Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 3.djvu/405

 connection with that journal lasted for ten years, and she contributed to it 42 short stories issued as supplements, besides many long serials. In 1881 appeared 'Cavaliy Life,' a collection of regimental sketches, and in 1883 'Regimental Legends.' Both bore the name of 'John Strange Winter,' a character in one of the tales in the former volume. The publisher refused to bring out the books under a feminine pseudonym. The public assumed the author to be a cavalry officer. She retained the name for literary and business purposes through life.

Miss Palmer married at Fulford, York, on 26 Feb. 1884, Arthur Stannard, A.M.I.C.E., and had issue one son and three daughters. She settled in London and continued her literary labours. In 1885 'Booties' Baby: a story of the Scarlet Lancers,' the tale that assured her popularity, appeared in the 'Graphic' Two million copies were sold within ten years of its first publication. Tales of a similar character, with military life for their setting, followed in rapid succession until her death. There are 112 entries to her name in the British Museum Catalogue. She found an admirer of her work in Ruskin, whom she visited at Sandgate in 1888. Ruskin wrote of ’John Strange Winter' as 'the author to whom we owe the most finished and faithful rendering ever yet given of the character of the British soldier' )Daily Telegraph, 17 Jan. 1888; cf. also Letters, 1909, ii. 592-3). For some time Ruskin and John Strange Winter constantly corresponded.

In 1891 she started a penny weekly magazine, 'Golden Gates'; in 1892 the title was altered to 'Winter's Weekly,' and so continued until 1895. In 1896 the health of her husband and of her youngest daughter made residence at the seaside imperative, and Dieppe became her home until 1901, when she returned to London, retaining a house at Dieppe for summer residence until 1909. She wrote enthusiastic articles about Dieppe which greatly increased its popularity. The municipality presented her with a diamond ring in recognition of her services to the town.

Mrs. Stannard wrote vivaciously, and sketched with lightness of touch the personality of the British officer as he was at the end of the purchase system. Well known in journalistic circles, she was first president of the Writers' Club (1892), and was president of the Society of Women Journalists (1901-3). She was intensely fond of animals. Interesting herself in matters concerning women's dress and personal appearance, she towards the end of her life compounded and sold a number of toilet preparations for the hair and complexion which found wide acceptance.

Mrs. Stannard died, from complications following an accident, on 13 Dec. 1911 at York House, Hurlingham, Putney. She was cremated and the ashes interred at Woking crematorium. Notwithstanding her many activities she left only 547Z. A crayon drawing by Lionel Smythe (1887) and an etched portrait by Batley (1889) are in possession of Mr. Arthur Stamiard; a pastel portrait (1891) by Mrs. Jopling is owned by the artist.  STANNUS, HUGH HUTTON (1840–1908), architect, author, and lecturer, born at Sheffield on 21 March 1840, was son of the Rev. Bartholomew Stannus, member of an old Irish family, by his wife Jane, daughter of the Rev. William Hutton of Belfast. His first artistic training was gained in Sheffield under H. D. Lomas at the local School of Art, after' which he was articled to the firm of H. E. Hoole & Co. in that town, whose foundry was then engaged in producing work from the designs of Alfred Stevens [q. v.]. From this apprenticeship resulted a close acquaintance with the details of artistic metal casting. Some designs by Stannus for foundry work were selected for the Exhibition of 1862, and an 'Essay on the History of Founding in Brass, Copper, and Bronze' won him in 1881 the freedom and livery of the Founders' Company, of which he became in 1907 sub-warden. A more important consequence of the employment at Hoole's was the personal acquaintance with Stevens. Stannus became his pupil, his assistant, his devoted friend, and afterwards his biographer. With Stevens he worked at the production of the Wellington monument for St. Paul's Cathedral, and the long story of the delays which beset that production may be read in 'Alfred Stevens and his Work' (1891), an important folio in which Stannus commemorated his master.

Some years before the death of Stevens in 1875 Stannus appears to have decided to make his training more definitely architectural, and in 1872 he was studying architecture at the Royal Academy Schools. In 1873 he passed the voluntary examination of the Royal Institute of British 