The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-18
SCHOOL At BROOKE HALL
THE GIRLS ACADEMY WHERE Mrs.
spKINLEY STUDIED ALGEBRA.
Her Old Teacher, Now Applicant for
POstmfstress at Media, Writes for
Help to Her Former Pupil.
ST. Louls UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Although it will be more than a year be-
fore the term of the present postmaster at
Media, Pa, expires. the contest to decide
who shall be his successor is on in earnest
and it is not improbable that a woman may
walk away with the prize. Media is a
typical New England village. The town
the people there call it a borough-is buded
on an elevation nearly 500 feet above the
level Of the Delaware river, which is about
seven miles distant and has a population
variously estimated by the inhabitants at
from 1000 to 1900. It is a desirable place
for schooling and there are educational in
stitutions in the village that are known
throughout the country. Another thing
that the average Media citizen prides him
self on and delights in telling strangers
about is the fact that there has never been
a saloon in the place.
Il is the wrangIe for the Office of post
master that is now engrossing the staid
people of Media It is a novelty, the candi-
dacy of a woman for the place, This
woman is Miss II. +. Gault. The people of
Media know her as plain Hettie Gault
There are two other candidates and they
are men. Miss Gault went to work in a
very businesslilxe way few months ago.
She did not seek the Endorsement of the
congressman from the district Neither did
she write Senator Quay or any other Re
publican politician who might have infiu-
ence with the administration. She clrcu-
lated a petition and obtained the names of
a number of persons in the town who have
known her for q number of years. This
accomplished she sat down and wrote a
letter to Mrs. Mckinley merely stating
that she was an applicant for the Media
postoffice, that it would be a much needed
pecuniary help and asking her to intercede
in her behalf. That she will have Mrs. Nc
Kinley's support there is little doubt.
More than thirty years ago Mrs. McKin-
ley was a student at Brooke Hall Semi
nary, Media. She was then Ida .Saxton
and the thought OF some day becoming the
first lady of the land probably never en-
tered her head. At that time President
Mckinley had returned TO his home in the
little town of Poland o., after four years
meritorious service in defense of his coun-
try, and was beginning the study of law
and fitting himself for the life that has
been such an iHustrious contribution to
American history. Ida SaXton was then a
girl of eighteen. Miss Gault was chief in
structor in Brooke Hall Seminary, and
ranked next to Miss Eastman, the princi-
pal and founder of the school.
AT OLD BROOKE HALL.
Brooke Hall was then and for many
years after one of the best known schools
for girls. It's reputation extended to every
State in the Union, and the roll contained
names of students not only from the
United States, but also from foreign coun-
tries. Miss Gault was instructor in math-
ematics, for which Miss Saxton had a par
ticular liking. Her keen intellectually was
appreciated by Miss Gault and they found
solace III each others society when the
studies and cares Of teaching were thrown
aside for the day.
l called on Miss Gault the other day. Her
home at Third and Monroe streets Is a
marvel Of beauty and simplicity. The walls
of the living room and library are adorned
with paintings, in oil and water colorS, by
her own hands, which prove that in art
she is far from being novice. the most
striking objects in the library are photo
graphs of President and Mrs. Mckinley.
They bear the imprint of a Canton photog-
rapher, and We're taken several years ago.
MAcross the bottom of the picture Of the
President, in bold, clear hand, so char
acteristic of Major Mckinley, is written
with greatest respect, yours very truly,
William Mckinley, 1r' 1t was written be-
fore the death Of his father, for since his
death the President eliminates the Junior.
Both are excellent likenesses, that OF Mrs.
Mckinley being particularly expressive,
and representing her as she is remembered
by her friends of q decade ago.
Those pictures 1 prize dearer than any
thing else Miss Gault said as she restored
them TO their accustomed place on the man
Before proceeding with the story I want
to aequaint you with Miss Gault. One
might be led to the belief that because of
her ambition to be appointed to a position
usually accorded to a man she is of the
type described as the new woman OF to-
day. Such, however, is not the case MISS
Gault is New England woman. She is
about 1fty-six years old, and came to Penn
Gylvania from Concord, n. II. Miss East
man was also a native of New Hampshire
When she came to Aston Ridge, about 1--WE
miles frem MEDIC, to preside over school,
she brought Miss Gault along with her.
They were at Aston Ridge five years. Miss
Eastman was woman Of rare intelligence
and a born educator. She was one OF the
foremost educators OF that time. Hon ii.
Jones Brooke, who was the founder of the
borough of Media, and q man OF wealth,
was attracted by Miss EaStman'S peculiar
tact and talent, and TO encourage her COM
ing TO Media he built the seminary, which
was given his name.
Miss Gault was a valuable assistant TO
Miss Eastman, and not an ulimportant
factor in bringing to Brooke Hail such an
enViable reputation as an institution OF
learning. She was a faNortte with the stu
dents and to-day she has preserved as
treasures letters of loving remembrance
from those who We're participants OF her
motherly care in their girlhood days at the
old seminary. Miss Eastman died about
two years ago. An effort was made TO con-
tinue the work Of the school, but the m
terest Jagged and to-day the stately old
building is used as q boarding house. ram
lilies from New York and Philadelphia
spend the summer there.
Miss Gault is averse to newspaper no
toriety and regrets that her candidacy for
a position for which she is adequately quail
itied should have brought her name to such
an extent before the public. 1t was with re-
Iuctance that she consented to talk.
1T is more than thirty years ago since
Mrs. Mckinley left Media as a school girl,
and that is a long time" she said. Il be-
lieve she was at Brooke Hall two and one
half years. As near as 1 can remember it
was in 1865 that she went away. Had l
any idea or knowledge that she would one
day be the first lady of the land, l should
have fortified my memory with facts and
dates. Her sister, Mary b. SaXton, now
Mrs. Marshall Barber, was a student at
Mckinley did not. Mrs. Mckinley pursued
the regular course, embracing history,
mathematics and music. If / remember
correctly she paid little if any attention to
art. Her curriculum was the ordinary one
of the school, A purer, sweeter girl never
she looked the first day L saw her. She
and her sister, who was perhaps two years
younger came with their father a minis
terial-looking gentleman about Il week be-
fore the beginning of the term. She had
such . fresh and rosy facet She was as
pretty picture.
From the very start she was a favorite
with her companions. She was of lovely
nature-kind, gentle, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ready 10 listen 10 any tale of woe when APP
piled TO. She was not particularly robust
vet there was nothing suggestive of i'll
than her sister and cared less for romping
and running than many of the girls who