1. Matilda Mary Hays was a 19th-century English writer, journalist and part-time actress.
25 Facts About Matilda Hays
2.
Matilda Hays was born in London on 8 September 1820, the daughter of a corn merchant named John Matilda Hays and his wife, Elizabeth Mary Atkinson.
3.
Matilda Hays was identified as a Creole or, according to Joseph Parkes, half Creole.
4.
Matilda Hays wrote articles for periodicals, often regarding women's issues, starting about 1838.
5.
Matilda Hays had received support and encouragement from William Charles Macready and George Henry Lewes to translate Sand's novels into English.
6.
In 1847, Matilda Hays pursued creation of a Woman's journal, patterned after the American Godey's Lady's Book, to offer a vehicle for women writers and to provide a platform for discourse about women's rights, including better educational and occupational opportunities.
7.
Matilda Hays's goal was to afford "free discussion of a subject for which at that time it was impossible to obtain a hearing through ordinary channels of the Press".
8.
Shortly after Matilda Hays' unsuccessful attempt, poet Eliza Cook started a self-named journal and Matilda Hays was a journalistic contributor to the magazine.
9.
Matilda Hays was one of the co-founders and editor of the English Woman's Journal in 1858.
10.
The Society for Promoting the Employment of Women and the Victoria Press, which Matilda Hays helped found, met at the Langham Place offices of the journal.
11.
Matilda Hays had left the journal by 1864, reputedly because of her "difficult temperament".
12.
Matilda Hays had often disagreed with Parkes, her co-editor, about the journal's direction.
13.
In 1848, there was a convergence of financial need, the "small fortune" Matilda Hays received was lost due to her father's depleted financial situation, and Charlotte Cushman's sister, Susan, was leaving the stage, which created an acting opportunities.
14.
Matilda Hays acted with Cushman for just a few months, as Cushman increasingly became a star.
15.
Matilda Hays had close personal relationships with Charlotte Cushman, Adelaide Anne Procter and Harriet Hosmer.
16.
Matilda Hays was often referred to by their friends as Mathew or Max.
17.
In 1854, Matilda Hays left Cushman for Harriet Hosmer, which launched a series of jealous interactions among the three women.
18.
Matilda Hays eventually returned to live with Cushman, but the tensions between her and Cushman would never be repaired.
19.
One night while Cushman was writing a note, Matilda Hays walked in, suspected that the note was to Stebbins, and demanded to see it.
20.
Cushman refused and Matilda Hays became mad and chased her round the house, hitting her with her fists.
21.
The relationship ended and Matilda Hays sued Cushman, claiming that she sacrificed her career to support Cushman's career.
22.
Matilda Hays was believed to have had a love interest in Adelaide Anne Proctor, who dedicated Legends and Lyrics to her with:.
23.
Matilda Hays wrote a love poem for Hays entitled, A Retrospect.
24.
Matilda Hays oversaw the tending of Procter's grave after her death and mourned her passing throughout her later years.
25.
Matilda Hays died in Liverpool at 15 Sefton Drive in Toxteth Park, on 3 July 1897.