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Rh painting and has made a large number of portraits. Her first important picture was exhibited in 1876 in the Academy of Design in New York. She was one of the first members of the Art Students' League. In 1883 she went to Paris and studied under Harry Moster. On her return in 1883 she was incapacitated from work by an injury to her eyes, and for a year she did but little. Her pictures have been reproduced in photogravures, etchings and engravings for the past six years. Some of her most widely known pictures are "Grandmother's Treasures," "Love's Young Dream," "Blossom Time," "Halcyon Days," "The Gleaners." "Sunday Morning in Sleepy Hollow," "The Recessional" and "The Sirens. Miss Brownscombe now lives in Honesdale, Pa.

BRYAN, Mrs. Mary Edwards, author, born in Jefferson county, Fla., in 1846. Her father was Major John D. Edwards, one of the early settlers in Florida and a member of the State legislature. Mary was educated by her cultured mother until she was twelve years old. The family moved to Thomasville, Ga., where she enjoyed the advantages of good schooling and made rapid progress, when she was sixteen, she was married to Mr. Bryan, the son of a wealthy Louisiana planter, with whom she went to his plantation on the Red river. One year later, under the pressure of painful circumstances, she returned to her father's home. There she began to write for the press. She wrote regularly for the "Literary and Temperance Crusader," published in Penfield, Ga. She contributed many columns to that journal, in both prose and verse, and her productions attracted attention. In 1859 the "Crusader" was enlarged, improved and removed to Atlanta, and Mrs. Bryan was engaged as literary editor. She filled the position with brilliant success and brought the journal into prominence. At the end of 1859 she resigned her position on the "Crusader" and became a correspondent of the "Southern Field and Fireside." After the Civil War she became the editor of the Natchitoches, La., "Semi-Weekly Times," writing political articles, sketches, stories and poems. Tier next position was on the "Sunny South," published in Atlanta, Ga., which paper she edited for ten years. In 1885 she removed to New York City, where she served as assistant editor of " The Fashion Bazaar" and of "The Fireside Companion." Among her novels are: "Manch" (New York, 1879); "Wild Work," a story of the days of reconstruction in Louisiana (1881), and "The Bayou Bride" and " Kildee" (1886). Mrs. Bryan has a family of four children and several grandchildren. Her home is now in Atlanta, Ga., where she has editorial charge of "The Old Homestead," a monthly magazine."

BUCK, Mme. Henriette, educator, born in London, England. 8th January, 1864, during a casual sojourn of her parents, who are Parisians, in that city. Her maiden name was Berdot. Her father, Henri Berdot, is a descendant of a noble Spanish family. One of her aunts, the Baronne de Carbonnel and Marquise de Baudricourt, was a clever author of some reputation. Madame Buck was educated in the l>est schools in Paris, and after receiving various scholastic honors she obtained the highly prized diploma of the University of France, which entitles the receiver to hold the position of professor in any scholastic position in France. After teaching successfully for several years, she was married to W. Edgar Buck, an eminent bass vocalist and professor of singing, who was a former pupil of Signor Manuel Garcia. Madame Buck and her husband came to America and settled in Montreal, Canada, where they were successful in their respective professions. In June, 1890, Mr. Buck was called to Toronto, Canada, as conductor of the Toronto Vocal Society, Madame Buck formed French classes in that city, and has been very successful in private tuition. She is the leading