The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-21
MARY ABIGAIL DODGE
THE WELL-KNOWN WRITER RE-
PORTED TO BE SINKING RAPIDLY.
RniIying-Her Work Under the
Name of ..GaiI HamiIton.''

WASHINGTON. May 21.-Miss Mary Abb
gail Dodge, Gail Hamilton, appears 10 be
sinking rapidly and her friends have about
given up hope OF her rallyIns.
For more than quarter of a century Gail
Hamilton has been a member of the Blaine
household, having come TO Washington with
the "Plumed Knight" when he was chosen
Speaker of the House. When the family
moved into the house on Fifteenth street
Aunt Abby" helped them put things in
shape and was a constant companion and
counsel for all of them. While under the
Blaine roof Miss Dodge. who is first
cousin of Mrs. Blaine, wrote a number of
short sketches, a place in the library being
always set apart for her use. Since 1915,
however. she has done little work with her
pen save in behalf of Mrs. Maybrck and in
the preparation of TIE biography of the
late James G.. Blaine. All the manuscripts
and other material necessary for this work
were turned over to Miss Dodge by Mrs.
Blaine, and a few weeks ago the last pages
OF the book were sent 10 the printers.
Members of the Blaine family fairly dolize
their gifted relative, and the fact that she
was such close friend 10 their father only
served to endear her all the more to them.
They never seemed TO tire hearing Gail
Hamilton describe scenes and incidents of
the coaching trip through England and
Scotland with Mr.. Blaine when the famous
1888 campaign was at fever heat in this
country.
Although their mothers cousin, the
younger members OF the family invariably
called her Aunt Abby" and. as they said,
they could never remember the time when
the earnest wish of Gail Hamilton that
something could be effected in relation to
the release of Mrs. Maybrick from an En-
gsh jail, and she has been vigorous
and unremitting champion of this prisoner
during the last four years. Even while
engaged in the task of love and duty which
the preparation of the Blaine book en-,
tai hor CT
time to write for the press on the subject
of Mrs. Maybrick, and il was mainly
through her efforts that an interest was
tunate person. From the fact that Gail
Hamilton is past three score years there
is absolutely no hope for her recovery. and
the end may come at any moment.
Gail Hamilton's name was Mary Abigail
Dodge, but few knew her by that designa-
has appeared over her familiar nom de
plume made up of part of her name united
TO that of the town IN Massachusetts
where she was born in 1880. Her first eX-
perience was an instructor in the lnsti-
tute of Physical Science in Hartford, begin
ming in 1851. From there she went TO Wash
ington as the instructor of the children
of DR.. Gamaliel Bailey, anti-slavery agita-
tor. and IL was her connenction with him That
achievement He was an editor of the Ma
tional Era. She contributed great many
articles to the columns of that anti
slavery organ. During the war Sc con-
tinued her work in this line. AT the close
of the war she went to Boston. where she
became the editor of Young Folks. a chill
dren's magazine. In 1873 she returned TO
Washington where she lived almost con-
stantly with the family of James G.. Blaine,
to who she was drawn, not only by intel
lectual ties but by the ties of relationship.
through the fact that Mrs. Blaine was her
cousin. -
She plunged into political discussion with
the ardent interest of a trained man of al
fairs The articles she wrote for the news
papers during the Greeley campaign created
a sensation In 1877 she contributed TO the
New York Tribune a series of articles on
civii-service reform, which attracted ma
tional attention. Her literary criticisms
of great assistance TO Mr.. blaine IN the
preparation of Twenty Years of Con-
gress. and ii was even said that she wrote
a large part of il. This was disproved
Her latest effort was in the cause of Mrs.
MAVERICK, for whose release from a British
prison she labored with an energy and en-
thusiasm rarely seen. The sentiment she
worked up in England and America for the
released of the woman convicted of pois-
to her persistency and the effectiveness Of
her methods of agitation.
Few American writer's have been pro-
life, although there is no work from her
hands of any great length or purposely
ambitious. Not year has passed since 1861
that has not seen a volume OF her col
lected writings on the market.
Her published works consist almost eX-
clysively of reprints of contributions to
the newspapers and magazines. Among the
best known titles are Twelve Miles from
a Lemon" ''Skirmishes and Sketches
'Gala Days." and Sermons TO the Clergy"
hut the list is almost as long as her years.