Woman of the Century/Callie Bonney Marble
MARBLE, Mrs. Callie Bonney, author, was born in Peoria, Ill., where her father, Hon. C. C. Bonney, was a young lawyer just beginning practice. He shortly afterward removed to Chicago, Ill., where he has since resided. Mrs. Marble is of Anglo-Norman origin and is descended from the noble De Bon family, who figured in the days of William the Conqueror. Afterward the spelling of the name became De Bonaye, and later assumed its present form. She attended the best schools in Chicago, and afterward was graduated from the Chestnut Street Seminary for young ladies, then located in Philadelphia, Pa., but since removed to Ogontz, Pa. While purely feminine in every respect, she yet inherits from her legal ancestry a mental strength that is very decided, though not masculine. She has published two prose works, "Wit and Wisdom of Bulwer" and "Wisdom and Eloquence of Webster." She is a proficient French scholar and has made translations of many of Victor Hugo's shorter works. Her first writing for periodicals was a story, which was printed serially in a Chicago Masonic magazine. Since its appearance she has written poems, sketches and stories for a great number of periodicals. She has written the words of a number of songs that have been set to music by F. Nicholls Crouch, the composer of "Kathleen Mavourneen," Eben H. Bailey and W. H. Doane. She has written two operettas, one set to music by Mr. Bailey, and the other by Sir. Doane, and has dramatized the "Rienzi" of Bulwer, an author who holds a very warm place in her affections. She has been indelicate health for many years. Although Mrs. Marble did not begin to write until 1882, and much of her work nas been done while in bed or on her lounge, she has accomplished a great deal, and has gained a recognition that is general and gratifying. Several years ago she became the wife of Earl Marble, the well-known editor, art and dramatic critic, and author, and they now reside in Chicago.