Evening star., 1935-08-31
NATALIE LINCOLN,
WRITER, D|ESAT s.
Novelist and Editor of D. A.
R. Magazine Worked
Almost to Last.

MISS Ndtduc ouullicI bulCOlu, "cAA
known writer of mystery and de-
tective stories and editor Of the
Daughters OF the American Revolution
Magazine for 20 years. died today at
her home, 3104 Hawthorne street,
after long illness.
For four years Miss Lincoln had
been q sufferer from arthritis, which
recently brought about a physical
collapse. She was born here on Oc-
tober 4, 1881.
With characteristic determination,
Miss Lincoln kept up her work almost
to the end, until her condition be-
came much worse about two weeks
ago. The September issue of the
D. A. r. Magazine. published by the
National Society. was mailed to sub
scribers last week. but new mystery
book which Miss Lincoln started dur
ing the Summer remains half finished.
Wrote Book . Year.
A prolific fiction writer, Miss Lin
coin easily finished q book each year.
some times two. Her last volume.
"I3 Thirteenth Street." was written
In 1892, when she was suffering
acutely from arthritis. She dictated
a chapter each day, revising and COM
pleting the entire book in Is days to
send at once to her lblishers.
Practically all Of Miss Lincoln's
stories we're laid in the Washington
she knew so well Her first book, THE
Trevor Case" was published in 1912
and was an immediate success In
time she became q pular writer OF
detective fiction and q contributor to
various magazines. including McCall's,
All Story, Smiths, Detective Stories
and the MacFadden publications.
She followed up her first book the
same year with The Lost Dispatch"
and then launched into annual pro-
duction. Miss Lincoln, in late years,
never worked out q plot in advance OF
writing. She would start with an idea
and weave the intricate pattern OF
her stories as she wrote.
Drove Self Hard.
She once said "a smattering OF law
and medicine and an active imagina-
ton" constituted probably the best
recipe for detective story writing. She
might have added hard work, for Miss
Lincoln drove herself hard always In
research for plot ideas and attending
to a long list of varied interests while
keeping up q fast pace Of writing.
The scene Of only one Of her q
volumes, '"The Mystery Of MohawE
Farm" was laid outside her native
Washington. The local color of her
works, drawn largely from her init
mate knowledge Of Washington condi'
tions, likewise necessitated much re-
search into historical events.
She was the daughter Of the late Dr.
Nathan s. Lincoln and JEANNE Goulc
Lincoln. Her father was q leading
physician here for many years and al
one time was White House physician
to President Garfield. From hei
mother, Miss Lincoln undoubtedly de-
rived her literary talents. During the
days following the Civil War, Mrs. Lin
coin was one of the most popular Of
the American novelists and her poetry
as young woman. brought q. congrat-
ulatory note from Lord Tennyson.
Edited d A. r. Magazine.
| Miss Lincoln from 1912 to 1914
served as society editor Of the Wash
ington Herald, but soon gave up active
newspaper work to devote full time tt
fiction writing. Always active in D. A
r. affairs, she was elected editor oi
the oficial magazine of the Nationa
Society in 1915. Some years previous
ly she held the same position for q
short while until she resigned.
From 1915 on she never missed Q
single copy Of the ,--gazine, building
up its circulation, and In recent year
making l. q financial asset instead o.
a liability. She encouraged the pub
lication Of historical articles ans
steadily improved the editorial tone
She was . member Of the Litchfleld
Conn, chapter and prominent in thu
national affairs Of the society. Few
persons connected with the D. A. r
had q wider q 1uaintance in its huge
/ -mbership or more loyal friends.
Among Miss Lincoln's numerous in.
terests was her collection of postage
stamps.
Member Of Mayfiower Society.
Miss Lincoln was a member of the
Authors League of America, the May
flower Society, being q direct descend
ant Of Gov. william Bradford; the
Society Of Founders and Patriots OF
America, the Colonial Danes Of Amer
| lea as well as the d. A. r. She also
belonged to the Women's National
Press Club, the Colonial Danes Club
and the womens City Club.
She is survived by q brother, G.
Gould Lincoln. Arrangements for the
funeral have not been completed.