Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/916

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Women in Professions
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men and women. Her father was an engineer of high -standing in Pittsburgh. Her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth French, was a well-known spiritualist. Mrs. Shelden was twice married. Her second husband, E. S. Sheldon, died in the summer of 1892. She was educated as a physician, but never practised. She published one novel and a translation of Flaubert's "Salambo." In 1890 she determined to travel in Central Africa to study the women and children in their primitive state. She was the first white woman to reach Mt. Kilima-Njaro, traveling with one female attendant and a small body of natives. She has published an interesting account of this trip in a volume on Africa entitled, "To Sultan."

CHARLOTTE PERKINS GILMAN.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman, writer on social philosophy, and questions of sociology, was born in Flartford, Connecticut, July 3, i860. Daughter of Frederic Beecher and Mary A. Fitch (Westcott) Perkins, and great-granddaughter of Lyman Beecher. In 1884 she married C. W. Stetson, and on June 11, 1900, she was married to George H. Gilman, of New York.

In 1890 she began lecturing on ethics, economics and sociology, writing on these subjects for magazines and papers. She is especially identified with the work for the advance of women and the labor question ; is a member of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, American Sociology Association, and League for Political Education. Among her writings are: "Women and Economics," "In This Our World," "The Yellow Wallpaper," "Concerning Children," "The Home, Its Work and Influence," "Human Work."

Mrs. Gilman's philosophy is dynamic; it is essentially one of hope, courage, joy; and it is for America of to-day. W. D. Howells pronounces her short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper," a psychological masterpiece. Her sociological works have been translated into many languages. She now publishes, edits and writes entirely a magazine, The Forerunner.

MARIETTA HOLLEY.

Miss Marietta Holley is most affectionately remembered by her pen name of "Josiah Allen's Wife." She was born at Ellisburgh, Jefferson County, New York, and is the daughter of John M. and Mary Tabro Holley. Her best known works are : "My Opinions and Betsy Bobbett's," "Samantha at the Centennial," "My Wayward Partner," "The Mormon Wife" (a poem), "Miss Richard's Boy," "Sweet Cicely," "Samantha at Saratoga," "Samantha Amongst the Brethren," "Samantha in Europe," "Around the World with Josiah Allen's Wife," "Samantha at the St. Louis Exposition," "Samantha on Children's Rights," "The Borrowed Automobile."

Frances Willard said of Miss Holley: "Brave, sweet spirit, you don't know how much we all love you. No woman has more grandly helped the woman's cause."

MRS. FRANK LESLIE.

Was born in 1851 in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Her maiden name was Miriam Florence Folline. She became the wife of Frank Leslie, the New