The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-04
4 Sketch Of the Late Mrs. Margaret Jun.
kin Preston, Of Lexington.
The :MIhOsA OF SOUTHERN LITERATURE
Though Born in Pennsylvania YIer
Heart Was Always Trno 90 the
Land south Of Mason ana Dlxon's
Lfne--ier Reputation AS q Poet
Was Nntional-licr works
Baltimore SUM

-
T. Preston. $40 North Charles street.
S1er death was not unexpected, as She
mad been in failing health for several
weeks. Mrs. Preston's two son5-Dr.
preston and Mr.. Henry Rush Preston, a
lawyer-were with her at the time Of her
passing away. To the last she display
ed the strength Of her great mental
powers. and anticipated death with res
lgnation.
For many years Mrs. Preston had
been sufferer. For ten Of them she
had been an invalid, and during the
later years Of her life was much afflict-
ed with optical troubles, which inter
Tered greatly with her literary work
She was not blind, but the constant use
of her eyes had induced great delicacy
of the optic nerve. Her conduct under
such constant pain was heroic. AS far
as possible she concealed her suffering
from friends and family, and was al
ways cheerful.
Mrs. William P. Allan, widow Of the
late Colonel William p. Allan, for many
years superintendent of the NIcDonough
School, Is a stepdaughter Of Mrs. Pres
ton.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Mrs. Preston was born in Pennsylva-
MA Fer father was the late Rev. D.
George Judlsin, Presbyterian minister,
who was widely known as one OF the
most distinguished educators Of his
time. He founded Lafayette College. a
large and well-ehdowed institution, and
afterward, In 1S4S, BEGAN president Of
washington Cc!lege. Lexington, Va.
General Robert L. Lee succeeded him in
the latter position.
Literary tastes and cultured sense
Of appreciation Of the beauties of ma
ture were early developed In Mrs. Pres
ton. She Thought in numbers" as a
mere child. One OF her earliest memo
ries was standing at her fathers knee
when hardly more than 3 years old
learning the Hebrew alphabet.
She never went TO school except as q
very little girl, her education being re-
ceived from her father and private
tutors It home. Her father was espe-
clally enthusiastic over her education,
and the child was reading Latin with
him when 10 years old at IL years she
read Greek The pupils industry and
application WAS In just correspondent
10 the instructors zeal Many morn
ing she arose at o'clock to read Ian
guages with her father before breakfast,
this being the only time he could COM
mand out Of his busy day.
LIsPED IN NUMBERS.
When stu 4 girl she began her active
literary career her poems, sketches and
articles on various topics soon attract
Ing attention for their uniform excel
lence and originality. Her novel "Sil-
Verwood.' n romantic composition, with
many poetic attributes, was the most
ambitious and important work she
achieved prior to her marriage. 1t was
published anonymously, and no insistent
persuasions on the part Of her publish
ers, who very literally offered to double
the price paid for the manuscript If she
would allow her name to appear with
1t. could make her consent
In 1857 she was married to Prof IT. l..
Preston, Of the Virginia Military Insti-
tute, at Lexington, Va. Her married
left was 8 happy one, and was spent in
n beautiful Virginia home. Here her
two sons were born and grew 10 man
hood. the elder, Dr.. George ]. Preston,
1nheriting much Of his mothers literary
talent, which has found expression in Il
number Of valuable contributions to
medical Journals.
Upon the breaking out of the civil war
the Preston family became identified
with the Southern cause. Prof. Preston
became a member Of the staff of General
Stoncwall Jackson, whose first Wife was
Mrs. Ireston's sister, Eleanor, and who
had been associated with Prof. Preston
in the Virginia Military Institute. The
pen Of the poetcss portrayed the gran
deur tragedy and rathoS of war, parti-
cularly the suTerings Of those tcnde1.
non comibatants whose loved ones were
the actors In the great drama OF carnage
and horror.
SOME OF HER WORKS.
"Becchenbrook. a. Rhyme or the War"
written by the freight during the nights
OF one week, was published during the
stirring times of the war. It's inSpira-
lions were multifold and in it is to be
found many contrasting notes Of sorrow,
pathetic resignation. sometimes n note
of JOY, but every recurrent is; the har-
1nony Of hope and mistaken faith in
God.
This work made Mrs. Preston very
popular in the South and achieved a
circulation OF many thousands. with
this publication she first allowed her
name 10 appear.
The works Of Mrs. Preston, besides
those enumerated. are "Old Songs and
New" Cartoon For Loves Sake"
Colonial Billiards. and Aunt Doro-
thy and great many detached
sketches, poems and newspaper articles
unsolicited IF
Her body was taken to Lexington last
Sunday night where the funeral services
were held and nterment made. DR..
s Preston and his brother accompanied the
body Of their mother.
Publications Received.
THE OUTLOOK.--The April number
is to hand. Sir Walter Bcsant contrib
utes an article on The Higher Life in
London" Mr.. Justin McClrthy's In
stalment OF his STORY or Gladstone's
Life IS made especially attractive by
his comparison of Gladstone with Dis
raeli and Bright Mr.. Clifton Johnson
furnishes some really charming photo
graphs taken to illustrate his '.The
Pea:ant's Ireland" Miss Susan T. Blow