New-York tribune., 1890-01-02
MARIA MITCHELL.
AS A WOMAN AND A. A FRIEND.


Sir: The published accounts and representations
Of the late DE- Maria Mitchell already made have
been partial only. Little general Information is hau
Of her bearing and influence amcng he peers in Parl'
London Florence and st PctcrsburC, and Win ITO
fessors Bond, Pierce and Aca>slz, OF TINS country q
or aS a member Of the American academy oi NI'S
and sciences and the American Association lor u'V
Promotion Of Science: Of her correspondence Win
slr John UerscheI and Mary Someryc and other
notallcs or Of her public addresses and lectures on
| scientific social and moral subjects. Much as mas
| been well and truly accorded to Pro
fessor Mitchell in the realm OF scleI'e'
in some quarters the nobility and woman
illness Of her nature have been ignored and IN others
they have been openly questioned. Such As hlo"
the harmonious proportion and lovcnhess oI nct
! character may not lie denied some opportunity {"
| attention to the incautious impeachment
former Vas-ar student ON being requested 10
furnish some "reminiscences in the line indicated. sends
! me the following
You have asked me to give to yoq some ,cLr Gi tre
| characteristic sayings Of Professor Maria MltGhc!!
! when j knew her frequent guest IN my iatner
house and during my life a "A student IN Nd.9dI ~
cgc \ short time before Charlotte 'ushlan > uodtn
she, with her intimate !rich1, MI ,t,,,m rh"v
sculptor dining with Professor Mil'nc',' m ~
all about to step into Their oafiisFt , !" dncr
town for Miss CuNlman rehcdT>al az NV ,in,i,,',
! Iolse where she played Meg MerleN that eV1llnS
Miss Cushman noticing the parthcnon Ike 1d Du''n
inc, ON College Hill said What Is that III uscu 10
he military school said Miss Mitchel .bni @ iast
summer tried 10 be hotel at - per GaNi ,, -
| = dayp exclaimed Miss Cu>hman, Jupiter AH,Mun
u"' I,n,ter Wammon, :, said Miss >tebbins Jupiter
Cannon quickly reoincd Professor MltfhcH iors or
- md inst passcd nv freshman EXAMINATIONS or
| ,rorgbt u had when ON saturday evening a. tlc
classes read in the chapc It I3%nu "E ni,h Hn'i
| among the preparatory students Nnlu tf-- rf--,tir,
had" no sleep. and in the morning no hope oi hndinH
ont the trle state oi tnnE' as MT had awaited
me al the observatory after NY r>t i'I, |
arithmetic. thought tnat II lroe,o & ,o,,ld at
crcuch for to provide that luhcue1a So ~ n"c
:,f listen 10 my trouble then for yen >onJ "uV "@i
must sought her soon after hfG3Hi'. ai I'm 1' I"ol into
a most sympathetic listener Snc sri" ~ o'ciock
il and LET you know before many day ~ ~ ",''
The same day there was l KNOCK ,t %" Of W Ercot6 after
that clmb TO the top OF the building for no c'Na'
ran ram on thc fTeshnrn t"morrow She turned AWAY
without waiting for my ooh. thank Won which came
from the buttom of my heart hut SUCK IN NV 'l'i
with l.r and passing group Of lovely looking 'im
drcn -le made exclamation Of admiration au'
said: i love Chldrcn 80 uu'h ,iu - io,, a..
| a window full Of dolls without stopping 20 200" 't
tond wifi tears in her ewes as the leave taking
made and turning 10 the bride sad: How could Won
60cIv a0 trnn TT s' n the mother i would have done
myself II | had had A. good chance. Ana 20 ]
loved roses and children aS vc The star 100 Their
courses. She was strong and masculine. but "'m'hN
always
rle college is located about two miles ont Il the
CITY Of PoughkccpSc. and rulo The societies Il"
the two have been distinct. vet not Inharmon"i~'
Professor Mitchell the special favori'e OF icN
of the town ladies'" who I'M turn shared her hearty r"
gard OF these were Ms o. II. Booth and Mrs. Tanan
These ladies were usually invited - tho dome party
given by Professor Mitchell under the dome Of the
observatory the saturday before commencement week.
on one occasion the doctor, for Professor Mitchell had
now become a doctor Of laws, with great zc- told a
story at her own expense follows " Nv niece was
taken violently sick at the college and Immediately
telecraphcd my sister at Lynn. Mass. 10 come on.
The frantic mother seized her babe beautiful htte
thng and without thought Of preparation for lie
tourney rushed on 10 the college. She was ab,O
lutelv a sight 10 behold. None of rs Mitchell eiris
wa, ever accused 0f vanity 0f drr-s. huf really is
wa shocking. We improNi~oC -uI" drr--'- aii uIrc
her urc~cutaLc. The sickness proved dhn. "N'. dno
NV sister returned home by way Of Chatham, where
She took the train to I6,on without change ot cars
I accompanied her 10 Chatham and stood on Oh" u!tt
form waving my handkerchief aS my sister ana her
child passed ont. She neglected for som" DAYS e.
write me- and In my anxiety dropped her note -1N
ing: Information D. wanted OF badly dir--cd. hnu"It
looking woman. with q beautiful baby. last seen l;
the Chatham depot ON the morning OF Ny
sister promptly answered me saving: Tile D'auiliu
baby reached home safely. The last ,een " the
badly dressed. homelv looking woman was she Wa
standing on the platform al Chatham
At one time She said 0i herself that she wa ?
novice in art and quite dI- pleased with herself
for her stupidity but when iu Rome she really oou
graduated herself iu heh0diu- marble figure which
for some reason claimed her attention. ~h" -Ip'd
admirnglv and ln compii~1ut ~dil-iartlor "h'I
figure on which appeared ID" word, Hrl'" 'ri
ci~m~, Whether a guest hostess. whether lu Tie
professors chair in the chair of the American CON
crc~, for Women, ever! where. Maria Mitchell was
brilliant kindly Queeny and - womanly AWAY,
poncblocu-ic Dec. o. 1--n