Smyrna times., 1893-03-29
COMMUNICATED
JENNIE CASSEDAY.

JENNIE CASSEDAY.
The influence for unselfish living
of the invalid National w. c. T. U.
Flower Mission Superintendent.
Jennie Casseday was so great that a
sketch of her beautiful life in recent
number Of the Union Signal may prove
an inspiration to the readers of the
TIMES. Written as it was by her
brOther-in-lsw, John Duncan, of Louis
vile, journalist, of whose household
she was member, its authorship gives
significance to the loving tributes to
her precious memory.
Jennie Casseday was little more
than a baby when her mother died.
Samuel Cassaday, her father, was one
of the best known of the merchants of
Louisville in his day. and he was in
position to give, as he did, his family
every advantage. In due course of
time, Mr.. Casssedy moved from Fourth
and Jefferson to Chestnut between
Centre and Sixth sire cts, the handsome
residence there being on the beautiful
eleVrted lot on the north side of the
street. 1t was here, amidst brightest
Christian surroundings and associa-
tions, that Jennie Cassedy's girlhood
years were spent; and it was also
whilst here that, Just as the time Young
womanhOod was dawning, the accident
as the event was termed, occurred
which turned her career in the won
derful course in which it has been run.
Thus early she was made physical
invalid in order, as it would seem, that
her mind and heart might be more
frightened. Be that as it NAV. the
results are extraordinary, and Justify
search for adequate cause beyond the
common. Jennie Casseday's whole
working life has been given to doing
good, and to planning that good might
be done to others, the poor and the
friendless forming the special objects of
her untiring interest.
The individual, that by her depart
ure has thus many mOurners-for her
true friends are all over tho world
was as CHEEKY a soul as ever lived.
Hers was a joyous nature, and her
heart was as bright light that only
death could eXtinguish her sense of
humOT which, like all her other senses.
was very fine and keen, staying with
her down to the very edge of the dark
waters. This largeness, this broad
point of contact with everything hu-
man, was a chief secret of Jennie Cas-.
seday's power and capacity as an or.
ganiZer and manager. Far too few of
us, in dealing with our fellows, remem-
ber that God made man in his own i'm
age, and that therefore the broader we
are in all proper human sympathies.
the nearer We are to the Divine.
That the cloud during many years of
Jennie Casseday's life was gloriouslv
illumined is no proof that at first it Was
not very black. 1t was, and the wav
to the full, clear light and steady faith
that in due time came was through
much sorrow and trial. There was at
the very outset the active young brain;
there were the fresh aspirations: ali
were present, but all had to be turned
into unusual channels. The wonder of
wonders is that this was done without
a trace of the morbid in heart or head.
But so it was. Little by little, one bv
one, the outlets came. Her work in
charity extended over period of
about thirty years, her most widely
known organization being the flower
mission.
Besides, let it here be noted, to add
to her difficulties, she has been during
most of these years, in the physically
helpless condition of being unable.
unsssisted, to leave her bed. Thus
restricted, she yet, in addition to all
her flower mission work, which stead
lily went on enlarging, was the
founder and maker in Louisville of the
Training School for Nurses, the Jennie
Casseday In6rmary, also of this city,
and now firmly established institu.
ton is of her inspiring, and many
tired woman in long years to come,
will think of her and call her blessed"
out of memory of REST Cottage" No
one in Louisville would ask what is
REST Cottage" ut is, indeed, it NAV
be said for the information of some
away from here, place of real rest for
those who in the city of Miss Casseday's
birth most needed rest and were least
likely to be able to get it on their own
motion. 1t was not a charity. It was
pay place-the pay being in the form
rather than in the fact-tO which Girls
who had to make their own way in the
working walks of life, could go, and in
beautiful country retreat-haying all
II.
tian home, for a time leave behind and
forget all toll, aRd the shop and the
counter, and even the school room in
its most poorly paid departments. 1t
were idle to tell of the many ways in
which Jennie Casseday gave the help.
ing hand or the cup of cold water,
illustrating at every point in the Jour- !
ney the relation of the mortal to the |
immortal, the superiority of mind over
body, the relation of the spirit to its |
mere temporal and earthly abode, and |
being. as this woman was, in the midst |
OF 1t all and through innumerable trials |
the focal point of countless, unnamed |
charities and blessings.
The amount of work inseparable |
from these various services was enor- |
nous, but the imperial will and heart,
which were hers by Gods gift, as she
herself would always say, enabled her
to keep up with it all. Her correspon-
dence was very large but with her own
frail hand she did every part oft, aud
nothing In this line was ever slighted,
neglected or put Off Her books are
posted to date and she is gone. A life
given to care for others is at an end as
to the worry, but it will be long before
the story is all told.
In all the relations of life Jennie
Casseday has been the same noble
Christian, tolerant of the honest opin-
ions and real rights of others, quietly
and unfalteringly true to her own
faith, friend without deviation or
shadow of turning, she is both lesson
and an inspiration to oil whose good
fortune it was to know her.
The question will surely be often
aukad svhat xvau the uocraf &c tL,.