Archive:Daughters of America; or Women of the Century
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Hanaford, Phebe A., Daughters of America; or Women of the Century. Augusta, Me. (True and Co., 1882.)
"To the women of future centuries of the United States of America, this record of many women of the first and second centuries, whose lives were full of usefulness, and therefore worthy of renow and imitation, is now enscribed."
ELIZABETH STUART PHELPS, the daughter, has followed worthily in her footsteps. Her "Gates Ajar," "Hedged In," "Men, Women, and Ghosts," have gained wide and deserved circulation. But this chapter is already long enough, and the writer's pen weary in its proud mention of the literary women in [p.225] America. Some can hardly be mentioned, and some must be left out utterly, in the hope that some other writer, with more space and more leisure, will do justice to all. ELIZABETH WARNER, or WETHERELL, and her sister, will not be forgotten while "The Wide, Wide World" or" Queechy" shall be read. MARIA CUMMINGS will be remembered till "The Lamplighter" is no more. AUGUSTA J. EVANS is known as far as "Beulah" is read. And there is "GAIL HAMILTON" (MARY A. DODGE of Hamilton of Mass.), who has added valuable books to our American libraries,—"Country Living, and Country Thinking" "Gala Days," "Stumbling Blocks," "Summer Rest," "Wool Gathering," "Skirmishes and Sketches," "Woman's Wrongs," &c. Long may she send forth her spicy utterances, becoming daily more earnest for reform and righteous living! But ADELINE D. T. WHITNEY (daughter of the late Enoch Train, born in Boston, Sept. 15, 1824) is a name that must be here, since her admirable books have so blessed and strengthened human souls. The testimony of reviewers has been given so decidedly in her favor, that no further word is needed; and "Faith Gartney's Girlhood," "We Girls," "The Other Girls," "Real Folks," "Hitherto," "Patience Strong's Outings" and "Sights and Insights," &c., will carry on her fame to latest American generations.
ANNA WHITNEY of Massachusetts has won an enviable place among women artists. Her native State has lately ordered of her a statue of Samuel Adams for the national collection at Washington, of which "The Boston Journal" thus speaks:—
"The statue of Samuel Adams by Miss Annie Whitney has just been received from Italy, and is now on exhibition in the vestibule of the Boston Athenaeum, preliminary to its removal to Washington, it having been accepted by the Commission. It is a work which cannot fail to command almost universal admiration. The pose of the figure is simple, dignified, and manly. He stands with folded arms, a figure full of power. The [p.299] head and face are fine, expressive of the republican virtues which were the prominent traits of the character of Samuel Adams. The entire impression of the statue strongly reminds one of what John Adams said of him, 'that upon great occasions, when his deeper feelings were excited, he erected himself, or rather nature seemed to erect him, without the smallest symptom of affectation, into an upright dignity of figure and gesture which made a strong impression on spectators.'
"It borrows nothing from drapery: there is neither cloak nor mantle, only the small-clothes, the long waistcoat, and the straight-breasted, hood-skirted coat which was the simple dress of the time. The hair is brushed back from the forehead, and tied in a queu behind. The first impression one gets of the statue is its grand simplicity, dignity, and power.
"It is mounted upon a plain pedestal, some changes in which are, however, yet to be made. It is inscribed on one side, 'Night is approaching. An immediate answer is expected. Both regiments or none. March 6, 1770;' and on the other, 'Presented by Massachusetts, 1876;' while it bears on the front in raised letters the single name, 'Samuel Adams.'
"As a whole, it is a worthy memorial of one of the noblest of Massachusetts' patriots, and one of the wisest of the friends of the Republic."
Age does not seem to cause any diminution in zeal to the lovers of leaning; for we are told "One of the earliest applications for a place in the School of Zo÷logy, held this summer at Cornell University, was from a lady fifty years old, one who has been teaching natural history in one of the largest cities for thirty years. One of the most active and enthusiastic pupils at the Anderson School was nearly sixty years of age." Mention should be made of the colleges in our land for women, but for lack of space. Vassar College, built and endowed by its noble founder at a cost of half a million, has been the only college where woman's education has been provided for as liberally as in colleges for men. The Smith College at Northampton, founded by Miss SOPHIA SMITH, bids fair to rival Vassar in time, and be a worthy monument to a worthy woman. The following ladies form part of the faculty of Smith College: Miss SARAH W. HUMPHREY, daughter of the late Pres. Humphrey, is at the head of the department of history; Miss MARIA WHITNEY, sister of Prof. Whitney of Yale, takes French and German; and Miss MARY A. HASTINGS, late principal of Hamilton Semiary, New York, mathematics. Mrs. E. E. ALLEN is matron. Many towns and cities, in New England especially, have elected women on the school-boards.
S. Louisa Rich, Elizabeth E. Rule, Louisa Matthews, E. F. Whitney,
Cornelia Olmsted, and Fanny J. McCulloch"There was also a fair representation of the lady librarians from different sections of the country present. The following registered their names: Miss S. LOUISA RICH, Hastings Library, Missouri; Miss ELLZABETH E. RULE and Miss LOUISA MATTHEWS, Lynn, Mass.; Miss E. F. WHITNEY, Concord, Mass.; Mrs. CORNELIA OLMSTED, Wadsworth Library, Geneseo, N.Y., and Miss FANNY J. MCCULLOCH, of the Birchard Library, Fremont, Ohio.
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