[3] The Catholic World said, "She was ranked not with the distinguished women of the press but with the ablest men as Charles Anderson Dana of the New York Sun."

Naturally gifted as she was, her remarkable power of concentration and the intense tenacity with which she applied herself made it easy for her to master any subject to which she devoted herself.

She co-authored Mexico, Picturesque, Political and Progressive with Mary Elizabeth McGrath Blake, of Boston.

The father, who was a manufacturer in Ulster, Ireland, died in her infancy, and the family came to Detroit, Michigan in 1851, two of her siblings having settled there in the early part of the previous decade.

The course she pursued was classical rather than practical, Latin and Greek, with modern languages, music, drawing and physical sciences.

The first story of hers which was accepted was an account of the reception at Sacred Heart Convent, where she boarded during her first years in Chicago.

[6] Because she was a stranger in the city and because of the rather secluded life she was forced to lead while a boarder at the convent, she found it practically impossible to do much as a reporter; instead, she began editorial work.

Finally, she went to Wilbur F. Storey, editor of the Times, and reminding him that he had never refused her editorials, and demanded that she be given a place on the paper.

[1] He was chosen in 1883 as first president of the Irish National League of America with the object to promote home rule in Ireland.

A few years after her marriage, Sullivan severed her connection with the Times and became editorial writer on the Chicago Tribune.

At the exposition, the President of France wanted to put her in a somewhat subordinate position at some great function held in Paris.

She refused as representative of the American press to take it and through a telegram to James G. Blaine, then Secretary of State, she was given the place of honor.

[4] During the presidential campaign of 1892, she was appointed by the Chicago Herald, a strong Democratic organ, to furnish a series of articles in support of Grover Cleveland.

When the Chicago Chronicle was established in 1896, Sullivan became its chief editorial writer, a position which she retained until her death.

Though a Democratic paper, the Chronicle was opposed to bimetallism and in the election of 1896 espoused the sound money policy of the Republicans.

Always a champion of her sex on sound conservative lines, she believed that women could and should take an active part in public affairs.

Several years before the Reading Circle method became generally disseminated throughout the country—as early as 1879– a small group of earnest students gathered daily under the tutelage of Sullivan for the enthusiastic acquirement of knowledge.

The two Reading Circles of the Sacred Heart Institution conducted by Sullivan were probably the most exhaustive in scope and most diversified in plan of entertainment of any of the literary classes of the city.

The natural affection which she bore the directress was increased by the deep respect which she felt for her both as a woman and as an educator.