The National tribune., 1898-03-03

pressions of men at the head of National
affairs at the Capital.
She was poet by nature; she had trod-
den the wine press OF lie, meeting Its
disappoIntmentS and its sorrows with a
brave courage; but her soul must needs
sing as the crushed flower sends forth
perfume, and so in every line we find a
graceful touch from an overlooking human
nature.
Aug. IS, 1884, she breathed her last If
reconciled the world must be that the
future should unfold its scroll 10 one so
soon, thankful must il also be that sue
cess was her crown and peace OF heart her
inheritance ere the shadows of the night
fell upon her for the last time and her
spirit foated over into the golden sunset.
Ii is not our purpose to lay bare the sor-
rows and the hardships entailed upon her,
or to indicate who or what was responsible
for that which she suffered or that which
she missed we can only note that she
took up the heavy burdens which Fate
had decreed should be hers to bear, and
with noble courage and wOmanly power
grew strong through suffering, and happi-
ness at length was hers. Her story, here
vaguely recorded, may be d message OF
encouragement and d stimulus to other
weary and heavy laden human hearts.
She sleeps in Rock Creek Cemetery. A
beloved friend wrote Of her. THE grass is
growing on Mary Clemmer's grave; but all
love can reach is covered with flowers
But few steps from the Old Capitol
Prison, which was at one time used as the
publishing house OF Annie Royal, across
the beautiful park, you come to the house
on New Jersey avenue in which Grace
Greenwood (Mrs. Lppincott) lived. Her
facile pen has won for her the honored
crown Of woman's admiration.
Lady Wilde has said: How often a great
genius has given soul to locality. We
cannot say that here Grace Greenwood
found aught that was special or personal
in her eyre that overlooked the fair city,
but we do know that in her Utmost heart
she found the universally Of human sis
terhood.
Since then she has been a wanderer.
BY her letters we trace her over America,
England and the Continent. Through
English meadows, in Italian gardens, win
tering on the Continent, or summering in
old England, drinking inspiration from the
Old World fountains; and yet no loddStone
has been .strong enough to attract and
hold her from her motherland.
a little farther TO the east between Sixth
and Fifth streets, you come to Maple
Square" the home of Emily Edison Briggs
C'Olivia'o.
Farther back than memory runneth, the
house, with massive foundation, gable
ends, Queen Anne architecture, solid
masonry Of brick brought from England,
and rain, Summers heat and Winter s
frost. Situated in the middle Of the square,
shaded by grand old forest trees, vine
clad and venerable, with meadow lawns,
fruit trees, shrubbery and flowers. what a
history Its closed pages could give of the
century gone We know the wounded and
dying after the battle Of Bladensburg were
cared for under its roof. IL has been the
silent witness of every Administration, its
entree and its exit. II has been the home
of foreign Ministers, members OF Congress
and gentlemen of leisure.
Mr.. Clayton, while member of the
Senate, owned the place and made extern
sive improvements. He built the right
wing which is d mushroom Of imposing
dimensions. In 1871 il came into the pos
session Of Mrs. Briggs, who at the. time
was a special correspondent. Here many
OF her trenchant. spicy, vigorous letters
were written. During the war the name Of
Olivia became power that gave her prece
dence over many male correspondents; SO
much so that she could name her own
salary 10 the newspaper editor.
She has decided TO leave this estate to a
womans university, for which her will has
long been made, provided the city or Gov
eminent will endow il with sufficient funds
| to carry ii successfully on.
| Some day Capitol Hill, which has had
the prestige of an environment OF literary
women, may develop the alma mater for
| women which will give them the oDDOr-
| tunity that they how. seek for in vain at
| the doors Of universities and to Emily
Edison Briggs shall belong the honor.
| ITO be continued