Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-23
SHE IS A HEROINE
An Eloquent Tribute to the Life Of Mrs.
Custer.

800
Custer.
The question 10 often asked, 'Why
does not Mrs. General Custer reside in
Michigan. her native slater Simply
because the remains Of her soldier
hero were entombed In the National
cemetery at West Point, and New YORK
because thenceforth her adopted home.
The first winter after the fearful
tragedy of June, 1875, which swept five
gallant men out OF the Custer family,
the two young widows, Margaret Gus
ter Calhoun and Elizabeth Bacon Gus
ter, accompanied by two other stricken
souls, Mrs. Captain Yates and Mrs.
Lieutenant Smith, sat down in the quiet
little village of Monroe, Mich, and IN
dumb agony wept away the days with
poor old Father and Mother Custer.
In the spring of 1877, when General
Sheridan and his band Of picked men
accomplished the terrible Sask Of pen
etratlng the "bad lands" rescued the
remains Of those who fell in that In
dian massacre. and brought them east
for burial, Elizabeth Custer followed
the muffied drum TO her husbands last
camping ground, then pitched her own
tent in the neighboring city. where she
could work with brain and with hand
for her own hearts sake and for the
sake of cher widows" ~ che always
calls them-th0se who went down into
that dark valley with her and who
came out even more crushed and help
less than she.
Through the mother of Capt. LOUIS
Hamilton of the Seventh Cavalry,
(sIain by Indians two years before)
Mrs. Custer was appointed secretary OF
the newly organized Society Of Decra-
tive Art. During seven years she
wrote Thousands of letters, bringing
workers and patrons together in the
most tasteful manner, and dissemin-
ating instruction, advice ana encour-
agement In such mastery fashion as to
place the Decorative Art society and
It's off-shoot, she woman's exchange.
within an incredibly short time among
the impoi tant institutions OF our coun.
try. An attack of pen paralysis warned
the society that their faithful secretary
was really spending herself IN their SER
vice, 50 they cent her 10 Italy for re-
cuperat;on and fresh inspiration.
Soon after her return she Welded to
the solicitation or the Harpers and
hundreds OF military friends and pre-
pared her first story OF garrison and
camp life, Boots and Saddles"
She was instigated, moreover, by .
desire TO correct = false idea of the
character of General Custer dissemin-
sted by sensational dramas and "yeI-
low covered literature" So, though
the ink was literally obliterated by
tears, she persevered in the mournful
task of reviewing those precious days
that were gone. The gratifying
success OF her fret book made
the writing of those which followed
mucn easier; aad now, the assurance
that she Is raising . monument TO the
hero more valuable aud more durable
than granite or bronze, makes the writ
ing and the speaking on the subject
which 10 part OF her ilfe both easy and
pleasant.
The opportunity TO do hospital work
was another thing which made resi-
deuce In New York city % congeniai 81
the very first TO Mrs. Custer. Nothing
relieved the painful shrobbing OF hel
own heart 80 fully - the minlstrations
to the sick and suffering; and sincs
1877 she has been . regularly appointed
hospital visitor. going two days wee
for several years 20 the consumptives
ward IN Bellevue.
la many ways Mrs. Custer has exem
phfied the sublinty not only of grow
ing strong through suffering, but Of
importing strength to others typica
American woman. X. l.. n.