Woman of the Century/Mrs. H. B. Goodwin

MRS H. B. GOODWIN. GOODWIN. Mrs. H. B., novelist, was born in Chesterville, Me., but she has been a resident of Boston, Mass., for many years. She is the daughter of the late Benjamin B. and Elizabeth Lowell Bradbury. Her school-life was spent mainly in Farmington Academy, under the tuition of Alexander H. Abbott. Before her marriage she had written many short stories and sketches, which were published in magazines and papers over her initials, H. B. She was a successful teacher of girls in Bangor, Me., and afterward she was principal of the Charlestown Female Seminary, at that time a popular and widely-known school. The judicious criticism and commendation of her teacher. Prof. Abbott, first stimulated her ambition to be known as an author, but her pen was mainly inspired by her desire to assist in educating young women. For the last fifteen years Mrs. Goodwin has been intimately associated with the educational work of Wellesley College. She is an active member of its board of trustees and of its executive committee, and has also written and read to the students of Wellesley many essays on art, the studies for which were made in the great art centers of Europe, where she traveled in England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Her first novel was "Madge" (New York, 1864), and was favorably received. Mrs. Goodwin regards it as the least worthy of her books, though it was written with as high an aim and as serious a purpose as any of its successors. Her second book, "Sherbrooke" (New York, 1866). is a story of New England life. The success of that story was instantaneous. Her third book, "Dr. Howell's Family" (Boston, 1869), was written during months of great physical pain, and many readers regard it as the author's strongest work. After the publication of that book Mrs. Goodwin was for several years an invalid and employed her been only in writing short stories and sketches and letters from Europe to religious newspapers. "One Among Many" (Boston. 1884) added to the well earned success of its author and gave new evidence of her ability to represent real life. Another of her well-known stories is "Christine's Fortune " (Boston), a picture of German life. "Our Party of Four" (Boston, 18871, describes a tour in Spain Perhaps to "Dorothy Gray" the highest praise is awarded by critics and literary friends. Mrs. Goodwin's extensive reading, her knowledge of art and her acquaintance with foreign cities have given her pen a rare facility. Culture, refinement and morality characterize all her work. She has compiled a volume of essays on art and history.