The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-01-04
OBITUARY..


IL.
years principal of the school for the Deaf
in this city, died at her residence, 1.-THE
Sherwood" on Park street, yesterday
morning at s O'Clock, from exhaustion,
the result of a surgical operation. Miss
Barton had been out of health for some
time, but it was not until she went to
the Maine General hospital few days
ago that she ascertained the serious
nature of the disease from which she was
suffering.
Miss Barton was born i'll Charlotte,
Vermont, a. village on the border of
Lake Champlain. She was lead to take
up the work to which she has devoted
her life frem the fact that child, q
mem Der of her own family, was deaf,
and that she seemed to have great sue
cess in teaching the afflicted one how to
understand what was said to her, and
express those ideas she desired to convey.
Later, Miss Barton went to Boston, and
there became teacher in the School for
the Deaf. 1t was in Boston that her
great ability as teacher made itself
manifest. She remained in the school
several years, when she was engaged by
very wealthy English family to accom-
pany them to Europe, as instructor for a
deaf child. She remained with them for
two years, passing one year in the south
of France. Then her health failing, she
returned to this country, and was shortly
secured by the authorities here to take
charge of the Portland School for the
Deaf This was fifteen years ago, and
how admirably Miss Barton has fulfilled
her task is shown by the. long list Of
graduates of the school, with the blessing
that mas come to them from being able to
communicate with their friends in a
natural way.
Miss Barton has been not only teacher,
but counsellor and friend to her pupils.
She has stood in the place of their
parents, looking after their interests as
carefully as the most affectionate
parents could. That she had the love
of all her assistants and pupils there is
no q question. She was most energetic
woman, and when her school needed aid
from the legislature she never allowed
anything to prevent her visiting Augusta
to explain and convince the legislators
as to the schools wants. 1t is due to
her tireless energy and executive ability
that the school has reached its present
prosperous condition. Not only was she
a skillful teacher of the deaf, but Miss
Barton was also most delightful woman
socially. She was exceedingly well in
formed, kept herself well in touch with
advanced education, and was cheerful and
BRIGHT in manner. To fill her place in
the educational position she occupied will
prove most difficult task
Miss Barton leaves sister, Mrs. Oliver
S. Bedding, wife of DR.. Bedding of PhiIa-
delphia, and two brothers, Charles F.,
and John of New York One of her
brothers arrived from New York Tues
day evening.
A friend of Miss Barton writes of her
as follows: 1T is fitting that more than
the usual expressions of sorrow should
follow the announcement of the death of
Miss Barton, for hers was a life conse-
Grated to task, at the mere contempla-
ton of which many courageous soul
might faiter: no less an effort than that
OF developing mentally, morally and
physically the most unfortunate and
afflicted of human kind. The.superficiaI
observer might judge of an educational
work. with its attendant salary, and
give no further thought to the place
filled by our friend whose visible life has
closed; but not so those who knew her
best. They realized that with the same
spirit that inspired such a woman az
Dorothea Dix,ss Miss Barton cared for the
daily living, the food and raiment, the
habits and associations of the children
and young men and women committed
to her charge. Not only this, she tended
them in illness and accident, and made
herself their companion and friend, often
obtaining work for them before or after
they had left school. To her it was
matter of infinite moment that by her
unceasing endeavors the deaf ears and
the silent lips should be taught response
and the soul awakened, strengthened
and renewed. The more hopeless the
case or apparently unworthy the in
QlVloual, Lne more unrem1tt1ng was her
zeal Who that ever saw it will forget
the swift, caressing smile with which
she rewarded thesperseverance .of those
children struggling through their
barriers to do their best and to learn as
other children learned and to satisfy her
am bition for them.
with Miss Barton, theory was followed
by instant and answering action for
good Now that rest has come to her.
we may be allowed words of understand
ing and of praise, inadequate as they are.
In Gods love, how do wesrea1ize her re-
ward 'Inasmuch as ye have done it
unto the least of these my brethren, We
have done it.unto me"
Alta meeting of the school board yes