Family: A daughter of the early abolitionist Hezekiah Joslyn, Gage was the wife of Henry Hill Gage, with whom she had five children: Charles Henry (who died in infancy), Helen Leslie, Thomas Clarkson, Julia Louise, and Maud. Gage maintained residence in Fayetteville, New York for the majority of her life. Though Gage was cremated, there is a memorial stone at Fayetteville Cemetery that bears her slogan "There is a word sweeter than Mother, Home or Heaven. That word is Liberty." -- Maud, who was ten years younger than Julia, initially horrified her mother when she chose to marry The Wonderful Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum at a time when he was a struggling actor with only a handful of plays (of which only The Maid of Arran survives) to his writing credit. However, a few minutes after the initial announcement, Gage started laughing, apparently realizing that her emphasis on all individuals making up their own minds was not lost on her headstrong daughter, who gave up a chance at a law career when the opportunity for women was rare. Gage spent six months of every year with Maud and Frank, and died in the Baum home in Chicago, Illinois in 1898. -- Gage's son Thomas Clarkson Gage and his wife Sophia had a daughter named Dorothy Louise Gage, who was born in Bloomington, IL, on June 11, 1898 and died just five months later on November 11, 1898. The death so upset the child's aunt Maud, who had always longed for a daughter, that she required medical attention. Thomas Clarkson Gage's child was the namesake of her uncle Frank Baum's famed fictional character, Dorothy Gale. In 1996, Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner, a biographer of Matilda Joslyn Gage, located young Dorothy's grave in Bloomington. A memorial was erected in the child's memory at her gravesite on May 21, 1997. This child is often mistaken for her cousin of the same name, Dorothy Louise Gage (1883-1889), Helen Leslie (Gage) Gage's child. As theosophists, both the Baums and the Gages believed in reincarnation, and thought this child might have been Matilda Joslyn Gage, whose personal spark is apparently written into the character. -- In The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story, Gage was played by Rue McClanahan, whose relationship with Frank was wrongly portrayed as antagonistic, and falsely presented Gage as the inspiration for the Wicked Witch of the West. Annette O'Toole played Maud, and Nancy Morgan and Pat Skipper played Helen and Charles, respectively.

Lyman Frank Baum, author of Ozma of Oz, didn't just write one of the most popular children's books in history. He also produced thirteen other Oz books as well as over 40 other novels, 82 short stories, hundreds of poems, and an unknown number of scripts. -- As a young man, Baum was a printer, producing several amateur newspapers, a poultry breeder specializing in the Hamburg chicken, and a theater lover. Despite working as a clerk in his brother-in-law's dry goods store, he found time to perform in plays until eventually his father, who owned numerous opera houses and theaters, built him a theater on his 24th birthday. Baum wrote plays, including the highly successful musical "The Maid of Arran," and composed music for them as well. Two years later he married Maud Gage, and moved with her a few years later to Aberdeen in the Dakota Territory, where he operated a store called "Baum's Bazaar." In 1890 the store failed, and Baum turned to newspaper writing and working as a traveling salesman. -- He believed deeply in the power of children's literature, saying "Imagination has given us the steam engine, the telephone, the talking-machine and the automobile, for these things had to be dreamed of before they became realities. So I believe that dreams - day dreams with your eyes wide open - are likely to lead to the betterment of the world. The imaginative child will become the imaginative man or woman most apt to create, to invent, and therefore to foster civilization." -- Politically, Baum was a flaming liberal. His wife was the daughter of suffrage leader Matilda Joslyn Gage, author of The Women's Bible and companion to Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Baum wrote editorials trying to convince the public to vote for women's suffrage and served as secretary of Aberdeen's Women Suffrage Club.

The 'Killing Eve' actress and the 'Spectre' actor have reportedly landed major roles in the upcoming big-screen adaptation of the classic stage show inspired by Roald Dahl's book.

Like anyone at the end of their working life, when Matilda the Commonwealth Games mascot retired she had one thing in mind travel. Curious Brisbane tracks her adventures these past 36 years, and reveals where she can be found today.

Australia takes control of the Olympic football qualifier against Vietnam, as the Matildas cruise to a 5-0 win that puts them on the verge of qualification for Tokyo.

Australia's passage to the women's football tournament at the Tokyo Olympics was confirmed with an unconvincing second-leg win over Vietnam.

The Matildas have defeated Vietnam 2-1 and qualify to play in the Women's soccer tournament at the Tokyo Olympics.

Alen Stajcic vows to leave the baggage from his controversial Matildas axing at the door, as he takes on the role of caretaker coach at A-League strugglers Central Coast Mariners.

FOUR years ago, Olivia Mitchell joined her first soccer team. Now the 12 year old is set to represent NSW in the national primary schools competition.

According to media reports, actor Ralph Fiennes has been attached...

The post Ralph Fiennes To Play Miss Trunchbull in Netflix’s Matilda? appeared first on Man's World India.

The new FFA pay deal will close the pay gap between Socceroos and Matildas players, and has been praised by players, fans and administrators alike.

The star, 39 - who won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role as Gwen Verdon in Fosse/Verdon on Sunday night - said she doesn't normally watch television.

Claudia Winkleman has opened up about the years of torment she has suffered over her daughter Matilda's Halloween costume blaze.

Sydney will now host the Matildas' matches against China, Taiwan and Thailand after Asian Football Confederation moved games away from Nanjing due to coronavirus outbreak.

BAZ BAMIGBOYE: Matilda The Musical - starring Ralph Fiennes as bullying, hammer-throwing headmistress Agatha Trunchbull - has become a top priority film for Hollywood.

The actress, 29, shared a sweet Instagram snap on Wednesday as she took her daughters Matilda, four, and Delilah, 21 months, on a family walk.

The former Coronation Street star, 29, took to Instagram to post the picture as she captioned it with: 'My sunshine,' followed by a flower, yellow heart and star emoji.

BAZ BAMIGBOYE: Matilda The Musical - starring Ralph Fiennes as bullying, hammer-throwing headmistress Agatha Trunchbull - has become a top priority film for Hollywood.

Bijmolt, Tammo H. A. (Tammo Hendrik Anthonie), 1967-