The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-08-04

criticism. This work Was written, In
the main, in Southern California,
where, in failing health, Mrs. JACKSON
was sojournel for more than year.
While she was proud-as she had
every reason to be-of the story ON
which her fame, doubtless. will chief
ly rest, Mrs. jackson felt quite as
deep a pride in her poetry. which
must prove, also, an enduing monu-
ment to her memory. In her verse
one finds no drues ; all is simple, clear,
thoughtful, graceful and even very
love itself
Helen Hunts last days on earth
were passed am ng dear friend, Who
ministered to her only as loving hands
and hearts can minister to the one
who is slipping away INFO the great
hereafter.
In the Overland Monthly, soon at.
ter the death OF Mrs. jackson, ap-
peared the following article, explana-
tory of the regard WHICH the people
and press held for the gifted women
during the period when diseas. was
preying swiftly upon her strength.
"Some misconception has arisen in
regard to the attitude of the people
Of San Francisco toward this gifted
writer, who labored, faltered and pas
sed away in Their very midst. No
throng Of visitors beseiged her door;
no daily bulletins Of her condition
we're published by the press, and when
the long waiting was over aud her
weary spirit found the rest it craved,
little outward demonstration was
made. The newspapers, while
showing her all proper
respect, observed so noticeable a reii-
cence as 10 provoke the comment Of
assterp visitors, who asked if III H"
was so little known on this coast that
Ca.iforniaGs felt no realizing sense Of
the loss the world ana literature had
sustained. While apparently Indi!,
ferent to her presence, the people and
the press Of San Francisco were pay.
ing her the highest tribute in their
power-that of faithful observance of
the wish she had expressed. When
she came to our city in feeble health,
last November, she quietly made
known her desire to be left as far as
possible undisturbed, and to receive
no visits save from the friends she
herself called about her. This request
was universally respected. Many nttie
gifts of flowers and fruits, with other
unObtrusive court.sies, bore witness
that she was held in tender remem-
brance, and the few who we're admit.
ted TO the sick room were be.ieged
with anxious inquiries regarding her
condition from people Who would have
Considered Q call at her residence an
unwarrantsble intrusion.
"Local journalists, who were aware
of her condition, knowing her wish to
keep it from the knowledge OF the
public, RETAINED from any published
comment; and 90 it happened that
the first notice of her illness appeared
in an Eastern paper sometime in mid.
summer, q fact which she communi-
Gated to me with q sigh Of resignation
and the remark: They have got hold
of it at last = With the exception of
one short account Of her illness, pup
lished by . morning paper in spirit
of mistaken sympathy and in ignor.
ance Of her preferences. the sacred.
ness of the sick rom, with its painful
record of the gradual encroachments
of a wasting disease, was never in.
vaded by the spirit Of journalistic en-
terprise-in happy contrast to the
spectacle the country has just Wit
messed at the East, where host of
ambitious reporters counted the
speeding pulsebeats Of a dying hero
General Grant,. and RECALLED him
with their speculations rs to the
length of days allotted him. 1t
was Mrs. Jackson's dying request that
no unnecessary parade should be
made over her death, and that the
press should abstain from giving cir
culation to any reports which might |
add to the plan the news would con
vey to friends dwelling at a distance.
The wish was observed by local news-
papers with the same fidelity they !
had shown in complying with her
former requests. Helen Hunts end,
if sad, was nevertheless peaceful and
sweet; but when, at Asst, she had
gone to a world Of hearts, the sun-l
shine lost not q little Of its brightness
and the voice of life not q little Of lis |