New-York tribune., 1896-06-21
MRS. NARY BJCKLIN CLAFLIN'S LIFE.

HER FRIENDSHIPS AND HOsPITAIITY-A GRACE
Ft'L WRITER AND DOER or GOOD WORKS.
To the Editor o. The Tribune.
Sir: In the death OF Mary Bucklin Claim. born
Davenport which occurred suddenly at Whii.nsvilc
Mass. on June ls. 1896 there was ended (on eartM
a UNIQUE and conspicuous life. She born In
Hopkinton Mass. IN July, ls25. and for moro than
fifty years was the wife OF William Claim. ex-'ioV-
ernor Of Massa achusctts During all these moro than
nifty years Mr. Canin has been an energetic ana sue
ccsstul merchan: and manufacturer of Boston. con-
duc,ing "A business whch he put aside. but dii not
abandon. when he was called 10 the chief Magls-
tracy in Massachusetts,. and 20 successive terms In
the House o. Representatives In Washington.
HIS prominence as a merchant and his prominent
public career brought him anl his family In toufh
with tho leading minds In America. ana the genus
of Mrs. Clafn. II by alchemy. sel"ctrl ana
grouped them about their elegant and hospiiabie
home The rites ~ hospitality were with her an In
tuition and she bound - herself by tics which were
nover broken except by death poets authors
praachers statesmen. scholars and students IA
probably no other woman In America has ever done
Holmes I-ongfellow. Whittier. Mrs. stowe, Lucy
Iarcorn StcGrnan. Philips Brooks. Henry Ward
Bcechcr. Wendell Phillips. Garrison sumner an!
Wilson were not mere casual acquaniahc's' h"'
creside companions at The old Elns drawn
ihither By the Irresistible 'hnTh %. "'S- '''''' y
genius az an cutertlincr
Mrs Clafin was herself an auihoress Of no In'an
a,,aiu,nenis welding modest but Tcncnant ana
entertaining rcn In her "Bnmpton Sketches ~"
,mhalncd the old New-England country He as ic"
writer's could have done. while IN her NecoHeciions
o, whittier" and Under the Old ElmS' she has
given 10 the world glimpse u men Of .eiters ana
~ decds which are nowhere else 20 be found
In entertaining she delighted In grouping h'r
rr,erds of diverse tastes and pursuits IN her nom"
q, IN. same time permitting each to snare III 'n'
o,,ovrnents Of ALL and her !ntuitve instincts oi hos
nital,tv in forming her visiting parties were as IN
fable as a trained artists eye In blending co''r'
s,atesran poet schoolgirl missionary. all met
orou,d her hoard members Of one family, ana c-'ch
.,s made IN feel that he she was peer OF all the
rest.
pv, :, vas not alone entertainer or az II
.r,,.r thu, Mira Clnnin achieved DISTINCTION, IN"
49, -, na,nest worker and wise counsellor IN al
benevolent works She was lor cIsn.e.u 'u;.lios
trrs, 90 IN Ros,on University and trustee III
ic,, Collcre from IT, foundation. She was uiI' ~
a. ,hn N~r,h End Mission in Boston, ana WtIhpc
~ Tho Working Girls Clubs. ana she cav go c.i' &
and efficient attention to each 'iie Hou "oi.n.,
her with face responsive 10 mo WI, a'.u ,arng 70
~, savant and tho next would ma hst HS'enhs ~
,aie Of misfortune, her quick mana anr"uy
furnlsh,ng relief. All these things sie uIs 49, W. w
ever forgetting or neglecting tho duues oi WIG VI
mother. ...o,ut,y he IL reminded
Of Johnsons inscription on Holdsh''hS ''''N' 40
Westminster Abbey: -
Sulmm fer- non tetigi:.
Nuum 5s o. S9od ass; sf''s'' "'" S. V. WHITE.