Page:Woman of the Century.djvu/761

756 early years were spent in the country home of her grandparents, her father, Ezra Sturtevant, having died shortly after the birth of his only child. Possessed of a vivid imagination, she eagerly devoured the few story books which came in her way, and lived in a world of her own, peopled by characters which seemed quite as real as the men and women about her. She early learned to look at life through the eyes of others. Warm sympathies and an inborn sense of justice were strengthened by every tale of wrong, and the combined impressions of those early days resulted in an earnest purpose to be of use to humanity. Her first story was written under a pen-name for a Chicago child's magazine, but most of her work has been upon domestic topics, in the treatment of which she is particularly successful. Her bright handling of commonplace themes has made her a welcome contributor to the "Homemaker" and "Good Housekeeping." and other household journals. She has been Tor two years upon the regular staff of " Leisure Hours." She is a member of the Ohio Woman's Press Club. She is the wife of Chandler L. Webb, of Cleveland, Ohio, and the mother of one daughter. Extremely conscientious concerning her own home duties, she has made literary ambition subservient to daily household demands, and the work of her pen must be judged by quality rather than quantity.

WEBSTER, Miss Helen L., professor of comparative philology in Wellesley College, was born in Boston, Mass. In her childhood her family

removed to Salem, Mass., where they have since lived. Helen was educated in the public schools of Salem, and was graduated in the normal school of that city. After graduation she taught for several years in the high school in Lynn, Mass., during which time she kept up a course of study with a distinguished tutor of Boston. Her aim was to win recognition which would give her equal standing with regularly graduated collegians, as she was unable to take a college course. In her private studies she was preparing to take the examinations of the London University, England. When ready to sail for England, she was detained at home by illness in her family. Afterwards she went to Zurich, where she entered the university. She studied there over three years, when she passed with the highest credit the examinations for the degree of Ph.D. The examinations covered the comparative grammar of Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, Gothic, Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, Old and Middle High German and German literature. She handed in to the faculty a dissertation, entitled "Zur Gutturalfrage im Gotischen," which attracted general comment by its wide research and scholarly handling. After receiving her degree, she traveled in Europe for a time. In 1889 she returned to the United States, and, in the winter of that year, lectured in Barnard College, in New York City. During the last half of that college year she taught in Vassar College. In 1890 the chair of comparative philology was established in Wellesley College, and she was called to fill it. She is a successful educator.

WEISS, Mrs. Susan Archer, poet, author and artist, born in Hanover county, Va. 14th February, 1835, on the plantation of her paternal grandfather, who was of French Huguenot descent, and had served in the famous Lee's Legion of the Revolutionary War. Her maiden name was Talley. Her father, a gentleman of fine talents and literary taste, was bred to the profession of the law. He was early married to Miss Archer, of one of the oldest families of the old burrough of Norfolk, in Virginia. On the plantation Susan Archer Talley passed the first eight years of her life, where she delighted in the freedom of outdoor life. The family moved to Richmond, Va., when she was eight years old. In her tenth year scarlet fever so impaired her hearing that it was found necessary to remove her from school. She had been quick at learning, and in the brief period of her school life had been rapidly advanced, so that the slight knowledge thus acquired served as a foundation for her future self-education. She was an insatiable reader and student. When she was ten years old, she developed a remarkable talent for drawing, which her father took pains to cultivate. Her crayon drawings, many of them original in design, and especially her miniature portraits, are remarkable for their execution and finish. She manifested equal skill in water-colors and oil painting. She became interested in the work of her cousin, the young sculptor, Alexander Gait, and spent many hours in his studio. One day he gave her a small block of plaster, out of which, without assistance or model, she cut with a pen-knife a female head so plainly the work of genius that Mr. Gait took it with him to Italy, where it was seen by Crawford and Greenough, who were enthusiastic in their desire that she should devote herself to sculpture, but her father's death hindered her from doing so. She had meanwhile developed another and greater talent. She was but eleven years of age when, by accident, some of her little verses fell under the observation of her father. He showed them to Benjamin B. Minor, editor of the "Southern Literary Messenger," who published them in his magazine, where in a few years her contributions attracted much attention. Her name was included among those of young writers in "American Female Poets," Mrs. Hale's "Woman's Record." and other similar works. Her family removed from Richmond to a suburban residence, where, absorbed in her pictures and her writing and in the society of a choice circle of friends, she led a happy life