The National tribune., 1885-03-19
LOYAL W0MbNS WORK
The Household Conversation Club
Exchange.
WHAT ONE WOMAN DID.


6eure is that of no fashion devotee or splendid
society queen, but represents PLAIN, motheriy
figure, with q protecting arm thrown over
little child nesting close to her side. This
monument TO g noble and beautiful life was
unveiled by the people of New Orleans III June
last and reflects the reverence and love OF all
classes of people, Protestant as well as Catholic,
the faith in which the mother saint, Mar
gsret, lived and died.
The statue of Margaret" is that Of hum
BILE Irish woman, who in the course of n brief
life, and through her own eXertions, founded
three orphan asylgms, gave away fortune in
gifts and aims, aud at her death bequeathed the
bulk of her property, amounting to over Sl0o.-
900, TO the institutions Of her care. When she
died, Feb. 10 1852. she had SO endeared herself
to all the peopie that the whole city mourned
her loss. aud her name is everywhere spoken
with reverence and affection. Her history, as
told by visitor at the Exposition, shows how
. desire to help our fellow-mortals may over
como even the trying obstacles Of poverty and
obscarity and achieve results which may hit
the burden Of life from multitUdes Of sOTrowIng
hearts. But let Us hear the story as it is told
TO US, and pray God for the same cheerful heart
and willing hands.
MARGARET"
II is the life Of one who had been poor
Irish cirl.r Let nae tell IL in its brevity, that
it NAV be seen on what slight and apparently
weak foundations great structures may some
times be raised. Her maiden name was Mar
garet GaGIney aud she was born in Baltimore,
her parents. emigrautS from Ireland. dying
yxhea she was a mere child. She was brought
up by q Mrs. Richards, who, although an
earnest and Jealous Baptist had the child edu-
Gated in the Catholic faith, the faith Of her
father and mother. She married at a sui table
age Charles Hauehery. who, being in delicate
health, came in 1886 to this city. He was not
long spared to her dying the next year. and
being followed soon after by their child, leav
Ing Margaret alone in a strange land. Her
heart seemed to turn instantly from her own
forlorn situation to those equally or more un-
fortunate and even in her poverty She began
to help the helpless, doyotiug herself to the
orphans. She started q smah milk business for
her oWn support, bat was mere devoted to an
asylum with Sister Regis that was established
In what was known haunted house In
n distant portion of the city. Her struggles in
helping to maintain this Institution and carry
on her business at the same time were severe.
1t IS related Of her at one time that, applying
TO q grocerymaD for assistance III the way OF
supplies for the asylum. she WAS told she could
have all she could load on wheelbarrow for it
ifshe herself would only wheel the vehicle to
the institution. She closed Instantly with the
offer. and it is not often that n harrow gets
such load on il rs she placed there. And
picking UP the handles, OF she started. The
grocery man. perhaps ashamed of his manner Of
making a gift, relented aud said he himself
would wheel the barrow to ifs destination; but
Margaret determined to win her own supplies
as agreed upon, drove the vehicle TO the asylum.
Business prospeTed with Margaret aud she
changed her line of trade, establishing bakery
that, at first small, eventually grew into enor-
nous proportions aud enabled her to accomplish
the desire of her heart, and bestow large SUMS
of money on the various charities of the city.
During the war she had a difficult time TO
afssira hfu thpls4
freely to the Confederate soldiers and for the
relief of their families. She never restricted
herself in her givIngs TO any sect or condition
Of folks, except that she never allowed herself
to be decaived by TIE objects OF her charity.
Sometimes in the amounts of her subscriptions,
she Shamed the merchants Of New Orleans. who
are by ne means niggardly in their charities
There are various estimates made of the sum
total Of her giviugs during her lifetime. No
accurate statement could be made, of course,
for she kept no account OF her gifts, but the
most modest sum stated is S200,030. aud the
most ext ravagait. 750,500, either ot them great
in any one, but stapcEd0uS coming from one
who came TO New Orleans poor Irish work
ing girl" There are three asy!ums here that
owe their existence to her; at her death the
bulk OF her property, something over SIHd,O3o,
being bcqueathtd tG them. Fro,n her bakery,
every day. bread was supplied freely, without
cost, TO all the charitable institutions Of the
city, aid for them money was never asked of
her Ia vain. What life to have lived She had
no wants Of her own, living plainly, even
sparely. and il is doubted If she was ever the
pOssesS0r of silk dress, her usual apparel be-
ing Of calico, with Il saD-bOnnet OF the same
material Neither was she one whose pers lnal
appearance was at ali attractive. But when her
milk cart, or later on, one OF her bread wagons
driven by herself, was seen OH the streets. going
about on its er}auds of charity and mercy, it
was the observed OF ell observers, one Of the
notable sights and Institutions of New Orleans.
Never willing to accepb thanks for what she
did, her usual relly being: " Don't thank me.
Thank the good Lord !" The contemplation
of the life of this woman, coarse, iiiterate un-
deferred as she was, hardly able to write her
own name, is one that makes the heart swell
with emotion, and increases our confidence in
the normal goodness OF human nature. Where
is there such another illustration in the wide
worlds history?
Detroit Mich. has a similar story TO tell of
market woman b0Hufe0ns in charity, who built
and endowed Harper Hospital, and wac sacri-
feed much for the Union veterans during the
war. Who of her Detroit friends will write us
her story ED
Wonder If this, from the New York Saa, ap-
plies to any Of our girls:
WHAT SHE CANNOT DO.
Fashionable wie-Dd you notice dear at the
party iast evening, how grsIndy oar daughter Clara
ept into the room?
= = -
into gfsiBdiy enough, iiub wien il comes
sEeeping Uut a room size iai4 there
Did any OF you ever hear hVW Miss Hannah
More, the celebrated writer aud philanthropist,
managed tale-bcareFs - years ago? Try ii, as
it viii be found 40 less effective as scandal
cure than it haif-cuutury ago. When
Miss More WAS told anything deTogatOry OF an
other. her invariabie reply was: Come, we
viii 20 aud ask If il be true." The effect WAS
sometimes ludicrogsly painful. The tale
bearer was taken back. staulucrcd out a quail
cation, or begged that no notice be taken of the
statement; but the good lady was ineyorabe;
OF she took the scsndai-munger 10 the scandal
lied t. make inquiry and compare accounts.
1t is not likely that anybody ever a second
time ventured 10 repeat 10 her gossip story.
The U0rc9s tells Of recent pretty novelties.
OF which one is in lieu Of the handsome boxes
IL which slices at Wedding cake have been sent
70 ahscpt friends White satin bags. hand
paiutcl, used. The scroll OF wreath OF
nower5 ucosc> the monogram and date.
"OEt" and at Home cards arc The very
latest Craze for those who have any decorative
talent. They consist OF tIuy reversible han
ners TO be hung ia lhc hall near the door, one
side bearing iu somber design the gloomy word
"Out the other. IN gay device. the cheering
announcement that my lady is AT home"
The mistress of the place is supposed 20 give il
turn when she comes ia or goes ont, SO that
the servant may tell by glance what answer
TO give visitors.