New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-23

part of her useful life spent. In her young
womanhood she came here as governess In the
family of DR.. Gamaliel Bailey. subsequently &C.
cupying a position on the staff of his paper. THE
National Era" Soon after Mr.. Blaine was made
Speaker he bought home at the capital, one or
those houses occupied by Chamberlin S
Hotel. and from this time until his death Miss
Dodge was a member of the Blaine family, shar-
ing with Mrs Blaine her social and domestic
duties and materially aiding Mr. Blaine IN MS
political and literary work During these years,
while she was a picturesque and interesting ng
ure in society. she yet found time to ally her
self with all progressive movements, especially
those in relation to her own sex, and to accom-
plish great amount of literary work.
Posterity will doubtless consider her biography
of Mr. Blaine as Miss Dodge's most valuable
work. There is every reason why it should be
ideal life of the great statesman, for 1t was
not only labor of love. but Mr. Blaine be-
queathed to his biographer, between whom and
himself there existed the most cordial affection
and the keenest sympathy all his papers. all
his literary material of whatever description
and the writer had the advantage of years Of
the closest personal intercourse with her subject
That she was unable to finish this work, at
which she labored constantly from the time Of
Mr.. Blaine's death, until she suffered her first
paraytic stroke year ago in June. caused
her much sorrow. Mrs. Harriet Prescott Spot
ford, who at Mrs. Bane's request finished the
book prefaces the few pages she edited by say
ing
Here the pen fell from the fingers thus far
guided by q great brain. faithful heart and an
infleXible conscience
"A humble and less skilful hand merely puts
together the notes and memorandum left upon
the writer's desk. III. T. s.
Miss Dodge was a charming and attractive
personality. Her manner was buoyant, almost
gay. Quick at repartee and keen in her thrusts
never sparng her antagonist in argument she
was yet uniformly good-natured so cordial
and kind that even her worsted opponents ac-
knowledged her charm and paid tribute. 1t is
not too much to say that she was the intellect
ual magnet of the Blaine household, attracting
there all that best in literature and art
admirng. stimulating and sympathiZing with
her contemporaries and giving generously or her
own wit and brilliancy.
But Miss Dodge much more IN the home
of Mr.. and Mrs. Blaine than an intellectual
magnet. She was invariably the loving and
helpful knswoman. the friend and companion
Of their children. who owe much TO their con-
tact with this fine and strong character In
times of sickness and trouble, especially before
the Blaine children were old enough to be help
full Miss Dodge was the mainstay OF the famiiy.
cheer ana standing between them and the
world which beseged their doors.
In personal appearance Miss Dodge was ex-
tremely plain Her head was large, her features
heavy her forehead high and prominent. and in
her large, intellectual blue eyes there was an
ugly cast, but one entirely forgot her planness
after the first few moments Of conversation.
is she homely?" asked one OF the foreign
Minister'S when her personal appearance was
being discussed. Under the charm OF her con
versation ! never thought TO ask myself the
question"
Miss Dodge was a woman of the broadcast
ideas and the broadcast sympathies. She dld not
believe In the Mahometan and Mormon doctrines
that women have life in this world except
through their husbands, and was an ardent
woman suffragis; from the time when this was
first agitated: but this question by no means
absorbed her whole attention. She was as well
equipped on the questions of the day as the ma
iortv Of American statesmen, ana wrote Wen
ON many subjects. even invading the field OF
juvenile literature, being for a time one or the
editors of "Our Young Folks. the leadlhs
magazine for children thirty years ago. FROM
her earliest girlhood Miss Dodge was an ardent
worker fulfilling as seemed to her best her ldea
of the ideal woman