The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-10
Pictorial Immortality.
Notable Ameriraa Women whose Faces
Will Greet POsterity.

Tho Washington correspondent OF the New
York Tribuae ssys-One noticeable feature in
Mrs. Fassett's picture of "The Electoral Com.
mission" is the presence of women. 1t is in
striking contrast to the historical picture of
fifty years ago, which was quite content with
few vague female figures in the background,
and proves that for the new Virginia the sig
nificance has already begun. Here, both on
the floor OF the Senate chamber and 10 the re-
porters' gallery, are wOmen-lawyers, authors,
artists, journalists. There are represent .tive
society women both of the North and the
South. If one were going TO catalogue the
women in the picture with any regard to pre-
cedence there would be a certain fitness in
heading the list with the name of Mrs Fish.
1t is noticeable patricisn face, with soft,
white curls, and it was the first face put on the
canvas Near BY is the bright, blonde counte.
nance of Myra Clark Gaines, whose story is too
we'll known to bear repetition. There is Mrs.
John Tyler who came bride to Washington
so many years ago, and toward whom Mrs.
Hayes exercised graceful courtesy in inviting
her to assist at her first reception.
'How grateful you must have been," l said
to Mrs. Fassett the other day, Gin all that will
derness of black brosdcloth, for any warmth of
color No wonder you wanted to bring in the
spectators" Well, I was glad" she said.
II was particularly grateful to Mrs. Randall
Gibson for wearing that garnet silk when she
bonnet 1t was back-grounded by General
Logan's brunette beauty. 1t was very becom-
ing. General Logan shonld always wear
garnet bonnet. Mrs. Gaines's blue bonnet is
positive benefaction; aud Mrs. Angus Came
ron's-well if 1 were Miss Phelps aud had not
the fear of Gail Hamilton before my eyes,
should call it a melody in green and gold
Each of the two hundred and fifty faces on the
canvas is portrait. The young lady who
stands on q chair at the farther side Of the
I.ok.~ L
who is almost totally eclipsed by Stanley Mat
thews; so is each one of the cloud Of witnesses
in the gallery. At the left, beside her hus-
band, Is the wife of General Gordon; and it is
fitting that she should be with him in the pic
ture, as she was with him all through the war.
There is Mrs. Carlisle Patterson, repre-
sentative Washington woman, noted for her
broad sympathy and practical philanthropy.
There is the clear cut, Intellectual face of Mrs.
Waite, and what can be seen of Mrs. Angus
Cameron beyond the bonnet above mentioned
suggests typical American face, full Of cul-
ture and refinement.
In thousand subtle ways the homogeneous
social life of the capital is suggested. The pic
Mrs. Bryan, who is related to the Lees and
the Custises, woman of the army and of the
South, is sitting by Mrs. John Sherman, and
evidently in the picture, as 1 am told they are
In real life, warm friends. Near by is Mrs.
Edmunds, who is one of those women who live
of intellectual activity, of social grace and of
domestic virtues that that they would live at
home. There is Mrs. Clemmer, with blue
bonnet, and a younger face than the one she
shows on the title page Of her book. And
Miss Johnston, a lady Of considerable local
literary reputation. A prominent figure is
Mrs. Belva Lockwood. She is the woman
lawyer who has thoroughly established sue
cessful practics and is now admitted to all ex-
cept the Supreme Coult.
In the front row of the reporters gallery are
the writing women. Grace Greenwood leaning
forward till her face rests on the railing; Miss
Grundy and Miss Grundy's mother, the ''Fay"
OF the Louisville Courier; Bessie Beach, pretty
and petite; Fannie B. Ward Mrs. Crom-
well who is on the staff of the Republican here
Emma james. and many others. A very
strong face is that of Mrs. Thompson, who
writes for the Advance and the New York
Evangelist. Aad last-and looking 80 manly
that failed at first glance to count her
among the women at all-is Mrs. Swisshelm,
hatless and hygsnic.
When the picture is finished it Is to be
mounted a Ia Dubufe's "Prodigal Son." with
panels at either end containing full-ength
portraits of Hayes and Tilden. Then who
ever cares to may 'look on this picture and
then on tn at"