Evening star., 1924-10-26
LAURA JEAN L|bbEY,
NOVELIST, IS DEAD
Famous as Writer of Love
StorieS-WaS Sick 0nIy
Short Time.
BY the Associated Press

By the Assoca ted Press.
NEW YORK, October 25.-Laura
Jean Libbey. widely known woman
writer, died at o'clock today in her
only short time. She was born in
this city 62 years ago.
A composition, written at sch ool
when she was II years old, was the
means of starting Laura Jean Iibbey
in literary work which eventually
made her one of the most widely
known woman writer's in the coun-
try. The composition was part of
the regular work in her writing class
and 1t so impressed her teacher that
the latter took the future author
with hers work to Robert Bonner,
editor of the New York Ledger. After
reading it he accepted it as a contri-
button for the Ledger, paid the girl
s. and said to her:
But don't bring any more until you
are Is years old
Continued TO Write.
Although she needed tile advice 50
far as the Ledger was concerned.
Laura Jean Libbey continued to write
and when she had reached the age of
IS and again visited Mr.. Bonner's Of
fee she was engaged as a regular
contributor to the newspaper. Her
stories and articles next appeared in
the Fireside Companion and the Fam
lily Story Paper, which supplied the
fiction reading for a large number of
families throughout the country.
Notwithstanding her early success.
Miss Libbey had not dete rmincd
whether she wanted to be a writer or
an actress. She sought the assistance
of Daniel F'rohman in making up her
mind, and when he advised her to
forget the stage and continue her
writing she accepted his judgm lent.
During Se period of time she pub
lished her first few novels, she re-
mained in newspaper work, serving
as editor of the New York Fashion
Bazaar and for three years as special
correspondent of the New York Eve
ming World
Miss Libbey wrote more than 80
novels. in virtually all of which the
main theme was love--love of a very
ardent kind. This class of literature
appealed to thousands of women and
girls with the result that her books
enjoyed large sales. She attributed
her popularity among women readers
to the happy ending of all my books.
and the fact that | write directly to
the heart" The climax in nearly all
her books led TO the bridal altar or
ring.
Best known of Works.
The best known of her novels were:
Lovers once But Strangers Now"
That Pretty Young Girl" Miss Mid
dleton's Lover" a Forbidden Mar
riaSe," Olives Courtship" and
When His Love Grew Cold" OF her
books, the author regarded Lovers
once But Strangers Now" and ''Wher
His Love Grew Cold" as the best
Miss Middleton's Lover" was drama
tized and produced at Blaney's old
theater. Brooklyn, under the title.
Parted on Her Bridal Tour" On the
opening night the audience demanded
the appearance of the author before
the curtain.
Miss Libbey regarded as one of the
great Satisfactions of her life the fact
that che had seen aler books read
wherever she Travelled in the United
States from the Atlantic to the Pa
enc Asked once how she was able
TO turn out novels SO frequently, she
replied:
Il never have had to struggle TO
succeed in completing u book. / al
ways found it easy TO write. Usually
inquired on 20 chapters to a book
and then proceeded to write one
chapter day. but sometim there
were several Gays between chapters"
At another time she was asked if
she had ever built the plot of a book
on any incident of her life. She re-
piled:
"Oh, no. Do look as if I had had
any adventures? L haven't"
Laura Jean Libby was born in New
York City March 90. 1852. the daugh-
ter of Thomas III. and Elizabeth Lib
bey. She was educated in private
schools. On September 81, 1898, she
was married to Van Mater Stillwell
lawyer of Brooklyn, and had since
made her home there.