Connecticut western news., 1892-02-11
CANAAN, CONN. THURSDAY FEBRUARY 1 1892

through the trees there. at the right. do you see that magnificent building with it's four galleries running around the first four stories of the house! It's gate tells ill golden letters that thls is chil- drens ifcne. given by Margaret. where to the end of time orphans will be cared for and educated by her bequests. Many of our cemeteries contain i'll form of handsome tonbs Margaret's simple yet lnunifcent thoughtfulness. Here you know all are buried above ground i'll crypts or ovens of masonry. and when you visit our ceneteries-ss strangers always do. for there are no burial places like these in Ainerica-you will see stone toInbs tcontaining one, two or four dozen bodies maybe) inscribed: "Giveu to the Little Sisters of tine Poor by Mar, garet." ''rhe Strangers Tomb. Given by Margaret" 1 suppose Margaret spent more money for the city than the richest man in the history of the state. and of the sympathy and discernment of the needs of the poor the half could never be told. She spent nothing on herself A clean. blue calico, stout shoes. a black straw bonnet. knitted
 
 stead in a room without even a rocking chair. and overlooking the bakeshop She had no time to enjoy luxuries, evep had she possessed them. As long H. there was weeping child or friend less woman in the city. what time had she to fold her arms in rocking chair While there were unburied. coffinless forms. could she adorn her home of the living! And SO it happened that to the end of life Margaret spent neither time. care nor money on herself She forgot there was such q mortal as Margaret.
 And when, one day. the news went around that Margaret was dead, the great city arose and put on mourning. the business houses were closed; all the employments of the city stood still. The day of the burial thousands of her tile orphans followed her bier as mourners. every church sent delegations of honor bearers; the public school children joined in the throng: the houses were draped along the line of march: all the bells in the city tolled, civic and mili itary joined in the procession with ecclesias tics: there never was here a funeral like Margaret's.
 "Afterward it was found that her pos sesslons had been so disposed that had death come ut any moment the affairs of this life were well and intelligently wound up. There were no personal eff fects of value, but even her few gar ments she left to the poor. and with the proceeds of her wise investments her charities are royalty endowed.
 ''This statue is the gift of the city. to show in this pubic way the esteem in which she is held. It is very like Mar garet. The motherly figure, seated with one arm encircling standing child at her side: the untrilnmed dress, coarse shoes. the little crochetted shawl about her shoulders are holnely. but who would change them for finer clothing! The smooth hair. with it's old fashioned French parting: the $ rong chin. the pleasant mouth, the serious eyes-is there not something fascinating in the contradlc tions of the face?
 Did you ever see such head on a woman's shoulders? Massive. wonder tul! That is the head of statesman and fnancier. while it's mouth, with its pleasant smile. telling of the tact and natural suavity of Margaret's character. proclaim the clements of d born diplomat. Yet. look agaln at the broad. massive brow, and see the earnest, loving eye that speaks of true womanhood: look once more at the coarse garments and you will see that poverty added her load to the ordinary burden of wolnanhood. while ignorance. bereavement, af1iction. loneliness join hands with poverty against this soul. But the massive brow con quered, the untaught brain triumphed. and under the leadership of the sad, gen tie eyes gave to the suffering what might. had she been man born in other cir. cumstances, have been the gain of nations and the glitter of the trapping of a diplo- mat.
 When consider what Margaret did for one city under such desperate disad- vantages, l wonder what she could have done for the world if all the environ ments had been right. was thinking of that as looked, in passing for the hundredth time, at the strong, fascinat- ing face this morning. when your ques- tion met my ear.
 "Yes. it looks like her, and there will never be another in marble like it to the end of time. She was d grand character tender. strong, original. pitiful, help ful. wise. New York Evening Sun.