of the Browns, and George in special. How their acquaintance commenced, that
she being forewoman or something that way in the same store whereat he held employ.
That she sent him divers letters purpoting to be from a lady employee, deeply
stricken with him, by which he was humbugged, even to begging her to name this
incognito Sappho, (she assuming to be in her confidence.) How the letters, (some
of which she read over to us) were laid before the girls, ere his obtaining them, how
he would feverishly pry and attempt to discover their imagined author. Then how
Mrs Bartholemew, (Mrs George Brown that now is,) imagining a penchant existing
tween her sister Mrs Kidder and George Brown, (perchance there was one, albeit
she denies it,) set her cap at him , to end in matrimony. Then spake
Mrs K of her sister, of how her poetizings as Mary Campbell had induced
[words crossed out] Ned Buntline to seek her out as a contributor to his Own. Of
the interview, how Mrs K had, unknowing thee man, Judson, uttered much in dis-
raise of his novels and paper, how her sister had graciously received him. Indeed
quoth Mrs K, that is her weak point, common fellows, under pretence of admi-
ration for her intellect, liking her society as a pretty woman, would be around her,
visit her, write admiring letters six pages long, which she would be willing to
read and import to her sister. / Now the literary productions of this lady are
all bosh, heart and impart stuff, and indifferent for that school. halting
rhyme, and not one spark of fire and true poesy, as I know, for I ve turned
over her volume. I saw her portrait once George Brown had it at Canal Street,
woman with I ll have my own way! worship me! written by Nature s hand on
her physiognomy, plain and unmistakeable. I ve heard Charley say she s sworn
when in passion at the other sister, who nursed Albert during his sickness with
such devotion. And George Brown with his business -tact, sense &c held her
to be oh, literary character, woman of intellect, what you will. She had
wedded her first husband avowedly for money. Oh me! what asses grave or gay
we are, in this world. / All this Mrs Kidder poured forth, with ardently no
| Page |
| Title: | Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries, Volume Two: page one hundred and fifty-nine |
| Description: | Discusses Mrs. Kidder's sister who writes as Mary Campbell. |
| Date: | 1851-08-24 |
| Subject: | Brown, Albert; Brown, George; Brown, George, Mrs. (Bartholomew, Winchester); Buntline, Ned; Damoreau, Charles (Brown); Gunn, Thomas Butler; Kidder, Rebecca (Morse); Women; Writing |
| Coverage (City/State): | [New York, New York] |
| Coverage (Street): | Canal Street |
| Scan Date: | 2011-02-07 |
| Volume |
| Title: | Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries, Volume Two |
| Description: | Includes descriptions of Gunn's attempts to find drawing work among New York publishers, brief employment in an architectural office, visits to his soldier friend William Barth on Governors Island, boarding house living, drawing at actor Edwin Forrest's home at Fonthill Castle, and sailing and walking trips taken with friends. |
| Subject: | Boardinghouses; Books and reading; Gunn, Thomas Butler; Military; Publishers and publishing; Religion; Travel; Women |
| Coverage (City/State): | New York, New York |
| Note: | Thomas Butler Gunn was born February 15, 1826, in Banbury, England, and came to New York in 1849. During the Civil War he worked as a correspondent for the New York Tribune and the New York Evening Post. He returned to England in 1863, and died in Birmingham in April 1903. The collection includes twenty-one volumes of his diaries, including newspaper clippings, letters, photographs, sketches, and various other items inserted by Gunn. Diary entries date from July 7, 1849, to April 7, 1863, and include his experiences with the New York publishing and literary world, his descriptions of boarding houses, his travels throughout the United States, and his experiences traveling with the Federal army as a Civil War correspondent. |
| Publisher: | Missouri History Museum |
| Rights: | Copyright 2011 Missouri History Museum. |
| Source: | Page images, transcriptions, and metadata of the Thomas Butler Gunn diaries have been provided by the Missouri History Museum. |
