Woman of the Century/Bessie Alexander Ficklen

FICKLEN, Mrs. Bessie Alexander, born near Frederickburg, Va., 10th November, 1861. Her maiden name was Bessie Mason Alexander. Her mother's maiden name was Mason. On her father's side she is of Scotch descent Her great-grandfather, a graduate of Edinburgh, emigrated from Scotland to America in Colonial days. He settled in Georgia and served as a surgeon in the War of the Revolution. Her father. Gen. E. P. Alexander, was educated at West Point, and, after completing the course of study there, entered the engineer corps of the United States army. On the BESSIE ALEXANDER FICKLEN. breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted in the Confederate army and served with distinction as Longstreet's chief of artillery. Miss Alexander was graduated from the Columbia Female Institute, Columbia, Tenn. In 1856 she became the wife of John R. Ficklen, professor of history in the Tulane University, New Orleans, La. On the opening of the art school in Sophie Newcomb College, in New Orleans. Mrs. Ficklen became a student there, showing special excellence in the direction of drawing and modeling. In the latter department she has done some good work, notably the head of a child, shown at the autumnal exhibition in 1891. In 1889 was published "Catlerel, Ratterel, Doggerel," a set of satirical verses composed by General Alexander. The very clever illustrations which accompany these humorous verses are the work of Mrs. Ficklen. An essay of Mrs. Ficklen's, entitled "Dream-Poetry." appeared in "Scribner's Magazine" in 1891.