New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-12
OBITUARY..
MPS HENRY L. KREHBIEL.

The death of Mrs Henry z. Krehbiel will cause
sorrow to a circle far wider than that Of her I'M
mediate friends. 1t will bring pang to thousands
who grown 10 manhood ana womanhood'
but whom she looked upon as her children, sometimes
not without a little surprise at the thought that
they had so quickly risen to maturity. Throughout
the years of her life that were devoted to literature
she worked mainly for children. and wherever The
Cincinnati Weekly Gazette" went In the days when
1t was a Journal OF national fame her writing was
one OF its most welcome features. Her department
In the paper was called THE Rockery," and It
was signed Rolling Stone" That fifteen
or twenty years ago and almost TO the last day OF
her life she was In receipt OF letters from every
State In the Union which attested the fact that the
lessons from her pen had fallen not on the stony
ground OF the Gospel parable but into fertile soil
To her these men and women Of to-day attributed
much that was good In them. they thought Of the
bright fances the sharp sayings. the Clever stories
that interested them in their teens" she could DO
what few newspaper writer's are capable of-she was
able to make her readers share her tasks and be
anxious with her for the results.
Born at birmingham, Conn. Helen virginia Us
borne was trained at Casteton Seminary. Vermont.
and she also studied at Vassar College in the days
of President Raymond. IT was. perhaps, her life
at Vassar that brought her before her college
days to the assistant e1itorshp OF
woods Household Magazine" published at New
burg She was associated there with Mrs. Steele
novelist. but then lever. youthful poet and writer
Of sketches. From the outset Miss Osborne showed
not only literary skill, but also capacity as man
aeer. The latter faculty displayed to a still
greater degree in a charming magazine called
Golden Hours" published Cincinnati. under 5le
auspices Of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The
magazine made place for itself in the hearts OF
the children, well their elders. and the remon-
STRANGE was emphatic even though vain. against the
action OF the General Conference held in Cincinnati
which suppressed Golden Hours In the hope OF
turning It's goodwill to other publications OF the
Church. In n literary sense the Church has never
filed the place of the delightful magazine when
Miss Osborne created.
In the midst Of her editorial work Miss Osborne
found time for frequent contributions In the form
Of short stories to The Independent" Some Oh
these brief sketches are still treasured by some who
were struck by the humor that shone through the
pathos Of them. child smiles through its tears.
This the popularity Of Miss Osborne's genius.
II she touched the hecrt, she never gave pain Inc
little twinge of Borrowing sympathy which was
evoked FOR the characters who figured In ncr tales
was sure to be lightened with a laugh Neither the
sorrow the mirth had in 1t trace OF bitterness
II 1t was a tragedy of common lie which she told.
the reader was never burdened with the thought
that the world wrong. Misfortune and unhap-
pness were the author Of these sketches only the
means OF bringing out the beauty OF human nature.
Their. was a lesson in the adventures and the fate
moraist and the story writer. AMI Miss Osborne was
both. She was very frankly writer OF tales with
"A purpose. There those who remember with de-
light the pleasure she derived from the fact that
once certain thoughtful clergyman laid aside his
sermon and CARRYING The lndepenient' INTO the
cation. adding by way Of comment, That Is a
70, tter story inan can give YOU lie was rSAt.
Il Dt Of real lie which carried It's teaehlhS
Wi'h IT,. The lesson % hrr stores WIS u'H'' nl
imported affair Il belonged 10 the narratvs; one
began 70 feel ne thought beneath the now OF inci
den, with the first sentence. ana was not NEely %
lose the memory Of II long after the sketch was
After the experience on Golden Hours cane
years Of labor for the children wAO read The On
cnuatl Weekly Gazette In The meanwhle-that Is
f. Krehbiel. then the musical critic u The Ga
Zctte." and now the musical critic OF The Tribune
| The pleasant home He Il which she was the m
spiraton doubtless helped her in her literary work
For the thousands II lice folks 70 whom she spoke
writer but the intimate friend II VAS aston!sh-
irg with what confidence they Appealed 70 her. As
c,rrespondencr meant for her was the perennial
wonder OF the office. Those who began 10 write 70
years. and some Of her most agreeable friendships
we're with young people VINO grew up under her
guidance. but whom she never SAW. , -
| This literary work had not exclusive possession
~ her mind. She loved music. too. During her lie
Methodist Episcopal Church and the Second Pres
hv,.r,an church In New-York she played for the
". fhngton square Methods, Episcopal Church up
:, January T. when the lingering illness which she
oor@ with such for'ltude obliged her 70 cease Ihe
years " her suffering attcstei that the cheerful
spirit shown In her writings not assumed She
bore pain unhnchngly, and faced death that was
inevitable with rare courage. As last hope she
rid herself taken 70 the Womans Hospital at FIJI
n-th-st and Park-aye., FOR a surgical operation
which she knew was almost hopeless. The entire
faculty Of the institution were n consultation on
her case and she awaited the result bravely. But
She never recovered consciousness after the opera
burial ana the funeral viii take place In that city
FH-FIII TT.H To- re