“ MacGAHAN, Mrs. Barbara, author and journalist, born in the government of Tula, Russia, 26th April, n. s., 1852, where the estate of her father, Nicholas Elagin, was situated. The family was one of old-time Russian landed proprietors. ”

“ Since the first part of 1890 she has written regular monthly articles on American life for the St. Petersburg magazine, the "Northern Messenger." She wrote for publication in Russia over her own signature, with the exception of some works of fiction, published in the "Messenger of Europe," under the pen-name "Paul Kashirin" While living in America, Mrs. MacGahan has frequently contributed letters to the syndicate "American Press Association." ”

“ Having lost both parents and graduated from the gymnasia of Tula with a diploma held to be equivalent to a certificate of matriculation for entrance into a university, she was taken into the house of her oldest sister, the childless wife of a rich landed proprietor of the government of Tula. For several years the girl led a worldly and frivolous life, spending her summers on the family estates, migrating for the late fall to the warm resorts of the south shore of the Crimea, spending her winters either in Tula or St. ”