Woman of the Century/Jeannette Leonard Gilder

GILDER, Miss Jeannette Leonard, journalist, born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 185-. She showed her literary bent at an early age. Her father was a contributor to the journals in Philadelphia, and at one time he edited a literary monthly of his own. Jeannette published her first story, "Katie's Escapade," in the New York " Dispatch," when she was fourteen years old. At the age of seventeen she contributed to the Newark "Daily Advertiser," of which her brother was editor. He started a morning paper in Newark, and Jeannette contributed a column a day on "Breakfast-Table Talk." She soon advanced to dramatic and musical criticism. Since that year, 1869, she has been regularly and actively engaged in journalism. When her brother became assistant editor of "Scribner's Magazine," in New York City, he disposed of the Newark "Morning Register," but Miss Gilder continued for a time to serve it in every conceivable capacity. She became a correspondent of the New York "Tribune" and for a time served in a clerical position on "Scribner's Magazine." In 1875 she joined the staff of the New York "Herald" as a book-reviewer. She also reported for that paper. In December, 1880, in conjunction with her brother, she started "The Critic " In addition to her work on her own paper, Miss Gilder has corresponded for a number of journals outside of New York. In 1876 she wrote a play, "Quits." which was brought out in the Chestnut Street Theater, Philadelphia, by E. E. Mackey. It had a short run and was favorably received. She dramatized "A Wonderful Woman" for Rose Eytinge. She dramatized Dr. Holland's "Sevenoaks" for John T. Raymond. She wrote a comedy for Harry Becket, who died while preparing to produce it in England. Miss Gilder claims to be a journalist, and she holds very modest views of her own talents.