American Citizen

FLORENCE PERCY.—This nom de plume
of a talented lady is coupled with so many
gems of poesy that it has become almost
a "household word" throughout the land.

"Florence Percy" was the daughter of
Thomas Chase, and a native of Phillips,
Me., but afterwards a resident of the
neighboring town of Farmington. Her
talent for poetical composition developed
itself at an early age, and the columns of
the local paper were enriched with her
productions. Presently they attracted
the attention of a son of Prof. Taylor, of
Vermont, who thereupon opened a correspondence
with the youthful authoress.

The correspondence ripened into a courtship,
and a meeting between the parties
was arranged. When they first came
together they are said to have instinctively
recognized each other. At all events,
the meeting resulted in matrimony, "and
they twain became one flesh." The union
proved infelicitous, and Taylor a scamp.

Forsaking his wife and child, he went to
California and died there. Subsequently
Mrs. Taylor became connected with the
Portland Transcript, and while residing
in the Forest City made the acquaintance
of the talented sculptor, Paul Akers,
whom she married and accompanied to
Italy. In this sunny land of art "Florence
Percy" again became a widow and
afterwards returned to the United States.

The influence of friends secured her a
clerkship in one of the departments at
Washington, and there she divides her
time between her literary and clerical
duties.