Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1895-06-06
Jennie Casseday,

The story OF Jennie Casseday is not
new one to white ribboners. But hers is
a life story that will bear telling many
times, and then the half of the beauty OF
that gifted and sanity character could
never be told.
Jennie Casseday was born in Louis
vile, Ky, in 1910, one OF a family noted
for its gifts and graces OF mind and heart.
Her mother died when Jennie was little
more than baby; her father, Samuel
Casseday was one OF the prominent mer-
chants OF Louisville in his day, and her
grhood was spent amid the bright sur
roundings OF wealthy, Christian home.
Just as she was stepping across the
threshold of womanhood she was thrown
from Il carriage, and the spinal injury
which resulted made her physical in
valid for life. Her suferings all the years
were intense. Every other night she lay
in helpless agony the whole night
through, feeling, to use her own express
sion, Gas if somebody were driving led
hot nails all up and down her spine"
1t was her own love OF flowers in her
sick room which first suggested to her the
flower mission, and she so enlisted the
sympathies OF her friends that very soon
women, old and young, gathering inspira-
ton from her bedside, went out once a
week into the slums and prisons, the cot
tages and hospitals, carrying not only
fragrant flowers with text cards attached,
but often food and clothes as we'll.
Miss Willard, on visit to Louisville in
1891, heard Of the "best loved woman in
the state" and sought her presence.
eve talked" said Miss Willard, "of the
ministry of these winsome heralds Of
goodwill with the beautiful mission Of
which Miss Casseday was already con-
nected, and l asked if she would accept
the supcrintendency Of such a department
should it be established by the conven-
ton" She consented, and from that day
until her death, February 8, 1898, directed
the work Of this beautiful philanthropy
from her sick-bed. This involved an i'm
mense correspondence, and her pathetic
little letters dated, "Sick-bed" have set
tens OF thousands Of women at work
throughout the land, ministering to the
"shutin" in sick rooms and prisons.
June 8, the university Of Miss Casse-
days birth, is observed as special day
for the distribution OF flowers and other
work in connection with this department.
On one of her birthdays her white-ribbon
comrades from all over the nation sent
her the most beautiful and complete
music box that money could purchase.
Miss Jennie made her home with her
sister, Mrs. Fannie Duncan (herself u
successful journalist and her husband a
we'll known member Of the editorial
guild, and their parting by death was
the first separation the sisters had ever
known. Besides her work in the flower
mission, Miss Casseday was the founder
OF the Jennie Casseday Infirmatory and
the Louisville Training School for Nurses.
'-Ilc dlSO cStuDllsllCti AcoC NOltuSC, q
summer home for working girls, and
every year endured the torture of being
moved that she might spend three months
among cher girls"
Hers was a cherry, joyous nature; she
made "the best OF now and here; turned
to utmost use each ray of happiness, pos
sessing keen sense Of humor which
never deserted her. "The whole house
revolves around her ladyship," Mrs. Dun
can proudly said; but singulary modest
was "sister Jen" of her own Importance.
"Why are you not spoiled?" she would
smile and say, "What have to spoil me ?
That other people are SO good to Inc
That is their virtue, not mine"
A woman never lived who was more
universally beloved by all classes and
whose influence has been and will con-
tinue to be such benediction to all who
come in contact with it. "Jennie Casse-
day." said Louisville paper, "erected
monuments more enduring than those of
brass or marble; generations yet unborn
will call her blessed, while upon the
hearts Of thousands now living her name
and memory are indelibly engraved."-
By Laura Neale.