The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
CUR WOMEN ORGAN!STS.

1t seems quite fitting that In
"Woman's paper, written by women"
there should De few ii c5 conc lninS
a woman whom all who know, delight
to honor For more than a. quarter Of
q century Miss Stella NJ. Seymour went
in and out among Us as most faith.
full, pains-taking musician and teacher
and how many of our children can rise
up and bear witness to the earnest,
conscientious manner in which all her
duties We're discharged. Her concep-
ton Of a music lesson was not sixty
minutes spent by 4 pupils side, at 50
much per minute, but she would invar-
iably say II cannot leave my pupils
until feel have taught them some.
thing" She never spared her time
nor strength where the advantage Of q
pupil was to be considered, her earnest,
conscientious work contrasting sharp.
ly with those teachers who make u bril-.
liant showing upon very superficial
knowledge.
Never satisfied with her own attain.
ments, some years aso she went to the
fountain head OF piano instruction in
Germany, remaining for several years
under the best masters, enjoying the
distinction of being taken as q pupil
to Liszt at Weimar, by the great Count
pianist Pruokner OF Stuttgart. Upon
her return her pupils gave evidence Of
having been taught by master hand.
AS the faithful efficient organist of the
First Presbyterian church for a Quartet
of century she will never be forgots
ten, her skillful touch brought forth
tones that touched the heart--and for
how many of her former pupils has she
played the wedding March" on the
"happiest occasion of Their lives" I am
sure that around the old organ many Of
her terderest memories will, always
cling, aud perhaps sorn Of tAr sad-
dest. Two years ago she again went
abroad where che is living an almost
ideal life, each day full OF enjoyment
and happiness. Loving her profession
as ardentE as ever, her letter from
Vienna found in another column gives
a glimpse Of her life as pupil Of the
teacher Of Paderewski. We bare our
heads in honor to her. who in middle
life studies new method with all the
ardor and vigor Of first youth
But not alone as a musician has she
made an indelble mark in Scranton.
Her noble Christian womanhood. her
place In church, charity and society,
her life as daughter sand sister, are
such as make us proud to call her
| friend.
| Miss Florence Richmond has suo.
ceeded Miss Seymour as organist Of the
First Presbyterian church. bringing to
her work long and successful exper-
I ience at the Penn avenue Baptist
| church, where she in turn succeeded
| Miss Elizabeth Howell, who for many
years was the beloved and faithful
organist. During that same time Miss
Nellie Griffin had charge Of the organ
in st. Luke's church, winning her ues
| ssrvedly high reputation. Those were
| the days when Mr. and Mrs. Derman
| evoked sweet strains in the choir, and
the music at st. Luke's was as great
an attraction as today AS we look over
| the choirs of the city we find many OF
| the organ benches are manned" by
women, Miss Nellie Griffin having been
| for the last five years organist at Dun-
more Presbyterian church, (Which for
all intents and purposes may be
counted in the city, Miss Becker at the
Green Ridge Presbyterian church; Miss
Jackson at the Providence Presbytcr-
ian church, and Miss Minshall at the
Church of the Good Shepherd, Green
| Ridge. are all women of skill and abil-
ity, gaining a deeper place In the hearts
Of the church people each year. Tho
| editors of Woman's paper however,
might be led to the opinion that mod
| esty Is their most conspicuous char
| acteristic, so impossible has 1t been -
draw them into print.