Woman of the Century/Alice Emma Ives

IVES, Miss Alice Emma, dramatist and journalist, born in Detroit, Mich., where she lived until September, 1890, when she removed with her mother to New York, which is now her home. Her literary bent was early shown. Before she knew how to form the script letters, she printed the verses which she composed. When about seventeen years of age, she wrote her first story, which was promptly accepted by Frank Leslie. So severe was she in judging her work that, instead of being elated at her success, she was appalled at what seemed to her an unwarrantable presumption, and never sent another line to a publisher for ten years. Miss Ives' father died when she was two years old, and she very early felt the necessity of earning her own bread, and after a time that of two others. With her strong imaginative nature rebelling against the uncongenial task, she taught school till her health broke down under the strain. Then she began to send poems and stories to the press. They were extensively copied, but paid for poorly. Her first regular journalistic work was art criticism, and her articles attracted so much notice as to make for her a reputation. She is now a regular contributor to the "Art Amateur." Compiling books, ALICE EMMA IVES. writing plays, magazine articles, dramatic criticisms, and, in short, all-around newspaper work, have since been her work. Her magazine article which has attracted the most attention was "The Domestic Purse-Strings," in the " Forum," September, 1890 It was copied and commented on in column editorials, from London and New York to San Francisco. The production of Miss Ives' play, "Lorine." in Palmer's Theater, New York, was successful.