National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-24
xAReAREr DAWES ELIOT.

sketch Of We'll Known Washington Lady.
From the Christian Register, July al
On the 25th Of June, 1876. in this city, passed
from earth the soul Of Mrs. Margaret Dawes
Eliot, widow Of william Greenleaf Eliot, and
daughter Of Hon. Thomas Dawes, Of Boston.
The life and death Of such woman, % strong
and clear IN intellect, 30 consistent and lovely In
goodness, ID treasure Of memory and example
20 ms all. She was type Of woman rarely 70 be
found, and the ChrisfiaB Rsoisier would indeed
Be guilty Of neglect and forgetfulness were It to
fail ID offering tribute to one OF Its Oldest,
truest friends. , l-rr --r.9 aIt "a gr-B
Mrs. Eliot was the dear friend Of DR.. Cham
ming, who performed her marriage service more
than sixty.eight years ago.
During long life passed at Washington, her
untiring Interest IN the cause OF Unitarian
Christianity sustained, more than through any
other Individual source It may truly be said, the
vitality Of the struggling little church In that
city. Her home was ever thrown open to the
Unitarian clergy, and her charming hospitality,
bright wit and generous sympathy were guild
ing star through all Encouragement .T
Her lsbors to benefit the condition Of the slave
flor the writer has often beheld her with little
class Of negroes at her side), her charities among
the poor, her fearlessness In times Of pestlence-
none of these things forgotten, "for her works
do follow her." Not one only, but all Of the
blessings of the Sermon on the Mount are hers.
No grief could break her SPIRIT for she ever said,
Nothing is sorrow save gull" and thus was her
mourning ever comforted. t
When the late war came, she saw her youngest
son 20 forth to battle with the same prayers and
tears Of faith and love that she offered when they
told her he was slain. Although then past sew
enty years of age she learned to knit for the first
time that she might cover the soldiers feet with
socks and 1t was lovely to see her dear old hands
lay pair after pair aside, while sha would smile
and say, "Never too old to learn, even TO knit"
Thus in matters great and small alike, she fol.
lowed where the light Of duty fell upon her path,
until, at eighty-fve years Of age, with her grand
intellect undimmed, with hands still bestouing
charity until within few hours Of her dissolu.
tion, she met her God! Yea, met her Godi For
lifting up her noble face still wonderful In Its
rare physical beauty, she repeated the Lords
Prayer. Then with q look Of awe and joy she
greeted solemnly and sweetly some presence
seen only by her heaven-ligthed eyes,
and when the successive and Intelligent express
sions Of surprise and gratitude and trust had
passed rapidly over her lectures, she bent toward
the messenger, she saw. and, smiling with . per-
feet confidence, she bowed her head again and yet
again, as II in sweet assent, then fell asleep in
Christ. Her remains were taken to Laurel Hill
Cemetery and placed beside those Of her nonored
and beloved husband.
Mrs Eliot was tine mother Of Hob. Thomas d.
Eliot, Of New Bedford, Of Captain Frank A..
Eliot, OF Germantown, of Rev. DIR. Eliot, of st.
Louis; also OF Mrs. Thomas Lamb, Of Boston,
Mrs. James T. Furness, of Philadelphia, and
Mrs. Caroline E. Lakeland, Of St. Louis. At the
time Of her death she had thirty-nine grandchil-
dren and thirty-tvo great-Rrzndchildren. Not
emily has her large family met with an irreparable
loss, but her church and the poor and sick of
many lowly home have lost friend in hours of
need. But what joy to Us who love her It is to
believe that for the measure of good works she
measured here, It Is now given her in heaven,
"good measure pressed down and running OVER
Of that peace and joy that passeth understand
ing, never to end -..r s+#*