St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-07-09
Dedication at Mount r1olyoke College.

At the recent dedication OF the Mary Brigham
Hall at Mt. Holyoke College, South Had
ley, Mass, Miss Charlotte Morrill, of
Adelphi Academy, Brooklyn former resi-
dent of st. Johnsbury, and well known
throughout Vermont, delivered the follow.
ing memorial address on Mary Brigham:
OF all the months OF all the year there
is none other so balmy, so beloved, so
beautiful as June. OF all the June days
OF all the years this one will live ever in
the annals of the society which / repre-
sent as the bamiest, most beloved, most
beautiful. For eight long. weary years
we have watched and waited for this
day. Some who watched and waited
with us greet today yet brighter light in
a brighter land. The eight years journey
has not been all holiday ramble There
have been weary marches; there were
hard paths of self denial to be trodden;
there was now and then a dry and
thirsty desert; but all the pathway was
at all times luminous with q wondrouS
light. count it all JOY that on this day
OF days may escape the noise and dust
OF the city and here amid the peaceful
tranquility of the everlasting hills, may
call once more the name of our beloved
leader, and may hold upbefore my young
sisters an exalted type of American
womanhood. As ] turn once more to
read from a lie iiaught with love and
tenderness, beautiful with beauty which
is not of earth, recall chilly November
day when with broken voice ! read to
group Of sobbing women my simple trib-
ute to Miss Brigham. 1t sometimes
happens that in our first grief we exag-
gerate the qualities of our friends, but
: with the long perspective of eight years
my words of loving praise seem made
quate, and l accept for my own those
which fell from the lips of the orator of
today on that memorable July day in the
Westboro church, when he said, "ln calm
and truthful earnestness | express the
belief that it is impossible for us to
idealize her character" ! am not called
today to place in orderly array the events
and actions of her life and to attempt to
give due tribute to her worth, but it is
my privilege in the brief moment that we
tarry here to speak as best may the
hot ha hoe TO
the lips, in grateful acknowledgment Of
the blessing that was ours through her.
George Macdonald said: "If can put
one touch OF rosy sunset into the life
of any man or woman shall feel that
have walked with Cod" Miss Brigham
gave to Brooklyn twenty-six years of
sunshine. May venture the hope that
may so speak of her as to put touch of
a rosy sunset into the life of some man
or woman here. ! am sure it will inter-
est my young sisters to know that Miss
Brigham was beautiful woman; that
she was tall and stately, with an eye of
rare beauty. She was easily and entirely
a queen, not only by the charm Of her
tall and noble figure and her finished
manner, but by the might of her moral
power and mental poise. She was keenly
sensitive to the power of dress. Her
attire was always above criticism. Her
life in Brooklyn brought her constantly
among the people whose linen is purple
and fine. She read that the Kings
daughter should be all glorious within,
but did not omit the clause that her
clothing was to be OF wrought gold.
Among the many precious legacies left
us by dear George Eliot / count none
more valuable than these apples Of fine
gold in picture of pure silver: "The es.
sential attributes of a lady are high
veracity, delicate honor Difference ior
Others, refined personal habits" ! appea
to every woman who knew Miss Brig
ham. ! ask and do not fear the answer
Could the pen and ink picture have beer
more perfect had she sat as a model il
the studio of the great artist?
At the opeuing OF the Young Women
Christian association building in Syria
cuse in 1891, one of Americas mos
gifted women said:
Two short years ago woman in
city not far away was called to the pres
idency OF woman's college, coleg
whose name should ever be uttered witt
reverence. 1t has sent women all owe
the world to prove, not only what i
means to be skilled in science, in art AM
in literature, but to bear the exalte
and inestimable blessing of Christina
womanhood, with its benign and UP
lifting influence and power. In this co
lege, in the little New England tow
where it stands, the woman of whom
speak was educated. When it entere
upon its college life she was called to it
first place. For twenty-six years sh
had filled somewhat similar position i
a great city, molding the lives of youn
women and giving to each the echo tina
rolls from soul to soul and lives toreve
and forever
"When it became known that she wa
to leave this place, so nobly filled, ever,
honor that heart and thought coul,
devise was showered upon her, ever