Page:Woman of the Century.djvu/676

Rh competition with the more favored students. It bore comparison well, was admired, proved that she was worthy, and it brought to her aid the press of Florence, hitherto silent or opposed to woman's advancement, which expressed the hope that succeeding years would see hung side by side studies of women with those of the male alumni Through the door opened by her other women entered, and many now exhibit their work in competition with the members of the academy of the other sex. Beginning with only a dozen women, admitted in 1885, fully one-third the students in the academy now are of that sex. She, in 1887, won the first silver medal ever awarded a woman by the Florentine Academy. In 1888 she won the prize for composition from the antique and modeling. In 1889 she won the bronze medal for perspective and water-color, and also honorable mention for figure. In 1890 she received the highest awards in the Beatrice Exposition, open to women of all Italy, over one-thousand competitors, in ornamental drawing and water-colors. The Master of Arts degree was conferred upon her the same year, besides which she received letters of merit and the diploma which entitles her to leach in the government art-schools of Italy. She learned to speak Italian after going to Florence. She returned to Memphis after nine years of study in Florence. SOUTHWORTH, Mrs. Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte, author, born in Washington, D. C., 26th December, 1819. Her maiden name was Nevitte. Her mother was married twice, the second time to Joshua I.. Henshaw, in whose school she was educated.

Miss Nevitte was graduated in 1835, and in 1840 became the wife of Frederick H. Southworth, of Utica, N. Y. From 1844 to 1849 she taught in one of the public schools in Washington, and while there employed she began to write stories. Her first story, "The Irish Refugee," appeared in the Baltimore "Saturday Visitor." She there wrote for the "National Era," and in its columns her first novel, "Retribution." was published. That story was issued in book form in 1849. She became a prolific writer, averaging three novels a year, strong, taught in one of the public schools in Washington, and while there employed she began to write stories. Her first story. "The Irish Refugee," appeared in the Baltimore "Saturday Visitor." She then wrote dramatic and finely descriptive works, which attained a remarkable popularity. In 1853 she and her husband settled on Potomac Heights, near Washington, where they lived until their removal to Yonkers, N. Y., in 1876. Mrs. South worth devised for her own use the manila box-envelope, which was afterwards patented by others. Her published novels number over sixty. In 1872 she brought out a uniform edition of her works, consisting of forty-two stories, beginning with "Retribution" and ending with "The Fatal Secret." Her later stories are: "Unknown" (1874); "Gloria" (1877): "The Trail of the Serpent " (18791; "Nearest and Dearest" (1881); "The Mother's Secret" (18S3), and "An Exile's Bride" (1887). Besides these she has published others as serials in the New York "Ledger." Many of her novels have been translated into French, German and Spanish, and republished in Montreal, London, Paris, Leipzig and Madrid. She is now living in Georgetown, D. C.

SPALDING, Miss Harriet Mabel, poet, born in Gloversville, N. Y., 10th January, 1862. She is the daughter of Rev. N. G. Spalding, a prominent clergyman in the Troy conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her parents possessed literary talents. Her father is a graduate of Union College and a brilliant orator. Her mother is a graduate of Mrs. Willard's Troy Seminary and an artist of merit. Miss Spalding inherits the talents of both parents.

In 1868 the family removed to Schodack Landing, N. Y., which is now her home. Harriet was carefully and liberally educated. In 1877 she was graduated in the Albany Female Academy, where she won six gold medals offered by the alumna* in various branches of composition. She began to write verses at the age of nine years.