Evening journal., 1896-08-18
GAIL LhAMfLToN DEAD.
The Well known Writer Passes Away at
Her Home in AIassachusetts.

The Well known Writer Passes Away at
Her Home IN Massachusetts.
HAMILTON, Mass, Aug. 1s.-Miss Mary
Abigail Dodge (Gail Hamilton) Is dead.
The cause Of her death was a paralytic
shock. This was the second shock from
which she had suffered, the first having
occurred about year age, and from which
she had apparently fully recovered.
Miss Mary Abigail Dodge, writer, biog-
rnpher and controversiaJist widely known
under the pen name OF Gail Hamilton, was
native Of the town in which she died,
having been born here IN $780, AT tho age
Of 10 years she went to DIR. Clark's pri-
vate school In Cambridge. She was gradu-
ated from Ipswich academy at the age Of
90 In 1851 she went to Hartford as assist-
ant in the Hartford High school. She re-
fused 10 take the customary examination,
but was given tho position Without doing
so. She was also instructor in physical
science In this school for several years and
was subsequently governess IN the family
Of Dr. Gamaliel Bailey of Washington, the
editor Of The National Era, to which pa
per she became a contributor.
In 1867 she was one of the editors of
Our Young Folks, a magazine for chill
dren, published In Boston From 1870 un-
til little over year ago she had lived
most of the time with her cousin, Mrs.
James G. Blaine, in Washington. In
course Of this daily contact with tho
Blaine family Miss Hamilton was led Into
very close friendship with Mr. Blaine,
and at the death Of the latter she became
his literary executor, being in possession
Of all his papers and documents Of value
| to her as his authorized biographer. She
10 ha,. hoo D.
would permit, on Mr.. Blaine's biography
from the time Of bis death until her H.
ness of last year, and, IT is thought, her un-
tiring devotion TO the work was instru-
mental in bringing about that prostra-
| ton.
Since the illness, which came on so sud
| denly in the Blaine mansion in Washing
/ ton it was thought at first she was dead,
many papers in the country even publish
ing obituary notices of her then, Miss
Dodge has lived very quietly at her old
home In Hamilton.
Her strength had never rahied after that
Illness sufficiently to enable her to resume
active work, and she was for'weeks unable
TO see even intimate friends.
Her literary work during this time has
been fragmentary-done by the help Of al
| amanuensis-anA diversion, or wher
some current event has specially attracted
her interest.
Gail Hamilton was a frequent cOntrlbu
tor to prominent magazines, and her pub
lished works, written In witty and ag-
gressive style, consist largely of selections
from her contributions. Her books include
l"Country Living and Country Thinking, '
"Gala Days New Atmosphere ant
Stumbling Blocks. "SkiTmishes ani
Sketches Red Letter Days In Apple
thorpe and Summer Rest, WOOD Gath
ering, " Woinan's Wrongs, - Z" A Counter
Irritant, " Battle of the Books ? WON
ans Worth and Worthiness, ''" Little Fob
Life "Child World, - Twelve Mile
From a Lemon" Nursery Mornings
Sermons For the Clergy, First Low
Is Best" ''wbat Think Yo OF Christi
'sOur Comnon Sohool System, " Diyin
Guidance, 80 Memorial 70 Allen W. Dodge
aud indispensable Book.
In 1887 she wrete series OF letters o
civil service reform for a New XoEk paper
Letters on wide ran@ OF public ques
tions written for the Boston Journal wer
widely copied throughout the Unito
States.
Miss Dodges one novel, 'First Leve
Best, " had mob the success which attends
some OF her other works. During recen
years she engaged In. political writing ant
many famous review artieles and politioa
interviews have been accredited to he
which have reused much waTm discussion
and have exorted more or less fnfiuenc
Irpar patfor,al ro1fffoc