Helen Corinne Bergen (October 14, 1868 – ?) was an American author and journalist, as well as a musical and dramatic critic. She made elocution one of her principal studies, and appeared at several private concerts as Parthenia in Ingomar, the Barbarian. Her poems appeared in several prominent papers, and received favorable mention from the press and public. Bergen was well-known to the press in Washington, D.C., New York City, and at Lansing, Michigan. She believed in equal pay for equal work by men and women. Early life and education Helen ("Nellie") Corinne Bergen was born in Delanco, New Jersey, October 14, 1868. She belonged to the Bergen family that came from Norway and settled in New Jersey in 1618, in the place they called Bergen. Her mother was the daughter of the Rev. Isaac Winner, D. D., a preacher in the New Jersey Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her father was Colonel George B. Bergen, one of the prominent politicians of Michigan, and Ella (Winner) Bergen. When a child, Bergen lived in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, and at four years of age, came to East Saginaw, Michigan. Graduating in 1887 from the high school, she continued her studies for one year at St. Clair, Michigan. Michigan In Michigan, she began writing for the newspapers. She later lived in Washington, D.C., Louisiana, and Texas, working for The Washington Post and various periodicals like The American Magazine and southern newspapers. She was the Post'''s children's department editor and also wrote music and drama criticism, poetry, sketches, and stories. Louisiana In 1890, being in delicate health after her first social season at Saginaw, Michigan, Bergen's mother sent her daughter to Louisiana to regain her strength. Bergen was engaged at the time to E. Stanton Bliss, her first and childhood's love, and a nephew of Col. Aaron T. Bliss, formerly Congressman from Michigan. Bergen was introduced to George Carter Brush in a hotel while she was recuperating at a sanitarium at Ruston, Louisiana. On May 1, 1890, after an acquaintance of thirty-six hours, they married at Ruston. Mr. Brush admitted that the marriage was the result of impulse, and a divorce was obtained in 1892, contrary to the wishes of Bergen, but with the approval of Bergen's father. New York There followed four years of literary output while Bergen work in New York from 1892 to 1896. When Jack Comes Late, a