Page:Woman of the Century.djvu/659

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
654
SHERWOOD.
SHERWOOD.

great beauty. She was acquainted with Bancroft. Motley, Bryant, Prescott and many other men of note. At the age of seventeen she published a criticism of "Jane Eyre," which attracted much attention. While living in Washington, she became the wife of John Sherwood, who is still living. Their union has been a happy one. Her literary work includes correspondence with eminent men and women abroad, and many contributions to the "Atlantic Monthly," "Scribner's Magazine," "Appleton's Journal," the "Galaxy." and the New York "Tribune," "Times" and "World." For years she corresponded for the Boston "Traveller." Her work in "Harper's Bazar," "Frank Leslie's Weekly" and other journals from Maine to Oregon would fill many volumes. Among her published books are "The Sarcasm of Destiny" (New York, 1877); "Home Amusements" (1881); "Amenities of Home" (1881); "A Transplanted Rose" (1882); "Manners and Social Usages" MARY ELIZABETH SHERWOOD. (1884); "Royal Girls and Royal Courts" (Boston, 1887), and "Sweet Brier" (Boston, 1889). She has written many poems, to which she signs the initials, "M. K. W. S." She has translated some poems from European languages. She has written hundreds of short stories, many of which appeared anonymously. During her seasons abroad she formed the acquaintance of Queen Victoria and other notable persons. She has had three interviews with the Queen of Italy. She has traveled extensively in Europe for years. In 1885 she gave readings in her New York City home in aid of the Mount Vernon Fund, and they became so popular that she continued them for several years, giving the proceeds to charity, realizing over $10,000 in that way. Her readings comprise essays on travel, literature and history. She is the president of the "Causeries," a literary club composed of women distinguished in New York society. Her family consisted of four sons, two of whom, James Wilson Sherwood and John Philip Sties wood, died in early manhood. Her living sores are Samuel Sherwood, the artist, and Arthur Murray Sherwood, the broker. In Mrs. Sherwood's parlors hang the original and imaginative drawings and paintings of her two artist sons. One is by Samuel Sherwood of his brother Philip, taken just before his death Several done by Philip Sherwood show that in his early death a genius was lost to the world. In his name his mother has contributed to the funds of the Home for the Destitute Blind, the St. Joseph's Hospital, the Kindergarten for the Blind, the Woman's Exchange, the New York Diet Kitchen, the Manhattan Hospital and Dispensary, the Home of St. Elizabeth and many others, various schemes to care for children, and to many objects known to only her friends, who confide to her sufferings not made public, and especially for women in need and for young women who are striving to fit themselves for a profession by which they may earn an honorable livelihood. She has done much to advance literature and science in New York City. She is still active in benevolent and literary lines. Among her many testimonials of recognition abroad, she was decorated with the insignia of Officier d'Academie, an honor conferred by the French Minister of Public Instruction on persons who have distinguished themselves in literary pursuits. It is said to be the first time this decoration has been conferred upon an American woman.


SHERWOOD, Mrs. Rosina Emmet, artist, born in New York, N. ¥., 13th December, 1854. Her maiden name was Rosina Emmet. She is a twin sister of Robert Temple Emmet, the soldier, and a direct descendant of Thomas Addis Emmet, the Irish patriot, who was born in Cork, Ire., 24th April. 1764, and died in New York City 14th November, 1827. He was an older brother of Robert Emmet, who was executed in Dublin in 1803. The family has produced many eminent persons, soldiers, lawyers, chemists, physicians, engineers and scholars. Rosina Emmet was educated in Pelham Priory, Westchester county, N. Y. She displayed remarkable artistic talents in youth, and she studied art with William M. Chase in 1879 and 1880. In 1885 and 1886 she studied in Paris, France. Her progress was rapid, and she was soon ranked with the most promising artists of the age. In 1879 she won the first prize in a Christmas-card competition. In London, Eng., in 1878, she won a first-prize medal for heads on china. She illustrated a juvenile book, "Pretty Peggy," collecting the poems and music for it, in 1880. In 1884 she made the illustrations for Mrs. Burton Harrison's "Old-fashioned Tales." Much of her illustrative work has appeared in prominent periodicals. She is a member of the Society of American Artists. Many of her oil and water-color pictures have been shown in exhibitions. In 1887 she became the wife of Mr. Sherwood, the son of Mrs. John Sherwood, of New York City, where they now live.


SHOAFF, Mrs. Carrie M., artist and inventor, born in Huntington, Ind., 2nd April, 1849. She developed artistic talents at an early age, and after learning to draw and paint she turned her attention to plastic art. She invented a method of manufacturing imitation Limoges ware, which is utilized in the making of advertising signs, plaques and other forms. In that art she uses common clay and a glaze of her own invention, and the results are surprisingly fine. She established a school in Fort Wayne, Ind., and trained a large number of students. Many business firms have given her orders for souvenirs and advertising plaques, made of her materials and from her designs, and her reputation has spread through the United