Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-04-28
LANCASTER DAILY INTELLGENCER THURSDAY APRIL 28 1881
An AMERiCAN WOMAN,
Who Married George Pitt In His Prime
Col. FOrnev's Progress

An AMERICAN WOMAN,
Who Married George Pitt. In His Prime.
Col. Forney's Progress.
Last Wednesday, April 20, lady died
in Philadelphia, and was buried on the
succeeding Saturday, who enjoyed long
life Of unusual interest and usefulness.
Mrs. Sophia Wager Pitt, widow of the
late Georre Pitt, survived 83 years, many
of them intimately connected with public
affairs. We are in the habit of referring
to distinguished: men, too frequently for
getting distinguished women. whereas in
every community will be found many
ladies who in the course of long experience
have been identified with much important
history. Mrs. Pitt was born in Pennsyl-
vania, the daughter of ON. of our Oldest
families, and married George Pitt, Of
Lancaster county, when he was in his
prime, and she in her ripe beauty and
from her childhood was connected with
many of the most prominent people of this
aud other states. Her husband was a
printer and Democratic politician, an
early and intimate friend of James Buch-
anan, and the relations and connections of
his wife were among the most useful and
unselfish advocates of Pennsylvania IA
vorite son. Herself a social leader, an in-
tellisent observer and traveller, she made
tour of Europe with her husband during
MIR. Van Buren's administration, and, as
veil before her departure as after her re-
turn, was closely connected with
tho most eminent characters of her
time. She moved in all the presidential
circles from the days of John Quincy
Adams, and was particularly well known
-" Tl,n Ern
genial nature of her husband, and her own
wit and vivacity and queenly bearing,
made them universal favorites whether
they s9journed in Boston, New York,
Paris, London, or at their own delightful
home in Philadelphia. They were always
surrounded by cultivated and delightful
men and women. Their beautiful resi-
dence on Walnut street, Philadelphia, was
sort of headquarters during the year
| when James Buchanan was an active can
| didate for the Democratic nomination for
president, and of that home the presiding
divinity was Mrs. Pitt herself. Her un-
limited hospitalities, her constant success
sion Of visitors, her charming conversation,
her humOr and sparkle and elOquence, her
rare skill as correspondent, and her al
| most universal knowledge of measures and
Ofmen made her a Sort of Madame de Stael
| l have met at the reunions of herself and
| her husband such characters as Martin
Van Buren, Charles Sumner, George NJ.
Dallas, Richard Rush, John G.. Calhoun,
Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, Lewis Cass,
Edwin Forrest, Pierce Butler, Tyrone
Power, Franklin Pierce, Commodore
Stockton, Senator John r. Thompson,
John Van Buren,, Edward Everett, Francis
4. Skunk, Howell Cobb, Reverdy Johnson,
Henry A. Wise, Henry E. Muhlen-
berg and many more Of the scien-
tific and professional leaders of both
parties and both continents. During the
touching English service over her remains
at St. Stephens last Friday-Mrs. Pitt
was one of the most prominent members
OF the Episcopal church, thought as
recalled her long and useful life, and re-
| membered her remarkable face, which
singuiarly resemblcd the features of Queen
Elizabeth, that few among all the host she
had met and mingled with had earned a
sincercr respect or deserved a more affec-
tiOnate recollection. How impressive the
fact that Ofthe vast company have named
there is not one left, and that she survived
them all.
The Founding of Lincoln Univsrsity.
Oxford Press.
A correspondent, after reading the paper
on Lincoln university written by w. U.
Hensel, esq, which is Published in this
tiOn to the starting of that now universally
acknowledged highly important institution
of learning:
g 1t is not we'll to say much about men
when We are considering work done al
together for the glory of God ; yet few
facts may help the good cause, and our
good friend Hensel, as lawyer, will not
object.
THE first thought Of the need of such
Il work as Lincoln university is doing
| came to John NJ. Dickcy when his hand
was upon the head of a young achite man,
ordaining him as minister to Africa. He
stated it in these words Am not help.
ing to send this man to death ? Is it Just
to the white man? Is it jnst to the colored
man? Why should he not he given the
power, by education, to preach to the
millions of his own race in Africa This
explains the pleasure he had afterwards
with MIR. Amos as student.
The stone marked The night is far
spent, the day is at hand,' was cut and
given by a poor man. The letters were
then filled with black paint they are
now filled with gilt. When this stone
was taken out of Ashmun hall it was
found an old tombstone had been used, a
hand pointing up on the reverse. The old
Bible from which the text was taken,
After three days of prayerful Search is
still in use. DR.. Dickey gave it as the one
he had used.
"Rev. MIR. Amos died in this state, after
years Of devoted service in Africa. His
work was better appreciated in England
than by orr own Presbyterian board of
missions. His desire was to go back to
Africa, saying there was his work and
there he was we'll He stayed and died,
while white men were sent to Africa, many
of them to die
"There certainly was rock used when
Ashmun institute was started. 1t was tie
faith that can remove mountains Faith
in the stone cut out without hands,
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS.
Near and Across the County Lines
Tbs, c.,c %1,o