The Press., 1889-05-16

Smith, aunt of Mrs. Pinney, an aged wom an, but most remarkable for her vigor oi body and mind, accompanied them.
 sOMERs.
 Springfield Repubhcan.)
 The news of the sudden death at Sa- vannah, Ga., Thursday, of Mrs. Mary w. (Chapin) Pease of Somers, formerly prin- cipal of Mount Holyoke Seminary, will deeply touch the hearts of all graduates of that institution, and especially those who knew her as an instructor and guide. Miss Chapin was born at Somers, June 30, 1920, her father being a we'll to- do farmer of that village. She received an ordinary education in the local schools, and in February, 1888, entered the semi nary, then less than a year old, but al- ready showing signs of vigorous life. AL most the first pupil she met was Miss Mary 0. Whitman, whose kindness to her was the beginning of lifelong friendship between these future principals. MT. Chapin was in no haste for his daughter to graduate, and so it was not until 1843 that she took her degree. Her executive ability had meanwhile been recognized by Miss Lyon, who immediately enlisted her as a teacher in the seminary, which now ac- commodated nearly 200 pupils. Here she served with noteworthy faithfulness and efficiency, and when, in 1850, after Miss Lyons death and Miss Whitman's retire. ment from the principalship after years service, the trustees were looking for a successor, their choice naturally fell upon her. She was first made acting principal, but shrank so much from responsibility that she would not even have her name ap- pear in the catalogue with her title desig- mated. She believed she was caring for the seminary till another could be found and was so confident that the trustees had the same idea that she was overwhelmed with surprise at her appointment as prin- cipal in the fall of 1852. The wisdom of this choice was early demontrated, how ever, and the 13 years of her occupancy of the position were years of steady, health ful growth on the part of the seminary. The increase in attendance from 1852 to 1865 was nearly 33 per cent, and the num- Der of teachers was increased nearly half. Various important improvements were made in the seminary buildings, and Miss Lyons progressive plans for the course of study were gradually carried on, the course being changed from three to four years in 1861. In these fruitful years Miss Chapln was head and front, and she often had the satisfaction of hearing testimony from graduates of the seminary in Miss Lyons were being well and conscientiously prac- ticed by her successors in office. In 1858 she was given year for recuperation, and in 1864 was also given leave of absence for the year. In the spring of 1865 she offer- fused the previous summer, and this time uoc polrotonk1u o00orko1 tho %rr,okaoo passing resolutions expressive of their high personal regard and grateful appreci- ation of her valuable services. In May of the same year she was married at Somers to Claudius B. Pease of that town where she has since lived. This severing of act i've connection with the seminary did not lessen in the least her interest in the insti- tuition, and she was always devoted to Mount Holyoke and in quick sympathy with every movement that promised for it's welfare. Let these words of graduate of '63 epitomize the earnest character of this noble woman "If the reward of work well done is not rest, but more work, then truly did Miss Chapin prove her work ac- ceptable to the Master"
 Simple funeral services, suited to the character of Mrs. Pease, were held at her home at Somers, Monday. Only the near relatives and friends from out of town were present, including among the latter many who knew Mrs. Pease in her intimate con- nection there. Rev. Allyn Hazen, for many years 8 missionary in India, and who married sister of Mrs. Pease, took a leading part in the exercises. Revs. Mir. Gleason and T. 0. Pease of Cambridge, a son of MT. Pease, also made remarks. Se- lections were sung by two daughters of Mrs. Pease. A pleasing incident at Sa- vannah was the gift of a quantity of roses by the students of Bates college.