A Famous Authoress Tells Literary Aspirants the Story of Her Struggle
for Recognition.
BORN and reared in Wisconsin, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, although a resident
of New York, is still faithful to the ideals and aspirations of the
young and vigorous western state in which she first saw the light. She
began writing at an early age, and still has in her possession childish
verses, composed when she was only eight years old.
She was, however, far from any literary center; she had no one upon
whom she might rely for advice as to her methods, and she had no
influential friends, for her family was not a wealthy one. The usual
difficulties, so familiar to all beginners, met her at every step;
discouragements were endured day after day, and year after year. After
a while, she began writing for various periodicals. Her first poems
appeared in the New York Mercury, the Waverly Magazine, and Leslie’s
publications. It was from the publishing house of Frank Leslie she
received her first check. Her income from literary work was very small
and recognition came quite slowly. But courage, and patience, and
fortitude, finally won the day.