KANSAS WOMEN IN LITERATURE By Nettie Garmer Barker TO MY NEAREST AND DEAREST-- MY SILENT PARTNERS-- MY HUSBAND AND MY MOTHER. KANSAS WOMEN IN LITERATURE. "We are proud of Kansas, the beautiful queen, And proud are we of her fields of corn; But a nobler pride than these I ween, Is our pride in her children, Kansas born!" --Ellen P. Allerton-- --Or adopted. In this galaxy of bright women, the State has a noble pride for every name, be its owner Kansas born or adopted, is a mightier force for good than its "walls of corn. " EFFIE GRAHAM. The last place one would expect to find romance is in arithmetic andyet--Miss Effie Graham, the head of the Department of Mathematics in theTopeka High School, has found it there and better still, in her lecture"Living Arithmetic" she has shown others the way to find it there. MissGraham is one of the most talented women of the state. Ex-Gov. Hochhas called her "one of the most gifted women in the state noted for itsbrilliant women. Her heart and life are as pure as her mind is bright. " She was born and reared in Ohio, the daughter of a family of Ohiopioneers, a descendant of a Revolutionary soldier and also, of a warriorof 1812. As a student of the Ohio Northern University and later asa post-graduate worker at the University of California, ChicagoUniversity, and Harvard Summer School, she has as she says, "graduatedsometimes and has a degree but never 'finished' her education. " Desiring to get the school out into the world as well as the world backto the school, she has spoken and written on "Moving Into The King Row, ""Other Peoples' Children, " "Spirit of the Younger Generation, " "VineVersus Oak, " and "The Larger Service. " "Pictures Eight Hundred Children Selected, " "Speaking of Automobiles, ""The Unusual Thing, " "The High Cost of Learning, " and "Wanted--A Funeralof Algebraic Phraseology;" also, some verse, "The Twentieth RegimentKnight" and "Back to God's Country" are magazine work that never cameback. School Science & Mathematics, a magazine to which she contributesand of which she is an associate editor, gives hers as the only woman'sname on its staff of fifty editors. Her book, "The Passin' On Party, " raises the author to the rank of aclassic. To quote a critic: it is "a little like 'Mrs. Wiggs of theCabbage Patch, ' a little like 'Uncle Tom's Cabin, ' but not just likeeither of them. She reaches right down into human breasts and grips theheart strings. " It is the busy people who find time to do things and the mother-heart ofMiss Graham finds expression in her household in West Lawn, a suburbof Topeka. Among the members of her family are a niece and nephew whoseHigh School and College education she directs. ESTHER M. CLARK. Every Kansan, homesick in a foreign land, knows the call of Kansas andevery Kansan book lover knows Esther Clark's "Call of Kansas. " "Sweeter to me than the salt sea spray, the fragrance of summer rains: Nearer my heart than these mighty hills are the wind-swept Kansas plains: Dearer the sight of a shy, wild rose by the roadside's dusty way Than all the splendor of poppy-fields ablaze in the sun of May. Gay as the bold poinsetta is, and the burden of pepper trees, The sunflower, tawny and gold and brown, is richer, to me, than these. And rising ever above the song of the hoarse, insistent sea, The voice of the prairie, calling, calling me. Miss Clark was born in Neosho Co. , Kansas, about twelve miles southeastof Chanute, on a farm. At seven years of age, the family moved toChanute and her school days were spent at the old Pioneer Building, where her mother went to school before her. In 1894, she graduated here, later entering the University of Kansas for work in English. In 1906, "Verses by a Commonplace Person" was published. "The Call ofKansas and Other Verse" came out in 1909. This volume contained "MyDear" and "Good Night" which were set to music, and "Rose O' My Heart. " "Rose o' my heart, to-day I send A rose or two, You love roses, Rose o' my heart, I love you. Rose o' my heart, a rose is sweet And fresh as dew. Some have thorns, but, Rose o' my heart, None have you. Rose o' my heart, this day wear My roses, do! For next to my heart, Rose o' my heart, I wear you. " "My Dear" was written for her baby brother, during an absence from home, and is Miss Clark's favorite. She is in the office of the Extension Department at the University ofKansas, and has exclusive charge of club programs and does some work inpackage libraries. Just now she is contributing prose to some of the newspapers and doingsome splendid feature work. MARY VANCE HUMPHREY. Mary Vance Humphrey of Junction City, Kansas, has written a series ofshort stories on the property rights of women in Kansas, a subject thatwas and is, still, of vital importance to the women of the state. "TheLegal Status of Mrs. O'Rourke" and "King Lear in Kansas" are two of theseries. When young in heart and experience, Mrs. Humphrey wrote a number ofpoems. Her work in later years has been only prose. Her novel, "TheSquatter Sovereign" is an historical romance of pioneer days, thesettlement of Kansas in the fifties. Mrs. Humphrey is one of the founders of the Kansas State Social ScienceClub and the Woman's Kansas Day Club and the founder of the Reading Clubof Junction City. She has served as President of the State Federationand as Director of the General Federation of Women's Clubs and Presidentof the Woman's Kansas Day Club. Her work as member of the Board ofEducation has done much for Junction City and her interest in librarieshas done equally as much for the State of Kansas. Of her record as an official, Margaret Hill McCarter has written: "Herwhole soul is in her work. She is the genuine metal, shirking nothing, cheapening nothing, and withal happy in the enjoyment of her obligation. She stands for patriotism, progress and peace. Something of the messageof the shepherds heard out beyond Bethlehem that Christmas morning longago sounds in the chords she strikes. " As the wife of the late Judge James Humphrey, she proved herself theable companion of such a worthy man. KATE A. APLINGTON. The Kansas State Traveling Art Gallery owes its birth and much of itssuccess to Kate A. Aplington, the author of that typical western story, "Pilgrims of the Plains. " Since Feb. , 1907, the Art Gallery has beena recognized state institution, and as its Vice-President andSuperintendent and as the writer of the art lectures that accompany thework, Mrs. Aplington's broad-minded, artistic temperament and student'spersistency have made the gallery truly a work of art. At present, the Aplingtons are living at Miami, Florida, but for aquarter of a century, Council Grove, the most famous spot on the SantaFe Trail, was their home. Special investigations and researches on thesubject of the old Santa Fe Trail days and lecturers on educational andliterary topics resulted from years spent in that historic place. "Pilgrims of the Plains, " which came out in Feb. , 1913, is worthy ofa place in the front rank of western stories. In July of this year, Grossett and Dunlap will bring it out in their "Popular Edition" ofnovels. Mrs. Aplington is now working on a book on "Art-Museums of America" andjudging from the comments of prominent Museum Directors, this will be asgreat a success as her novel. "Florida of the Reclamation, " a characterstory with scenes laid in and around Miami, Florida, is also inpreparation. EMMA UPTON VAUGHN. The author of that versatile little book of short stories, "The LowerBureau Drawer" is Emma Upton Vaughn, a Kansas City, Kansas teacher. These heart stories, showing keen insight of human nature--especiallywoman nature--deal with every day life, each one a fascinatingrevelation, of character and soul. Mrs. Vaughn was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her early life was spentin Kansas. She is a graduate of the Kansas University, and has taught inthe public schools of the state. She wrote the "Bible and the Flag in the Public Schools" and hascontributed both prose and verse to the leading magazines andnewspapers. Feature articles and many good essays appear over hersignature. Her "Passing From Under The Partial Eclipse" did much togive Kansas City, Kansas her recognized place commercially on the map. A novel, "The Cresap Pension, " exposing a great pension fraud, is readyfor the press. JESSIE WRIGHT WHITECOMB. Jessie Wright Whitcomb, a Topeka writer of juvenile books is a lawyer inactive practice with her husband, Judge George H. Whitcomb and a motherof a remarkable family of five boys and one girl. The oldest son gainedhis A. B. In 1910 at the age of eighteen; in 1911 was appointed Rhodesscholar for Kansas; and is now a student at Oxford. His father andmother are in England at present visiting him. Mrs. Whitcomb is a contributor to the magazines and in addition, haswritten "Odd Little Lass, " "Freshman and Senior, " "Majorbanks, " "HisBest Friend, " "Pen's Venture, " "Queer As She Could Be, " and "CurlyHead. " She is a graduate of the University of Vermont and the Boston UniversityLaw School and was the first woman to lecture before a man's law school. MYRA WILLIAMS JARRELL. Myra Williams Jarrell, the daughter of the late Archie L. Williams, forthirty years, the attorney for the Union Pacific Railway in Kansas, andthe grand-daughter of Judge Archibald Williams, the first United StatesCircuit Judge of Kansas, appointed by Lincoln, comes of a literaryfamily. All of the men and some of the women on the father's side of thefamily and also, on the mother's to a great extent, had literary talent. As a child, she cherished an ambition to write and when occasionally oneof her letters to St. Nicholas saw publication, she felt she had crossedthe Alps of her desire. Her first real story, however, was written asshe rocked the cradle of her first born. The day, when she first saw her"stuff" in print, stands out in her memory second only to the halloweddays of her personal history, her wedding day and the days upon whichher children were born. Since then, Mrs. Jarrell has contributed to almost all the high classmagazines and has furnished special feature articles to newspapers. Some years ago, a small book, "Meg, of Valencia, " was written and now, anovel, "The Hand of The Potter" is ready for publication. In 1894, Myra Williams and J. F. Jarrell were married. This union wasblest with four children, three sons and one daughter. Mr. Jarrell isPublicity Agent of the Santa Fe. A number of years ago, he bought theHolton Signal and in trying to help her husband put some individualityinto the paper, Mrs. Jarrell began a department headed "Ramblings. "Later this was syndicated and finally issued in book form. Last winter, a play, "The Plain Clothes Man, " was produced by the NorthBrothers Stock Co. , at the Majestic Theatre, Topeka. This well writtenplay, with its novel and original characterization and its effectivecomedy lines, is now in the hands of two New York play brokers. Beforemany months, Mrs. Jarrell will be enjoying a royalty. In preparation, are two plays, as yet nameless; also, a play incollaboration with Mr. North of the North Stock Co. With her brother, Burus L. Williams, of Kansas City, Mo. , Mrs. Jarrell has written anopera, "The Mix Up in the Kingdom of Something-Like, " which awaits onlythe lyrics Mr. Williams is writing and the music. An opera, "The Kingdomof Never Come True, " also, in collaboration with Mr. Williams, is beingset to music by Arthur Pryor, the bandmaster. A serial story, "John Bishop, Farmer, " a collaboration with Albert T. Reed, the artist, is to be published soon in the Kansas Farmer. Later, this will appear in book form. A novel, which Mrs. Jarrell believes willbe her best work, is in construction and is clamoring to be written. ELLEN PALMER ALLERTON. Ellen Palmer Allerton, the sweet and gentle poetess, beloved of Kansas, lived at Padonia, in Brown County, when she wrote her famous poem, "Wallof Corn. " She was past her prime when she came to Kansas from the Wisconsin home, the subject of many of her noble gems. As she grew older, she grewstronger in poetic strength. Three volumes of poems have been published, "Walls of Corn and OtherPoems, " "Annabel and Other Poems, " and "Poems of the Prairie. " Her"Walls of Corn, " written in 1884, famous from the first, as used asrailroad immigration advertising, was translated in several languagesand distributed all over Europe. This and her "Trail of Forty-nine"are her best, although the classic beauty of "Beautiful Things" isunsurpassed by any other American writer. "Beautiful twilight, at set of sun, Beautiful goal, with race well run, Beautiful rest, with work well done. " is a fitting close to the beautiful, useful life of the author. Mrs. Allerton was born in Centerville. New York, in 1835 and beganwriting verse at the age of seventeen. Much as she has written, yet writing was only a pastime. She never let it interfere with herhousework. Thoroughly practical, she did all her own work, just becauseshe loved to do it. Her flowers of which she had many, in doors and out, resulted in many noble, inspiring lines. In 1862, she was married to A. B. Allerton of Wisconsin, coming to Kansas in 1865. She was best appreciated for her social qualities and her interest incharity--that broader charity that praises the beauty and ignores theblemishes. Her last poem, "When Days Grow Dark" is a beautiful penpicture of her sweetness and resignation in her growing blindness andher love and trust in him who had been her companion down the years. "You take the book and pour into my ear In accent sweet, the words I cannot see; I listen charmed, forget my haunting fear, And think with you as with your eyes I see. In the world's thought, so your dear voice be left, I still have part, I am not all bereft. And if this darkness deepens, when for me The new moon bends no more her silver rim, When stars go out, and over land and sea Black midnight falls, where now is twilight dim, O, then may I be patient, sweet and mild, While your hands lead me like a little child!" She died in 1893, at Padonia, and was buried in a bed of her favoritewhite flowers, donated by loving friends. In the little graveyard atHamlin, one reads "Beautiful Things" on a modest stone at the head ofher little bed. EMMA TANNER WOOD. Mrs. Emma Tanner Wood (Caroline Cunningham), a Topeka woman, begannewspaper work in 1872. The result of those early years' work was"Spring Showers, " a volume of prose. After thirty years of study andexperience among the defectives, she wrote "Too Fit For The Unfit, "advocating surgery for the feeble-minded. The story of Mrs. Benton, oneof the characters, led Mrs. Wood to introduce a law preventing childrenbeing sent to the poor house. This was the first law purely in theinterest of children ever passed in Kansas. Later, a law preventingtraveling hypnotists from using school children as subjects in publicexhibitions was drawn up by Mrs. Wood and passed. Several years ago, a book on hypnotism, far in advance of the publicthought, was written and is to be published this year. Mrs. Wood is seventy years young and as she says: "finds age the verysweetest part of life. It is no small satisfaction to laugh at thefollies of others and know that you are past committing them. It isequally delightful to be responsible only to one's self and order one'slife as one chooses. Every day is a holy day to me now and the sweetnessof common things, grass, flowers, neighborly love, grand-children, andhome comforts fill me with satisfaction. To think kindly of all thingsunder the sun (but sin); to speak kindly to all; to do little kindlyacts is a greater good to the world at large than we think while we arein the heat of battle. " CORNELIA M. STOCKTON. A cheerful little room in the East wing of St. Margaret's Hospital, Kansas City, Kansas; an invalid chair wheeled up to a window overlooking the street; and the eager, expectant face and the warm handclasp of the occupant, Mrs. Cornelia M. Stockton, assures the visitor ofa hearty welcome. Greatly enfeebled by long illness and with impaired sight, this bright, little woman's keen interest in current events and the latest "bestseller" puts to shame the half-hearted zeal of the average woman. For four years, Mrs. Stockton has lived at St. Margaret's, dependingupon the visits of friends and the memory of an eventful life to passthe days. Prominence in club work in her earlier years has broughtreward. The History Club of Kansas City, Kansas, of which she was once amember, each week sends a member to read to her and these are red letterdays to this brave, patient, little woman. Mrs. Stockton began writing very young. When a little girl, back in thevillage of Walden, New York, she stole up to the pulpit of the churchand wrote in her pastor's Bible: "I have not seen the minister's eyes, And cannot describe his glance divine, For when he prays he shuts them up And when he preaches he shuts mine. " She was born in 1833 in Shawangunk, New York, and came to Kansas City in1859, living in Missouri some years but most of the time in Kansas City, Kansas. In 1892, she published a limited edition of poems, "The Shanar DancingGirl and Other Poems. " dedicated to Mrs. Bertha M. Honore Palmer, herideal of the perfect type of gracious and lovely womanhood. "The ShanarDancing Girl" was first written for the Friends in Council, a literaryclub of Kansas City, Mo. It has received the encomiums of Thomas BaileyAldrich, John J. Ingalls and others for its beauty of expression anddramatic qualities. "Invocation, " an April idyl; "The Sea-shell;" and"Mountain Born" sing of the love of nature. "In the Conservatory;" "MySummer Heart;" and "Tired of the Storm" hint of sorrow and unrest andlonging. Then in 1886, "Compensation" was written. "Irma's Love ForThe King" is a favorite; also, "'Sold'--A Picture, " written for herdaughter, "yes, but she never came. "The Sorrowful Stone" Mrs. Stockton considers her best. "The story without a suspicion of rhyme, And dim with the mists of the morning of Time, Is told of a goddess, who, wandering alone, Did go and sit down on the Sorrowful Stone. We find our Gethsemane somewhere, though late; The Angel of Shadows throws open the gate. We creep with our burden of pain, to atone, For all of life's ills, to the Sorrowful Stone. Above is the vault of the pitiless stars; The trees stretch their arms all blackened with scars; The gales of lost Paradise are faintly blown To where we sit down on the Sorrowful Stone. " "From a Poem 'Vagaries'" warns of * * * --the product of the age and clime, We do too much! grow old before our time, Yet--would we stray to Morning Hills again? Unlearn sad prophecies, and dream as then! Ah, no! with sense of peace the shadows creep, There droppeth on tired eyes the spell of sleep-- We left the dawn long leagues behind, and stand, Waiting and wistful in the Evening Land! The patient Nurse of Destiny, at best, Leads us like children to the needed rest! A ghostly wind puts out our little light, And we have bid the busy world "Good Night!" Mrs. Stockton was married twice. Her first husband was the father of hertwo sons, one of whom, Dr. Henry M. Downs, in his practice, came oftento St. Margaret's. The second marriage, as the wife of the late JudgeJohn S. Stockton, was a very happy one. Last year, a brother the onlysurviving member of her family, died, leaving Mrs. Stockton the last ofa family of five children. The two sons have also passed into the GreatBeyond. In her younger days, she contributed many poems and some prose tonewspapers and magazines over the name of Cora M. Downs. Ex-Gov. St. John appointed her one of the regents of the University ofKansas. Her beautiful poem: "In Memoriam" to Sarah Walter Chandler Coates washer last. "'We seem like children, ' she was wont to say, 'Talking of what we cannot understand, ' And in the dark or daylight, all the way, Holding so trustfully a Father's hand. And this was her religion, not to dwell On tenets, creeds, or doctrines, but to live On a pure faith, and striving to do well The simple duties that each hour should give. " MARGARET HILL McCARTER. The most successful Kansas woman writer financially and the mostprolific is Margaret Hill McCarter of Topeka. From the advent of herlittle book in 1901, "A Bunch of Things, Tied Up With Strings" tothe hearty reception of her latest novel every step of the way spellssuccess. Margaret Hill was born in Indiana and came to Kansas in 1888 to teachEnglish in the Topeka High School. Two years later, she became the wifeof Dr. William McCarter. Of this union there are two daughters, studentsat Baker University and the Topeka High School and a young son, hismother's literary critic. A wife and a mother first, a Kansas woman second, and an author third isthe way Mrs. McCarter rates herself. She is capable of and does do allher housework. Her love for literature she owes to her mother, who believed in highereducation and taught Margaret to prize the few books that came her way. After leaving the school room, the teacher instinct still strong withinher, she argued if she could teach out of books written by others, why not out of books of her own? Then followed poems, short stories, biography, textbooks, the editing of Crane Classics, "One Hundred KansasWomen" and miscellanies. In 1902, "Cuddy and Other Folks" was written and in 1903, "TheCottonwood's Story. " This same year, "The Overflowing Waters, " the story of the 1903 flood, and one of her best bits of heart writing paid for the school books ofalmost a thousand unfortunate children. "Cuddy's Baby" appeared in1908, followed the next year with "In Old Quivera, " a thread of Coronadohistory. "The Price of The Prairies, " three weeks after publication inthe fall of 1910, became Kansas' best seller. "The Peace of The SolomonValley" came out in 1911 and proved a popular gift book. "The Wall ofMen, " Mrs. McCarter's 1912 offering should be one of the required booksin Kansas schools. It is authentic history and the close of the storyleaves every Kansan with a greater respect and love for the state andthe heroic pioneers who stood as a living wall between Kansas and theslave question. 1913 gave us the "Master's Degree, " considered by manyher best work. This year we have "Winning The Wilderness. " Mrs. McCarter founded the Club Member and organized the Sorosis, servingas president seven years and two terms as president of the TopekaFederation of Women's Clubs. Baker University, at Baldwin, Kansas, gave her an honorary Master's Degree in 1909, its semi-centennialanniversary. BESSIE MAY BELLMAN. And JUNE BELLMAN HENTHORNE. Bessie May Bellman and June Bellman Henthorne, her daughter, hail fromWinfield. They write both prose and verse and Mrs. Henthorne was areporter for years. Mrs. Bellman, when a girl, lived five years on acattle ranch and to those five lonely years she credits her habit ofintrospection, meditation and writing. Much of her poetry and shortstories are used in platform work. Red Leaves. Red leaves-- Aflame in the air, aflame in the trees. Blue streams, smoky hills-- Gold, gold the sunlight spills-- Red leaves! Dead Leaves-- A swirl in the air-asleep 'neath the trees. Gone every lark and swallow-- Haunting echoes bid me follow-- Dead leaves! Bessie May Bellman-- Mrs. Henthorne's "If" is published in a New York reader. "If, in a bird-heart, beating 'neath the gray There chants a song, no matter what the day. If, in a bird-heart happy sunbeams shine, Why not in mine? If, in a flower-face, beat down by rain, The hope of clear skies be in spite of pain-- If, in a flower-face a great hope shine, Why not in mine?" AMANDA T. JONES. One of the few Kansas women to have a place in "Who's Who" was the lateAmanda T. Jones of Junction City. She was one of the most prolific poetsof Kansas. Her "Atlantic" is a story of the rebellion; "Utah and Other Poems;" "APrairie Idyl;" "Flowers and a Weed;" and "Rubaiyat of Solomon Valley"are volumes of verse. Her prose: "Children's Stories, " "Fairy Arrows"and "The White Blackbird;" "A Psychic Autobiography, " published in 1908;"Man and Priest, " a story of psychic detection; "Mother of Pioneers, "and a novel ready for publication, "A Daughter of Wall St. " Miss Jones originated a working women's home and patented manyinventions, mostly household necessities. * * * * * CHARLOTTE F. WILDER. Charlotte Frances Wilder, Manhattan, has been writing half a century andit has won for her a place in Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, "entitledto go down to posterity, her lifework preserved as information forfuture generations. " She has written "Land of The Rising Sun, ""Sister Ridenour's Sacrifice, " "Christmas Cheer In All Lands, " "EasterGladness, " "Mission Ships, " "The Child's Own Book" and "The WonderfulStory of Jesus. " Her essays, alone, would make a volume, original andinteresting. She has written for the press since sixteen years of ageand has been a Bible teacher forty years. ANNA L. JANUARY. Osawatomie claims Anna L. January, the author of "Historic Souvenir ofOsawatomie, Kansas, " "John Brown Battle Grounds, " "Calvin Monument, " and"Lookout and Park;" also, numerous poems. Mrs. January is a native of Wilmington, Ohio, coming to Kansas in 1898. She taught school three years and in 1901 married D. A. January ofOsawatomie. They have one child, a son of four years. An active workerin the Congress of Mothers and interested in temperance and suffragework, Mrs. January still finds time to write many short poems. HATTIE HORNER LOUTHAN. Hattie Horner Louthan, a former White Water, Kansas girl, is the authorof five books and many contributions to newspapers and first classmagazines. After graduation at the Normal School, Emporia, in 1883, Miss Horner engaged in teaching and literary work. Ten years later, shebecame the wife of Overton Earl Louthan, who died in 1906. She is editor of the Great Southwest and a member of the staff of theDenver Republican. Her first volume of poems came out in 1885; the nextyear, "Some Reasons For Our Choice. " "Not At Home, " a book of travels, was published in 1889; "Collection of Kansas Poetry, " in 1891; and"Thoughts Adrift, " in 1902. Her work is versatile; the rhyme easyflowing and strong. GEORGIANA FREEMAN McCOY. And MARY FREEMAN STARTZMAN. Georgiana Freeman McCoy, Wichita, has taught music in Kansas longerthan any other teacher in the state and incidentally writes verse. Sheremodeled Elizabeth Browning's "A Drama of Exile" and wrote the musicalsetting for Simon Buchhalter, the Viennese pianist and composer. Asister, Mary Freeman Startzman, while living in Fort Scott, wrote avolume of poems, "Wild Flowers. " EVA MORLEY MURPHY. Eva Morley Murphy of Goodland, recent candidate for Congress, is authorof two books: "The Miracle on the Smoky and Other Stories, " and "LoisMorton's Investment. " She is a descendant of Nathaniel Perry of Revolutionary fame, and ofRodger Williams; an active temperance worker; and one of the women whomade equal suffrage possible in Kansas. SALLIE F. TOLER. Mrs. Sallie F. Toler, Wichita, has written on every subject from pigsand pole cats to patriotism. She is the author of several plays andthree vaudeville sketches. A comedy, a racing romance, "Handicapped;""Thekla, " a play in three acts; "On Bird's Island, " a four-act play; and"Waking Him Up, " a farce, are played in stock now. Mrs. Toler contributes to many papers and lectures on "The Short Story"and "The Modern Drama. " MARGARET PERKINS. As a 1914 Christmas offering, Margaret Perkins, a Hutchinson High Schoolteacher, gave us her volume of beautiful poems. "The Love Letters of aNorman Princess" is the love story, in verse, of Hersilie, a wardand relative of William, The Conqueror, and Eric, a kinsman of theunfortunate King Harold. "I thought once, in a dream, that Love came near With silken flutter of empurpled wings That wafted faint, strange fragrance from the things Abloom where age and season never sear. The joy of mating birds was in my ear, And flamed my path with dancing daffodils Whose splendor melted into greening hills Upseeking, like my spirit, to revere. " "Before you came, this heart of mine A fairy garden seemed With lavender and eglantine; And lovely lilies gleamed Above the purple-pansy sod Where ruthless passion never trod. " "If Heaven had been pleased to let you be A keeper of the sheep, a peasant me, Within a shepherd's cottage thatched with vine Now might we know the bliss of days divine. " --"We are part of Heaven's scheme, You and I: Child of sunshine and the dew I was earthly--born as you. "Yet my little hour I go, Troubled maid, Even where the storm blasts blow, Unafraid; Confident that from the sod All things upward wend to God. " "Dear heart, the homing hour is here, The task is done. Toilers, and they who course the deer Turn, one by one, At day's demise, Where dwells a deathless glow In loving eyes. I hear them hearthward go To castle, or to cottage on the lea; But him I love comes never home to me. " The peaks that rift the saffron sheen Of sunset skies In purple loveliness, when seen By nearer eyes, Are bleakly bare. To brave those boulders gray No climbers dare. O, in some future may This mountain mass of unfulfilled desires Be unto me as yonder haloed spires!" Miss Perkins is the compiler of "Echoes of Pawnee Rock, " and writesshort stories and poems for the magazines. Some of her verse ispublished in Woolard's "Father. " ANNA E. ARNOLD. Anna E. Arnold, Cottonwood Falls, Superintendent of Chase CountySchools, is a thorough Kansan, and a farm product. She was born atWhiting, Jackson County, but when a very small child, her parents movedto Chase and all her life since has been spent in that county. Until thelast few years, she lived on a farm. She is a graduate of the State University and has taught in the gradeand high schools. In 1905, she became a candidate for Superintendentof Schools of Chase County. Her success and her unusual ability as ateacher were rewarded by a two to one majority on a close county ticket. At the second term, she had no opposition and out of 1214 votes cast, she received all but 29. The present year, after four elections, is herseventh continuous year as Superintendent of Chase County. In additionto her official duties, Miss Arnold has written two text-books. Her"Civics and Citizenship" in 1912 was adopted as the state text-book oncivil government for use in the public schools of Kansas. It is beingused by a large number of womens' clubs. Many outlines for club work oncivic subjects have come from Miss Arnold's pen. Her second textbook, "A History of Kansas, " the first book printed under the new StatePublication Law, has also been adopted by the text-book commission. Miss Arnold is considered one of the foremost educational leaders of thestate. Topeka gives us Anna Deming Gray, a writer of negro dialect stories, stories for children, and some verse. Elizabeth Barr Arthur, has writtena number of books, histories of several Kansas counties and some volumesof poems, "Washburn Ballads. " Mrs. Sarah E. Roby is a writer of bothprose and verse. A granddaughter, Marjory Roby, has written a number of stories andplays. Eva Bland Black contributes poems and song lyrics to themagazines. She served her apprenticeship as reporter and city editor ofthe Journal and Evening News of Garnett and as associate editor of theConcordia "Magnet. " Mrs. Isabel McArthur is a natural poet and songwriter. She has published one volume of verse, "Every Body Loves a Lover. " Herlast song, "When The Bloom Is On The Cherry At Sardou" is widely sung. Edna E. Haywood is author of "Fifty Common Birds Around the Capital. " Mrs. Mary A. Cornelius, while a resident of Topeka, wrote four books, "Little Wolf, " "Uncle Nathan's Farm, " "The White Flame, " and "Why? AKansas Girl's Query. " Another book is ready for publication. Mrs. MaryWorrall Hudson, wife of the late General J. K. Hudson, former editor ofthe Topeka Capital, is author of "Two Little Maids And Their Friends, ""Esther, The Gentile, " and many short stories and poems. Her classicprose-poem: "In The Missouri Woods" is considered her masterpiece. Mrs. Sara Josephine Albright, formerly of Topeka, now of Leavenworth, is asweet singer of childlife. Her volume of verse, "With The Children" islullabies and mother-love poems. A book of stories for children willsoon be ready for publication. Jessie Lewellyn Call, deceased, the clever and beautiful daughter of thefirst Populist governor of Kansas, was a well-known essayist and shortstory writer. For many years she was one of the editors of the ChicagoInter-Ocean. Lawrence claims Dorothy Canfield Fisher, a writer of both fiction andtext-books and many short stories. She is the author of "Corneille AndRacine In England, " "English Rhetoric And Composition, " "What Shall WeDo Now, " "Gunhild, " "The Squirrel Cage" and "The Montessori Mother. "Louise C. Don Carlos has written "A Battle In The Smoke, " one of thebest Kansas works on fiction. She did special work on the NashvilleTennessee Banner and writes a great deal of magazine verse. Mrs. Anna W. Arnett, a Lawrence teacher, writes verse and songs. Inaddition, she has issued a primer, the Kansas text-book and a primaryreading chart for which she has a United States patent. Margaret Lynn, one of the faculty of Kansas University, is a writer of short storiesand "A Step-Daughter Of The Prairies. " Mrs. A. B. Butler of Manhattan wrote "The Trial And Condemnation ofJesus Christ From a Lawyer's Point of View;" a novel, "Ad Astra PerAspera;" and much newspaper work. Mrs. Elizabeth Champney, a formerteacher in the Kansas State Agricultural College, is the author of morethan twenty books and many short stories. "Three Vassar Girls Abroad, ""Witch Winnie Series, " "Dames And Daughters of Colonial Days, " "Romanceof French Abbeys, " "Romance of Italian Villas, " and "Romance of ImperialRome" are her most popular works. Sadie E. Lewis, Hutchinson, is the author of "Hard Times In Kansas"and other verse. Her daughter, Ida Margaret Glazier, is a poet and songwriter. Mrs Alice McAllily wrote "Terra-Cotta" and many other books. Lillian W. Hale, Kansas City, is author of verse, short stories, and anovel. Another novel will be ready for publication this autumn. Lois Oldham Henrici, a one-time Sabetha and Parsons woman, is the authorof "Representative Women" and many good short stories. Laura D. Congdon, a Newton pioneer, is a verse and short story writer. Mary H. Finn, Sedgwick, writes beautiful verse and much prose. Jennie C. Graves, Pittsburg, writes poetry and moving picture plays. Mrs. JohannasBennett, another Pittsburg woman, has written an historical novel, "LaBelle San Antone. " Florence L. Snow, Neosho Falls, is an artistic andfinished writer of verse and prose. She is the author of "The Lamp ofGold. " Sharlot M. Hall, Lincoln, writes prose and verse. A volumeof poems, "Cactus And Pine, " "History of Arizona, " "A Woman of theFrontier, " "The Price of The Star" and short stories are her importantworks. Mrs. A. S. McMillan, Lyons, a poetess, song writer and licensedpreacher, writes clever verse, much of which has been set to music. "Land Where Dreams Come True" is her best known poem. Kittie SkidmoreCowen, a former Columbus woman, is author of "An UnconditionalSurrender, " a civil war story. "The Message of Hagar, " a study ofthe Mormon question will be in the press soon. Miss Mary E. Upshaw, McPherson, wrote verse at the age of seven and published her first storyat fifteen. She has a book in preparation which she expects to publishat an early date. Jeanette Scott Benton, formerly of Fort Scott, writesshort stories novelettes, and stories for children. May Belleville Brownof Salina, has a very clever pen, as has, also Mrs. Lulu R. Fuhr ofMeade, the author of "Tenderfoot Tales. " Mrs. E. M. Adams, Mound City, writes exquisite verse and in the past, had many short stories to hercredit. Mrs. C. W. Smith, Stockton, writes both prose and verse. CaraA. Thomas Hoover, formerly of Halstead, Harvey County, now living inRialto, California, writes prose and beautiful verse. Rose HartwickThorpe, the author of "Curfew Shall Not Ring To-night, " was a Kansan inthe early sixties. She lived at Wilmington. Miss Margaret Stevenson, Olathe, is a writer of books for the blind. Shehas some short stories, nature and text-books published. Lelia Hardin Bugg, Wichita, has written "The Prodigal Daughter, ""The People of Our Parish, " and "Orchids. " Edna Thacher Russ, also ofWichita, writes short stories and educational articles. Mrs. E. Hamilton Myers, Englewood, is a dramatic writer and a poet ofrare talents. Being a musician, much of her verse is used for songs. Mrs. Myers contributes to the English papers. Her first story waspublished by a magazine which had accepted writings of her mother's. Other than literature proper, we have Mrs. Lillian M. Mitchner, ofTopeka, a scientific writer; Mrs. Lumina C. R. Smythe, a writer ofverse, also of Topeka, who is co-author with her late husband in therevised "Flora And Check List of Kansas. " Among the clever newspaper women of the state are Margie Webb Tennal, Sabetha; Maud C. Thompson, Howard; Frances Garside, formerly ofAtchison, now with the New York Journal; Mrs. E. E. Kelley, Toronto;Anna Carlson, Lindsborg; Mrs. Mary Riley, Kansas City; and Isabel WorrelBall, a Larned woman, who bears the distinction of being the onlywoman given a seat in the congressional press gallery. Grace D. Brewer, Girard, has been a newspaper woman and magazine short story writer forten years. Among the early Kansas writers are Clarinda Howard Nichols, Mrs. A. B. Bartlett, Lucy B. Armstrong, Sarah Richart, Mrs. Porter Sherman, andMary Tenny Gray, all of Wyandotte and Mrs. C. H. Cushing of Leavenworth. Sara T. D. Robinson, the wife of the first governor of Kansas, was oneof the very first women writers of the state. Her "Kansas, InteriorAnd Exterior" was published in 1856 and went through ten editions up to1889. INDEX. Adams, Mrs. E. M. Albright, Sara Josephine Allerton, Ellen Palmer Aplington, Kate A. Armstrong, Lucy B. Arnett, Anna W. Arnold, Anna E. Arthur, Elizabeth Barr Ball, Isabel Warrel Bartlett, Mrs. A. B. Bellman, Bessie May Bennett, Mrs. Johannas Benton, Jeanette Scott Black, Eva Bland Brewer, Grace D. Brown, May Bellville Bugg, Leila Hardin Butler, Mrs. A. B. Call, Jessie Lewellyn Carlson, Anna Champney, Elizabeth Clark, Esther M. Congdon, Laura D. Cornelius, Mary A. Cowen, Kittie Skidmore Cushing, Mrs. C. H. Don Carlos, Louise C. Finn, Mary H. Fisher, Dorothy Canfield Fuhr, Lulu R. Garside, Frances Glazier, Ida Margaret Graham, Effie Graves, Jennie C. Gray, Anna Deming Gray, Mary Tenny Hale, Lillian W. Hall, Sharlot M. Haywood, Edna E. Henrici, Lois Oldham Henthorne, June Bellman Hoover, Cara A. Thomas Hudson, Mary Worrell Humphrey, Mary Vance January, Anna L. Jarrell, Myra Williams Jones, Amanda T. Kelley, Mrs. E. E. Lewis, Sadie E. Louthan Hattie Horner Lynn, Margaret McAllily, Alice McArthur, Isabel McCarter, Margaret Hill McCoy, Georgiana Freeman McMillan, Mrs. A. S. Mitchner, Lillian W. Murphy, Eva Morley Myers, Mrs. E. Hamilton Nichols, Clarinda Howard Perkins, Margaret Richart, Sarah Riley, Mary Robinson, Sara T. D. Roby, Marjory Roby, Sara E. Russ, Edna Thatcher Sherman, Mrs. Porter Smith, Mrs. C. W. Smythe, Lumina C. R. Snow, Florence L. Startzman, Mary Freeman Stevenson, Margaret Stockton, Cornelia M. Tennal, Margie Webb Thompson, Maude C. Thorpe, Rose Hartwick Toler, Sallie F. Upshaw, Mary E. Vaughn, Emma Upton Whitcomb, Jessie Wright Wilder, Charlotte F. Wood, Emma Tanner