Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1882-03-14
"MARGARET."
A Noteworthy y History.
From The Cincinnati Commercial

From the Cincinnati Commercially
The most remarkable funeral proba-
bly, ever witnessed in New Orleans took
place there on Saturday, February II.
1t was the occasion of the burial of Mrs.
Margaret lIaughery, "a woman who
never wore silk dress or Il kid glove. "
But no woman IN the whole South was
better known than she. The announce
mcnt in the New Orleans papers Of her
death and burial are headed simply
"Margarct," yet every inhabtant Of
that locality and every river man on the
lower Mississippi knew who was
, meant.
Margarct's pall-bcarcrs were the Gov
crnOr Of Louisiana, Ex-Governor Mich
oils. the mayor of New Orleans, the
editor Of the PicayaRc, representing the
press Of the city, and some Of the most
| prominent merchants and bankers Of
New Orleans. Among those who gath
cred to do her honor were Generals
Bcaurcgard, Ogden and Meyer, and
others Of the most distinguished men of
| Louisiana. The funeral was attended
by Il concoursc Of people that could
scarcely be numbered, they were so
many, The archbishop Of the diocese
conducted the services.
Following the carriage Of the pail
bearers were the children Of eleven or
phan asylums, white and colOrcd, CATH
ollie and Protestant These belonged to
the city and immediate vicinity. Fol
lowing them were representatives Of
other asylums and public charities, who
had come TO add their blessings and
respect to the memory Of Margaret
From the church to the cemetery where
they buried her, the streets aud side
walks were throngcd with mourncrs--
men, women aud children, In the
procession were the members of one Of
The city fire companies, in citizens dress,
the Mississippi, No. ,. The dead wo-
man had been an honorary member of
this company.
Wherever the cortogc passed along
the streets, at its approach men stopped
their hurried walk and stood with un-
covered heads I'LL II passed, rs though
this had been the burial of II king, or a
person of world wide rCnown. At the
church, the Howard Association of the
city, with iis president Ht the head,
Joined the procession formally, and fol-
lowed II to the grave. 4 noteworthy
and touching incident occurred on the
way to The cemetery. The cor,Cgc pass
rd the New Orleans Stock Exchange at
noon, Just after the members had assem-.
blcd aud the call was progressing. On
the instant, the members suspended
proceedings, left their room and came
down to the sidewalk. They stood
there rrVcrcnlly, with bare brOws, till
the remains Of Margaret had passed by.
This was name which had power to
still for time even the Babel cries Of
trade.
who was shcY A plain, humble wo-
man, who had been good TO the little
children Of the poor.
Her history, rs told by the steamboat
men, II an unusual and romantic one.
Years and years ago. II Is said, she was
II Romnn Catholic sister of charity.
During her benevolent minislralions she
attended through his last Illness u gem
llcmun who became much interested In
her and her work. There seems Il
discrepancy IN the account here, but the
story IL the gentleman proposed that
Margaret should marry him on his
death bed, 50 that she could inherit his
estate. AT any rate the marriage took
place. and she was left widow In pos
session Of n small property
II was then the work Of her life began.
The business Of u certain restaurant and
bnko.shop along the river front had
fallen into decay, Mrs, llHughcry.-
bought this aud established cheap eat
ng house for steamboat labOrCrs, She
thought by means Of furnishing them
wholesome food at trlllc TO lure them
away from drinking dcns. As one
acquainted with the plan sall "Shc
gave them roll and cup Of coffee for
live ccnla, to keep them from spending
quarter for whlskcy, aud they took the
ioll and coffee, aud then spent twenty
cents fr Whlskcy all the same"
She worked very hard with her hands
herself, for she was only nnhumblc, un-
educated woman. But under the Ia
bors uf those hard hands her business
prospcrcd nightly. She had shrcwcd
hcnd, aud IN time might have become
one of the richest women In New Or
leans had she chosen 10 nmnss wealth.
Rnt she used her money for good ~
soon ~ she get II. Fast M u came In,
even 20 freely II flowed ont for The good
Of little children, She founded aud
supported three orphan nsylums. The
money she left maintains them siill, nnd
will continue to do NJ long AFTER the
brave hands that earned the wealth
have TUNED to dust, one Of her bee
loved orphans became her adopted son,
aud finally her partner IN business
Her work win sull go on Just where she
nid II down, and money viii sllll llow
from II 10 The numherlrss noble charities
she established or aided The snmc pa-
pcfs that notice her funeral contain the
announcement thut the business of the
firm Of Margaret llaughciy & Co."
WIN not be- suspended by her death, but
will continue ns heretofore.
NO estimate seems 20 have bccu made
nf the amount of her aid to orphan Hsy-
lnmns nnd other charities, but II itnppcars
10 have amounted up into the hundred
thousands, all made bv her own work,
Although % Roman Catholic sho made
NO theological discrimination when shc