Evening star., 1898-05-30
MRS. DAHLGREN DEAD
She Was for Many Years Prominent IN Social
and Literary Circles
Perhaps Her Best Known Work Was
the Life Of Her Dfstin.
gutshed Husband.


ton Dahlgren died Saturday night at her
residence, 1925 Massachusetts, avenue. Tho
remains will be removed this afternoon
to the late country seat Of Mrs. Dahlgren
on South Mountain, Washington county,
Maryland. where the interment will be
made.
The passing Of this charming woman
marks the definite close of an era in the
history of the social and Political life Of
the capital. The daughter Of the late Sam
uel F. Vinton of Ohio, for many years Cne
of the recognized leaders in Congress Of the
Whig party during the antsbellum era. his
age over his household, and was thus
brought into intimate acquaintance with
the leading statesmen and diplomats of
tfat day. for the home of Mr.. Vinton was
center Of genuine hospitality.
Early welded to one of the brilliant
young lawyers Of her native state, Daniel
Convers Goddard, who was soon called to
washington to assume a leading part in
the organization Of the proposed new de-
pertinent of the government, "the Depart
Eient of the Interior" Mrs. Goddard, after
brief residence in Ohio, returned to this
city, which was to be the residence of her
lifetime. The death of her husband, after
a brief welded life Of five years. left her
with her two children, the mistress Of her
fathers house, which had been her home
ard where she remained during her faith
ct > NE ms nome, long retained as tn6
residence of herself and her children, never
ceased to be a most attractive social CEN
ter.
Welded to Admiral DahIgren.
After widowhood of thirteen years she
became the wife of the distinguished naval
hero, the late Admiral John Adolph Dahl
gren, whose memory she has enshrined in
the Life" which remains a monument of
literary ability and wifely devotion. Again
her welded life was brief. After some FIVE
years, during which she had accompanied
the admiral on an extended cruise around
the continent of South America. his death,
tragic In its unexpectedness, left her for
second time a widow with a family Of
three young children.
These experiences, added TO a natural
gift, served to develop in Mrs. Dahlgren
unusual executive ability. Nor, as is some-
times unfortunately the case, did this d.
recttve habit of mind tend in the least to
impair or modify q natural charm Of man.
rer, which to those VINO knew her best
seemed her most winning characteristic.
By her ready sympathy with the aspra
tions and efforts of the young, and her
gentle graciousness and Christian charity
to the suffering and the unsuccessful, she
was help to many, unknown to the world,
who will ever cherish her memory.
Perhaps 1t was a gift of heredify from, a
beloved French grandparent that gave her
recognized charm as a hostess. Gifted with
exquisite tact her simple welcome pu: all
at ease.
A HOsDitabIe Home.
For a series Of years she entertained the
Literary Society Of Washington, and those
evenings occurring twice a month during
the season, We're made memorable. Litera-
ture, music art and society were so deftly
blended with a gracious hospitality that
one could almost fancy that the historic
salon of Paris, of century before, had
been revived. Invitations to these evenings
were eagerly sought and highly valued.
The sudden decease of her brilliant son,
Ninton Goddard, was a fearful shock to the
loving mother, and from that sad event,
now some years past, Mrs. Dahlgren more
and more withdrew from the gay world, so
that many of the people who today make
up the society Of the capital city hardly
know of the acknowledged social power she
welded for more than thirty years.
Literary Activity.
Mrs. Dahlgren early manifested an in
stinct for literary production, and, as long
since as 1859, contributed to the press, over
the pen-name of Corinne, occasional articles
in prose and verse. Later she published
translations Of notable works from French,
Spanish and Italian authors. Among them
Montalambert's brochure entitled "Pius
IX." an abstruse philosophical work from
the Spanish, and THE Executive Power"
a monograph by the late Marquis de Cham
brun.
Autograph letters from the pope, Mon
talambert the Queen of Spain and other
European authorities give great praise to
the excellence of her work. She also pub
lished The Life of Admiral Dahlgren," al
ready referred to, and several volumes,
tales etc. A partial list includes South
Mountain Magic,' 1.-The Lost Name"
Lights and Shadows of Life" South
Sea Sketches" and Etiquette of Social Life
in Washington" the last wsll-known text
book of the peculiar etiquette Of official So
cial life at the capital, besides q large
number Of miscellaneous essays, reviews
and short stories, which appeared in pariod-
ical publications.
a Life of Activities.
1t will readily be seen from this incom-
plete list of published works that this life
just closed could have known few idle mo-
ments. In addition to pressing social and
literary duties Mrs. Dahlgren was ever the
house mistress, with all the term implies.
In her city home, and at her summer resi-
dence on her estate of "Dahlen," on South
mountain, near Boonsboro, Nd, she was
ever the Lady Bountifu; to whom all look
ed for help and protection. Accustom
from childhood to take interest in public
questions she was inteligently and intense
ly patriotic. Charitable, generous and just;
true friend and faithful adviser, She typi-
fled the lady of the olden time.
Four children survive. two daughters, the
Baroness Won Overlook, born Romaine
Goddard, and Mrs. Josiah Pierce, born Ulla
Dahlgren; and two sons, Eric and John
Vinton Dahlgren.