National Republican., 1885-04-04

per month. and this 10 applied to the
necessary repairs. Should the different
departments, ''in order to reduce the
force" spare some of the refined and cul-
tivatcd widows. then the home would
open its protecting arms and prove the
next blessing to an aifcctionate and in-
dustrious husband.
Tho sole founder Of "the Lenthall
Home for Widows" was born in the city
of Washington eighty-ono years ago. and
to-day is q marvel Of strength, Of mind,
and physical preservation. Sho has seen
her sons and daughter grow to physical
maturity and reflect the greatest honor
upon her, and then pass away. Many OF
our citizens will remember her eldest
son, the lato DIR. Robert L. Stone, the
physician Of President Lincoln. Ho was
chosen to this high trust Withstand
ing his southern" origin and feeling,
because Of his groat ability in his pro-
fession and his unsullied honor as q man.
Her second son, William, was lawyer,
occupying place second to none at tho
bar OF his native city, whilst the third
son died as he camo out of college with
all its highest honors resting on his young
head. Tho daughter, in the bloom Of
beautiful and useful life as daughter,
Wlltt lnOlutlg HlHu HhuoNu hNbSf bub
the energy, affection, aud all the other
great qualities which make tho character
of Mrs.Stono were not buried in tho graves
of tho departod; tho Lenthall home, as
first conceived In the brain of her dead
father, became subject upon which her
mind loved to dwell, and taking piece
of land which she had inherited from
him, she placed upon 1t this beautiful
tribute to his memory. MI. John Len
thall, the father of Mrs. Stone, was born
in England, aud at an carly day emigrated
to this country. He was n man of most
generous impulses, and high artistic at
tainmcnts. He was architect at tho capi-
tol at the time of his tragic death. One
of tho great arches had been completed,
handing hammer to one Of his work
men, he told him to knock ont the key
stone y Tho workman hesitated. "If
you built IL according to my order, there
is no danger" The workman still stood
back. Mr. Lenthall seized the hammer,
struck tho stone, down came tho mighty
arch, and the architect of the capitol was
launched into eternity!
While Mrs. Stones father and elder sister
were travelling in England they visited a
"widows' home" which had been erected
on the estate of one of the early dukes OF
Norfolk aud for gen nerations tho son carried
out tho tradition of the father concern
ing the widows home" and its influ-
onco had been so widespread and benefl'
cent that Mr.. Lenthall determined to
carry out the same plan in his adopted
city when tho propitious time should
come. His untimely death prevented,
but his daughter has carried out his
wishes, with changes necessarily adapted
to u different day and generation. On
the Duke of Norfolk's estate, which was
q portion of the thickly settled part
of London, the little cottages wero built
around three sides of one of the open
squares, with small gardens in front
Tho occupants were so thankful to obtain
such retreat that the beautiful light OF
gratitude beamed from their eyes, and
Sister Mary Lenthall oxclaimed: SIS not
this peace and tranquility the happiness
of old age 2" In London square the
inspiration was born that piled one brick
upon another in II distant continent.
Though the idea Of widows home
was conceived in the brain Of q man, il
was wOmans generosity, energy, and on.
terprise that gave it tangible form and
perfection. Not only is the Lenthall Home
the unaided work of Mrs. Stone, but
in all worthy ways unknown to the
world her name is among the highest
A woman of the most refined culture
modest and retiring beyond all praise
she devotes the great enterprise she has
given us to the memory of another, and
bestows upon it for all time his name
But as the years slip away and the SHOWS
of unnumbered winters gather and melt
on the lowly hillock, deep buried from
human eye, will be printed in living
green on warm, throbbing hearts the
Washington. OLIVIA"
President Woman's Press Association.
MAPLE SQUARE, CAPITOL HILL, Apri
3, 1856. ,,L