Gilpin observer., 1901-01-17
| t.
lAA|WoMAN
ELIZA
ARchaRn
W CONNER

which In wartime she concealed Union
soldiers, the openly secret hooks and
holes in which womanlike she kept
letters and dispatches from Grant un-
discovered under the very eyes Of Con-
federate detectives who watched her
continually. made Of the old Van Lew
mansion a historic castle of romance
and mystery. There alone. ostracized
and disliked, Elizabeth Van Lew lived
more than 35 years. from the close Of
the civil war till her death. Hers was
career fuller Of thrilling. dramatic
incident than that Of the hero OF tho
play "Secret Service" and in her case
the scenes were real. In the final act
OF the great war drama at Richmond
she was more help to Grant than all
the rest of his private agents together.
Mark the sequel: After the war, as In
some measure n reward for her invalu-
able MD. the Richmond postmastership
was given to Elizabeth Van Lew. If
she had been man. there Is nothing
the United States government would
not have done for her. The best of its
consular places. the fattest Of its up
pointments at Washington, would have
been open to her, for she had more
nerve and ability than nine-tenths Of
its officials. While Grant was presi-
dent she kept her place as postmistress
Of Richmond. General Grant never
deserted his friends. But after his
time the office was taken from her to
be bestowed on a white male voter.
DIRK days fell upon Miss Van Lew.
Piece by piece she sold the family sill
yn md t,l. I,nl,
she mortgaged and parted with the fair
Inheritance her father left her, and not
n soul In the north cared a tot whether
she starved or fed. She died neglected
and poor. Thus 1t is to be born q wo-
man.
The ideal husband or wife Is found
, only in the realm OF ideals.
Hee
| There is one New York landiady who
has come up from the ranks OF working
girls herself and knows and remembers
how hard 1t is for such girls to obtain
comfortable and respectable lodging
houses for the small sum they are able
to pay. When this blessed landlady
finds really worthy young working
woman Of small MEANS she giveg her
room at about one-third below the
current price. She does not lose any
thing through her benevolence, how
ever. She says. 81 make up the differ
ence on men who are able to pay good
prices" :
Miss Mary II. Krout. who first be-
came generally known through her pO-
litical correspondence for the Chicago
Inter Ocean during an exciting cam
palgn, has returned from her journey
to China and Japan. Miss Krout, In
whom the wander blood is strong, has
been In nearly all parts of the world
Europe. Asia. Australia and Hawaii.
In each she accumulated material TO be
spun by her brain Into delightful read
ing matter. She has removed to New
York city and will make that her head
quarters In future.
/ have just seen little book which
may prove helpful to many women the
country over 1t is written by Mrs. NJ.
V. Norys OF Westfield. n. j.. and 1t il
called Easy Poultry Keeping For In
vnlids." Mrs. Norys tells us that she
herself has had much experience both
In invalldism and poultry keeping and
that the two go well together. and the
experimenter is able often to evolve out
OF the invalidism. Perhaps the hen
cure will be on the list of future spe-
ciiics for the weak and ailing. Who
knows? The little book contains pho
tographs OF some OF Mrs. Norys' pets.
She recommends as help to beginners
the state agricultural experiment sta
tion poultry bulletins.
HRH
The school board OF New York city
has woman truant officer who Is shin
ingly efficient. She s Mrs. Mary II.
Alger. n young and decidedly healthy
woman. She hns proved especially val
liable In running In and returning %
home and school boys who have be-
come fascinated with dime novel tramp
life and attempt to Join vagabond
bands. Lately she performed II really
daring and dramatic exploit. At the
head Of 20 policemen she raided
freight train on the New York Central
road and captured nine truant school
boys. as well as the tramps with whom
they were running away. Mrs. Alger
herself collarcd nm ls.ycar-old boy and
dragged him from his hiding place. The
police remained in concealmcnt till the
woman unearthed the game. The game
did not suspec: her Of being an officer
and so was taken unawarcs.
eeR
The maxim "The only good Indian is
n dead Indian" does not ind favor
with Miss Ida l.. Palmer OF Fort Hall.
| Ida. She is primary teacher In one OF ,
| Tho In rUoaf N nd tuost auccoaaful Indian