FANNIE PURDY PALMER.
Was born July n, 1839, in New York City. Daughter of Henry and Mary Catherine Sharp Purdy; descended on her father's side from Captain Purdy, of the British army, who was killed in the battle of White Plains. Her literary contributions have been to the Home Journal, Putnam's Magazine, Peterson's Magazine and others. In 1862 she married Dr. William H. Palmer, surgeon of the Third New York Cavalry, accompanying him to the seat of war, and there continuing her literary work by short stories and poems for Harper's and the Galaxy, and letters to various newspapers. Since the war she has been prominently identified with measures for the advancement of women and the various educational and philanthropic movements. From 1884-1892 she was president of the Rhode Island Women's Club and director of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. She has taken special interest in popularizing the study of American history, having herself prepared and given a series of "Familiar Talks on American History," as a branch of the educational work of the Woman's Educational and Industrial Union. She is keenly alive to the importance of the higher education of women, is secretary of a society organized to secure for women the educational privileges of Brown University, and in 1892 all of its examinations and degrees were open to women.
HELEN WATERSON MOODY.
Was born in Cleveland, Ohio, May 17, i860; did newspaper work on the Cleveland Leader and Sun, and was assistant professor of rhetoric and English in the University of Wooster until 1889, when she accepted a position on the staff of the New York Evening Sun. Mrs. Moody is best known for her articles which appeared in the Sun under the heading "Woman About Town," a title created for her, and under which she wrote in a semi-editorial manner a column every day. Her husband, Winfield S. Moody, Jr., is also a journalist.
HELEN JAMES DOLE.
Born in Worcester. Daughter of William Montgomery and Frances Fletcher Bennett. Translator of Victor Hugo's "Ninety-Three," Theuriet's "Abbe Daniel," Pierre Loti's "Iceland Fisherman," Theuriet, "Rustic Life in France," Rostand's "Cyrano de Bergerac," also orations of Marat, and many other French books.
EDITH WHARTON.
Mrs. Edward Wharton, best known to American story readers as Edith Wharton, author of "The House of Mirth," has a summer home at Lenox, Massachusetts, which is the scene of many gatherings of notable people. As Miss Edith Jones, and afterwards as Mrs. Edward Wharton, she held an enviable position in New York's best society, but of late she has practically given up living in the metropolis, and divides her time between Lenox and Paris. In the French capital
