Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-03-20
NEW YORK LETTER.
IsPEoIAn CORRESPONDENCE.

SPECIAL CORREsPONDENCE.
The death of Mrs. Henry Ward
Beecher hus closed the earthly career
of II noble Chris,inn lady, whose quail.
ties OF mind and heart endesred her
to very large circle Of personal &c.
quaintances. Perhaps no pastors
wife ever was pluced in more exact
ing position than that which Mrs.
Beecher occupied us the domestic and
social helpmate Of the most illustrious
of American clergymen, whose church
was, during more thnn quarter OF
century, the largest worshipping
under one roof in the United States.
In addition to the responsibilities
TINS placed upon her, there came n
frightiul ordeal, whose cruelty must
have wounded her more deeply
than any words could tell. 1t is
very high, as it is richly deserved,
praise to say that she discharged those
duties, and endured those snfferings
in such II manner that the breath of
reproach never touched her, because
no one could find any ground OF criti-
cism. In her husbands darkest hours
she believed in him with unwavering
faith, and sustained him with unwav-
ering love. During almost ten years
Mrs. Beecher has outlived her husband.
They have been for the most part
peaceful, tranquil, and happy; occu-
pied in literary labors that always
found warm welcome from many
readers, in cherishing the dear friend
ships that make life's evening sweet,
and in tender thoughts OF the hasten
ing end, when she would rejoin the
beloved husband of her youth.
Those New York women who oppose
the extension of suffrage to their sex
are putting in deal of political work
these days. They are manifestly
alarmed at the signs OF the times, and
do not mean to Let actual citizenship
steal in upon them unawares, so they
are building up branches oftheir state
association in way that will pres
emily make them one OF the promi.
nent political organizations OF tue
state. The sixth branch in New York
city has Just been organized, with
boundaries from Fifth avenue to the
East river and from the south side of
Fourteenth to the north side of Twen-
ty.sixth street. Mrs. Frederick H.
Belts is chairman; Mrs. James W.
Gerard, Mrs. James H. Pinchot,
Mrs. Charles Cooper and Mrs. Ry-
lance are ON the executive COM
mittee and will no doubt soon
become rs we'll known as their hus-
bands, present and past-for some OF
them are widows. Pamphlets by Abram
8. Hewitt, Francis NJ. Scott, Mrs.
Schuyler Van Rensselaer, and Professor
Cope are part of their ammunition,
and with these for ammunition, and
such other as their own wit, wisdom
and diplomacy may supply them, they
are expected to get the signatures OF
every woman in their field. In order
to do this work thoroughly they have
got to keep in abeyanco n good deal
of the shrinking from publicity, which
makes suffrage so unpalatnble to them,
but the experience will be good for
them.
New Yorkers may we'll regard with
pride their rcprese entntive in the new
cabinet. When Mr.. Bliss was offered
the navy portfolio he declined it for
reasons which seemed to him, and to
those in his confidence, ample. His
private interests are vast, his party
service had been substantial and of
the nor. oiiice-holding sort He was
in position to decline with grac :.
At the personal solicitation OF the
president, however, he reconsidereo
his determination. In other words,
he refused one place to accept later
another carrying fourfold the re
sponsibility and certainly ten time
the drudgery of the first. The pat
ronage is greater, but MIR. Bliss is moi
looking for patronage. Seldom does
man make 80 great IL personal sncri
ice Mt the presidents call as has beer
made by Cornelius N. Bliss.
Cooper Union, the beneficent New
York institution, which is Peter Coop
er's monument, has just been lef
800, 600 in cash by Julia Cooper, an'
$4,000 more ON the death OF
friend of the testator. Ex- Mayo
Hewitt, Mr.. Cooper's son-in-law, say
that excepting $50, the union ha
depended wholly on the original en-
dowment, and on gifts from Mr.
Cooper's relations, and it is badl
hampered for lack of money, an'
could use 81, 100000 to great advan
tage. The present bequest will en-
able the union to take in about 2O
students. but there about 1000, me-
and women, eager to enter its scho OILS
The New York clubs have suffere
seriously from tho hard times and
number of them are trying to consoll
date in order to preserve some sort
an existence. This must cause "Choll
Knickerbucker" untold modification
but even that swell young man feel
the pinch and must forego few Ink
uries. Clubs having strong individul
characteristics, snch as the Univel
sity, Union League, Century or th
New York athletic club, do not suffe
much, but several OF the Culume
class, which are purely organization
for swelldom, have been crowded yer
close to the wall.
A bronze bust of Postmaster Day
ton of heroic size has been set mp her
in the postoffice. 1t is the tribute {
the employees, and the entablature o
the base recites that it is intended
perpetuate Postmaster D"ytou's recor
for efficiency, discipline, justice, cou
tesy and kindness. 1t is handsom
recognition of duty well performed
Whnt pity it is that such servic
could not be recognized by the retel
<;o, ~ ouoh N ,,nutmnctar in Offi n,