Of which
she did not recover.
The funeral arrangements have
not been completed pending the COM
ing of the authoress husband. George
c. Riggs, who is understood to be on
the way here from the United States.
Kate Douglas Wiggin. often called
the 'prima donna Of literature" was
one of the most accomplished women
engaged in literary and philanthropic
work in the United States.
1t was back in 1876 that Mrs. Wig
gin, then Kate Douglas Smith, left
her home in Maine and journeyed to
California for the purpose of study
ing kindergarten methods. She
taught for a year in Santa Barbara
college. and was then called upon to
organize the Silver Street Kinder
garten in San Francisco. the first
free school of the kind west of the
Rocky Mountains.
Little was known of kindergarten
work at the time. but the ideas of
Mrs. Wiggin soon began to attract
wide attention, and it was not long
before she was joined by Mrs. Sarah
IS. Cooper, the noted educator. who
assisted Mrs. Wiggin in forming the
California kindergarten Training
school, which established more than
60 schools for poor children in the
west.
After her marriage in 1880 to Sam
uel Bradley Wiggin. a lawyer of San
Francisco, Mrs. Wiggin gave up
teaching and turned her attention
to literature, using the rich material
she had gathered in her kindergarten
work to weave into stories of great
CT influence for wider public.
Her first story, called Half Doz-
en- Housekcepers," had appeared in
1878. before she thought of giving up
teaching. 1t was several years later
that 1.-THE Story of Patsy" and 1.-THE
Birds' Christmas Carol were pub
Iishcd and met with unexpected sue
cess.
In 1888, Mr.. and Mrs. Wiggin re-
moved to New York, where she pub
lished "A Summer in Canyon.
"Timothy's Quest" and "A Cathedral
Courtship,' which were translated
into several foreign languages and
Immediately became popular in Eu-
rope.
Among her numerous books were
"Penelope's Progress" THE Affair at
the Inn" 1.-The Old Peabody Pew
Mother Careys' Chickens" 1.-THE
story Of Waitstill Baxter" and Re
becca of Sunny brook Farm" Sev-
eral of these she dramatiZed. with
Nora Archibald Smith she wrote and
edited many kindergarten books.
In addition to her literary ability,
both prose and verse. Mrs. Wiggln
was an accomplished musician. and
composed several melodies for her
favorite poems.
Although born in philadelphia IN
1857. the childhood Of Mrs. Wiggin
was passed in Hollis. Me-. where her
father, n lawyer. removed shortly
after her birth. She was educated in
Abbott academy, Andovcr. Mass. :.
Mrs. Virgins second husband was
George Christopher Riggs. whom she
married in 1895, six years otter the
death of Samuel Wiggin. She con-
tinued to reside in New York, pass
ing her summers in Hollis.
In June, 1923, Mrs. Wiggin was
taken seriously i'll in England where
she had gone to attend the Dickens
Fellowship as delegate from New
York