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.
KATE FIELD.
FIELD, Miss Kate, journalist, lecturer and author, born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1840. She is a daughter of the late Joseph M. Field, the well-known actor and dramatist. She was educated in seminaries in Massachusetts, and her education was broad and liberal, including thorough culture in music. After finishing her studies in the Massachusetts schools, she went to Florence, Italy, where she studied music and the modern languages. While living in Europe she corresponded for the New York "Tribune," the Philadelphia "Press" and the Chicago "Tribune," and contributed sketches for various periodicals. She studied music with Garcia and William Shakespeare. She became known in Europe as a woman of great powers of intellect and remarkable versatility. Among her acquaintances was George Eliot, who took a strong fancy to the sparkling American girl. Returning to the United States, Miss Field, in 1874, made her début as an actor in Booth's Theater, New York City, where she won a fair success. Afterward she gave a variety song, dance and recitation. In 1882 and 1883 she was at the head of the Cooperative Dress Association in New York, which was abandoned for want of success. During the following years she lectured on Mormonism and Prohibition, as well as other current topics. In 1890 she went to Washington, D. C., where she founded her successful journal, "Kate Field's Washington." Her published works are "Planchette's Diary" (New York, 1868), "Adelaide Ristori" (1868), "Mad On Purpose," a comedy (1868), "Pen Photographs from Charles Dicken's Readings" (Boston. 1868), "Haphazard" (1873). "Ten Days in Spain" (1875), and a "History of Bell's Telephone" (London, 1878). She is the author of an analysis of George Eliot's character and works, of dramatic criticisms without number, of a life of Fechter, and of numerous political and economical essays. She is an enthusiast in art, and she has spent much time and effort to secure an art congress in Washington, for the advancement of free art, with a governmental commission of art and architecture, and a national loan exhibition of paintings by American artists exclusively
FIELD, Mrs. Martha R., journalist, widely known by her pen-name. "Catherine Cole," born in New Orleans, La., in 1856, where she passed her youth and received her education. She early showed her literary bent in rhymes, some of which were published in the New Orleans "Picayune," when she was only a child. She was a leader among the students in school, and soon after leaving the school-room she went into service on the "Picayune," of which journal her father was an editor She did various work in New Orleans,
