kansas women in literature(文学中的堪萨斯女人)-第3节
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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 favorite
white flowers； donated by loving friends。 In the little graveyard at Hamlin；
one reads ‘‘Beautiful Things'' on a modest stone at the head of her little
bed。
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EMMA TANNER WOOD。
Mrs。 Emma Tanner Wood （Caroline Cunningham）； a Topeka woman；
began newspaper work in 1872。 The result of those early years' work was
‘‘Spring Showers；'' a volume of prose。 After thirty years of study and
experience among the defectives； she wrote ‘‘Too Fit For The Unfit；''
advocating surgery for the feeble… minded。 The story of Mrs。 Benton； one
of the characters； led Mrs。 Wood to introduce a law preventing children
being sent to the poor house。 This was the first law purely in the interest of
children ever passed in Kansas。 Later； a law preventing traveling
hypnotists from using school children as subjects in public exhibitions was
drawn up by Mrs。 Wood and passed。
Several years ago； a book on hypnotism； far in advance of the public
thought； was written and is to be published this year。
Mrs。 Wood is seventy years young and as she says： ‘‘finds age the very
sweetest part of life。 It is no small satisfaction to laugh at the follies of
others and know that you are past committing them。 It is equally delightful
to be responsible only to one's self and order one's life as one chooses。
Every day is a holy day to me now and the sweetness of common things；
grass； flowers； neighborly love； grand… children； and home comforts fill
me with satis… faction。 To think kindly of all things under the sun （but sin）；
to speak kindly to all； to do little kindly acts is a greater good to the world
at large than we think while we are in the heat of battle。''
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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 over
looking the street； and the eager； expectant face and the warm hand clasp
of the occupant； Mrs。 Cornelia M。 Stockton； assures the visitor of a hearty
welcome。
Greatly enfeebled by long illness and with impaired sight； this bright；
little woman's keen interest in current events and the latest ‘‘best seller''
puts to shame the half…hearted zeal of the average woman。
For four years； Mrs。 Stockton has lived at St。 Margaret's； depending
upon the visits of friends and the memory of an eventful life to pass the
days。 Prominence in club work in her earlier years has brought reward。
The History Club of Kansas City； Kansas； of which she was once a
member； each week sends a member to read to her and these are red letter
days to this brave； patient； little woman。
Mrs。 Stockton began writing very young。 When a little girl； back in the
village of Walden； New York； she stole up to the pulpit of the church and
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 in 1859； 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
Dancing Girl and Other Poems。'' dedicated to Mrs。 Bertha M。 Honore
Palmer； her ideal of the perfect type of gracious and lovely womanhood。
‘‘The Shanar Dancing Girl'' was first written for the Friends in Council； a
literary club of Kansas City； Mo。 It has received the encomiums of
Thomas Bailey Aldrich； John J。 Ingalls and others for its beauty of
expression and dramatic qualities。 ‘‘Invocation；'' an April idyl； ‘‘The Sea…
shell；'' and ‘‘Mountain Born'' sing of the love of nature。 ‘‘In the
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Conservatory；'' ‘‘My Summer Heart；'' and ‘‘Tired of the Storm'' hint of
sorrow and unrest and longing。 Then in 1886； ‘‘Compensation'' was
written。 ‘‘Irma's Love For The King'' is a favorite； also； ‘‘ ‘Sold'A
Picture；'' written for her daughter； ‘‘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；
Yetwould 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
her two sons； one of whom； Dr。 Henry M。 Downs； in his practice； came
often to St。 Margaret's。 The second marriage； as the wife of the late Judge
John S。 Stockton； was a very happy one。 Last year； a brother the only
surviving member of her family； died； leaving Mrs。 Stockton the last of a
family of five children。 The two sons have also passed into the Great
Beyond。
In her younger days； she contributed many poems and some prose to
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newspapers and magazines over the name of Cora M。 Downs。
Ex…Gov。 St。 John appointed her one of the regents of the University of
Kansas。
Her beautiful poem： ‘‘In Memoriam'' to Sarah Walter Chandler Coates
was her 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 most
prolific is Margaret Hill McCarter of Topeka。 From the advent of her little
book in 1901； ‘‘A Bunch of Things； Tied Up With Strings'' to the hearty
reception of her latest novel every step of the way spells success。
Margaret Hill was born in Indiana and came to Kansas in 1888 to
teach English in the Topeka High School。 Two years later； she became the
wife of Dr。 William McCarter。 Of this union there are two daughters；
students at Baker University and the Topeka High School and a young son；
his mother's literary critic。
A wife and a mother first； a Kansas woman second； and an author third
is the way Mrs。 McCarter rates herself。 She is capable of and does do all
her housework。
Her love for literature she owes to her mother； who believed in higher
education and taught Margaret to prize the few books that came her way。
After leaving the school room； the teacher instinct still strong within
her； she argued if she could teach out of book
