Kansas Women in Literature | Page 5

L. Williams, for thirty years, the attorney for the Union Pacific Railway in Kansas, and the grand-daughter of Judge Archibald Williams, the first United States Circuit Judge of Kansas, appointed by Lincoln, comes of a literary family. All of the men and some of the women on the father's side of the family and also, on the mother's to a great extent, had literary talent.
As a child, she cherished an ambition to write and when occasionally one of her letters to St. Nicholas saw publication, she felt she had crossed the Alps of her desire. Her first real story, however, was written as she rocked the cradle of her first born. The day, when she first saw her ``stuff'' in print, stands out in her memory second only to the hallowed days of her personal history, her wedding day and the days upon which her children were born.
Since then, Mrs. Jarrell has contributed to almost all the high class magazines and has furnished special feature articles to newspapers.
Some years ago, a small book, ``Meg, of Valencia,'' was written and now, a novel, ``The Hand of The Potter'' is ready for publication.
In 1894, Myra Williams and J. F. Jarrell were married. This union was blest with four children, three sons and one daughter. Mr. Jarrell is Publicity Agent of the Santa Fe. A number of years ago, he bought the Holton Signal and in trying to help her husband put some individuality into the paper, Mrs. Jarrell began a department headed ``Ramblings.'' Later this was syndicated and finally issued in book form.
Last winter, a play, ``The Plain Clothes Man,'' was produced by the North Brothers Stock Co., at the Majestic Theatre, Topeka. This well written play, with its novel and original characterization and its effective comedy lines, is now in the hands of two New York play brokers. Before many months, Mrs. Jarrell will be enjoying a royalty.
In preparation, are two plays, as yet nameless; also, a play in collaboration with Mr. North of the North Stock Co. With her brother, Burus L. Williams, of Kansas City, Mo., Mrs. Jarrell has written an opera, ``The Mix Up in the Kingdom of Something-Like,'' which awaits only the lyrics Mr. Williams is writing and the music. An opera, ``The Kingdom of Never Come True,'' also, in collaboration with Mr. Williams, is being set to music by Arthur Pryor, the bandmaster.
A serial story, ``John Bishop, Farmer,'' a collaboration with Albert T. Reed, the artist, is to be published soon in the Kansas Farmer. Later, this will appear in book form. A novel, which Mrs. Jarrell believes will be her best work, is in construction and is clamoring to be written.

ELLEN PALMER ALLERTON.
Ellen Palmer Allerton, the sweet and gentle poetess, beloved of Kansas, lived at Padonia, in Brown County, when she wrote her famous poem, ``Wall of Corn.''
She was past her prime when she came to Kansas from the Wisconsin home, the subject of many of her noble gems. As she grew older, she grew stronger in poetic strength.
Three volumes of poems have been published, ``Walls of Corn and Other Poems,'' ``Annabel and Other Poems,'' and ``Poems of the Prairie.'' Her ``Walls of Corn,'' written in 1884, famous from the first, as used as railroad immigration advertising, was translated in several languages and distributed all over Europe. This and her ``Trail of Forty-nine'' are her best, although the classic beauty of ``Beautiful Things'' is unsurpassed by any other American writer.
``Beautiful twilight, at set of sun, Beautiful goal, with race well run, Beautiful rest, with work well done.''
is a fitting close to the beautiful, useful life of the author.
Mrs. Allerton was born in Centerville. New York, in 1835 and began writing verse at the age of seventeen. Much as she has written, yet writing was only a pastime. She never let it interfere with her housework. Thoroughly practical, she did all her own work, just because she loved to do it. Her flowers of which she had many, in doors and out, resulted in many noble, inspiring lines. In 1862, she was
married to A. B. Allerton of Wisconsin, coming to Kansas in 1865. She was best appreciated for her social qualities and her interest in charity--that broader charity that praises the beauty and ignores the blemishes. Her last poem, ``When Days Grow Dark'' is a beautiful pen picture of her sweetness and resignation in her growing blindness and her love and trust in him who had been her companion down the years.
``You take the book and pour into my ear In accent sweet, the words I cannot see; I listen charmed, forget my haunting fear, And think with you as with your eyes I see. In the world's thought, so your dear voice be left, I still have part, I am not all bereft.
And if this