The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-03-04
Martha J. Lamb. the Historian-who Can
Take Her Place?


Take Her Place?
Thirteen years ago the proprietor Of a 4
certain publication in New York city in
vited two members Of his editorial staff /!
TO meet each other for the first time ar a
dinner at his home. One was the writer
hereof, the other was Mrs. Martha }
Lamb, suddenly called to another life On
the first DAY Of 1893 Her fine, farreach-
ing intellectual powers were IN their full
flower and prime, and the structure she
built with tireless pains and enthusiasm
The Magazine Of American History
never was so imposing or so nearly per-
feet as when she left il to return no
more. She had built eleven years Of her
brave, conscientious life into il, and IL
stands more solid than any memorial OF
stone or bronze that can ever be erected
In her honor. The Magazine Of AmeTi-
can History, OF which she was sole
editor, has been called with truth
the leading publication Of its kind
in the world. Besides editing this
monthly, however, Mrs Lamb did much
other noble historical work. Her His
tory Of New York City" is a standard
| book of reference wherever accurate
and detailed knowledge Of Manhattan
| Island is desired On any point. Her es-
| pecial service In the field Of historical
| literature has been in bringing TO light
facts that had escaped notice from the
ordinary writer, and which often had an
important bearing on the decision Of dis
puted questions. The acquaintance De-
gun thirteen years ago continued, though
only met Mrs. Lamb at rare intervals.
She was one OF the hardest workers |
ever knew and one Of the most unas-
Stunning and quiet Of women besides.
When have wished to encourage my
self by recalling the substantial work OF
women it has always been matter OF
pride and pleasure to me TO think OF
| what Martha Lamb has done to show
the fine, strong power there is in wom-
ans brain. Bravely she bore her part
and well, and she died before her work
was finished. None ever struggled more
valiantly with difficulties. overcoming
as she passed
Two brilliant, handsome young ladies
of my acquaintance are engaged II occu-
pations quite out Of the old fashioned,
ordinary field for women. One, small.
plump woman, with flashing dark gray
eyes, is manager and administrator OF 3
large estate for a widowed relative who
is eighty years old. My capable young
lady friend has not only made real e.
tate and other investments that have in
creased the value OF the property in
trusted to her care, but she has beaten
| 4, To- -1-77a ,,,z-
tiferous persons who were trying to get
the widows property away. The other
accomplished and brainy girl is an
assistant in a patent lawyers offce.
She examines personally drawings and
models for individuals who wish to
secure patents, tells them whether
their ground has already been covered
and prepares specifications for them
herself for publication in the official
patent Office paper. Frequently she
makes journeys to Washington to rum
mage among the musty old patent Office
files for information and always gets a
cold when she does so, she says, in those
i'll ventilated vaults. She tells me that
the more intelligent an applicant for a
patent is the more confidence he has In
her ability, but If an ignorant, down
right lout and boor comes into the Office
he says a woman cannot understand his
business and usually insists on seeing
the chief. Just so. Here are two cases
in which young ladies have succeeded in
business generally given over to men.
and they are among the most attractive
girls know. Other girls can do like
wise. But 7 sometimes wonder why
the young lady in the law Office does not
study for the legal profession and Be
come patent lawyer herself.
Our sex Is even to have amusical com,
poser in its ranks. a fair and gentle
English girl, Rosalind EIEcott, has pro.
duced some musical compositions Of i'm.
portant rank. The first one OF these
called the Dramatic Overture" wa:
written for and performed by full CT
chestrs at the Gloucester musical festi
val Of 1885,.
a woman lately said to Colonel Inger
soil, you have no idea how much diff
fculty ladies have finding servants.
Colonel Ingerson replied, ''You have NJ
idea how much difficulty servants have
IN finding ladies'"
Ladies, dear ladies, don't spend thi
time at your clubs over Sanskrit poetry
or the old English dramatists, but e
into the study Of municipal government
with all your might. You must rescue
tand redeem it. No man has right Il
make a living out Of politics. Do yoI
know what James Bryce, author Of ''Th'
American Commonwealth" says, ''Tht
government Of American cities is tn
one conspicuous failure Of the Unitet
Statess7
Did yop eyer think that in the Ten Com
mandments there is nothing forbiddins
women to covet their neighbours hus
bands: Was it because there was though
to be no need Of it?
There is at last a woman's law clul
among the many others that have beel
organized. 1t is the Kempin club in New
York, and Mrs. Cornelia E. Hood, o
Brooklyn, is its president.
ELIZA ARCHARD Conner.
Mr.. Emerson Knew What He Wanted.
''Those who know Mr.. Emerson best,
4 said Miss Louisa NJ. Alcott, "were a:
, sured that what seemed the decline c
8 his faculties in his latter years wa
largely but seeming. It was ONLY word