The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-12-09
LESSON IN LIFE OF
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT
Brave New England Wom-
an an Inspiration.


in the life Of Louisa May Alcott. the
one-hundredth anniversary OF whose
birth occurred on the 10Th Of Novem-
Der. Her father was visionary and
impractical. In advance Of his time:
her mother was a woman of sound
sense and executive ability. There
were four girls TO provide for and
the problem was great With vision
beyond that of her father and an
executive ability worthy of her moth
er. Louisa worked ouf this problem.
within her ffty-six years of life
At the age Of eight, she wrote ner
first poem, ITO a Robin:
Welcome. welcome. little stranger.
Fear no harm, and fear no danger;
We are glad to see you here
For you sing Sweet Spring Is near"
Now the white snow melts away;
Now the flowers blossom gay;
Come. dear bird. and build your nest.
For We love our robin best
At fifteen, she was writing more
poetry, and plays and stories, and
sold story for the fabulous sum of
s. She used 10 imagine that her
mind was a room in confusion. and
she was glad TO put il 10 rights,
sweeping out the useless thoughts
and busting foolish fancies away,
furnishing il with good resolutions
and new beginnings Her first book
of short stories. Flower Fables"
sold for SD. quite a contrast 10 the
royalties received for her 100000
copies Of Little Women"
In the interval between those two
extremes. she wrote Hospital
Sketches" and her first novel called
Moods" which sold fairly well. and
enabled her 10 make trip TO Eu-
rope. where she happened upon the
young Polish boy who was 10 figure
as Laurie in her Little Women"
Returning she began 10 set down the
experiences Of her home life which
were first called The Pathetic Fami-
~" and thought rather dull But
when a happier title was chosen ii
made her fortune and she called
Little Women" the first golden egg
Of the ugly duckling."
Her own statement about the orig
inals of the story is this: Facts that
are true: Little Women early plays
and experiences, Beth's death, JOS
literary. and Army's artistic expert
ences; Meg's happy home; John
Brooke and his death; Dennis char
acter. Mr.. March did not go 70 war,
but 10 did. Mrs. March is all true,
only not half good enough. Laurie is
not an American boy, though every
lad ever knew claims the character.
Mr.. Lawrence is my grandfather,
Col Joseph May. Aunt March is no
one"
Ar thirty-six, Louisa found her
self famous, in poor health, but she
said: paid up all the debts, thank
the Lordi every penny that money
can pay, and now feel as If ! could
die in peace" In 1870, after writing
AN Old Fashioned Girl" she found
the royalties from Little Women"
would justify another trip 20 Europe.
On her return in 1872, she wrote
Work" giving gEmpses Of her Own
life in story form. followed by Eight
Cousins" which was popular enough
TO demand a sequel. Rose in Bloom"
But death robbed her Of another sis
ter, her mother and her father. whom
she survived by only two days. not
knowing that he had gone on before
A year ago. found myself wander
ing from room to room Of the Old
Orchard house purchased by the
Woman's club of Concord as a me-
mortal for the beloved writer Of sto-
ries for girls and boys. The first gift
toward the purchase Of the house
was cents, contributed by a little
girl who had saved il from her al
lowance Of cents a week. With
awe. we gazed upon the old piano
where those girls had sung their