The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-27
VIRGINIA SOCIETY MoURNs.
The Death of Miss Muude Coleman
Woods Deeply Felt.

| RICHMOND. Va, Aug. 25.-The death
| OF Miss Maude Coleman Woods. the beau
| ttful daughter of Capt. and Mrs Micatah
! Woods. of Charlottesville. in Hanover
| County, has cast gloom over the society
I ~ of this city and State, for she was
g ,tly thought of throughout the Old Do
minion. Many of her friends here left
! town this afternoon to attend the funeral
which will take place in Charlottesville
| tomorrow morning at II o'clock. The ser
| vices will be conducted in Christ Episco-
pal Church, of which Miss Woods was a
member. The young woman had gone to
Hanover County from Old Point. where
she had been spending Il few days. After
| arriving at the Old Morris homestead she
was taken i'll and grew steadily worse
| until death came.
Miss Woods was twenty-four years
old, was the third child and second
daughter of her parents, and was one
of the most widely known young women
in Virginia. When the committee of
the Pan-American Exposition awarded
| to her the palm as being the purest type
| of blonde beauty in America. its judg-
| ment was endorsed by many who knew
and admired her.
Miss Woods was highly accomplished
in music and art. She was educated at
the Virginia Female Institute, in Staun-
ton. under the tuition of Mrs ]. f. b.
Stuart, and took the gold medal for the
year of her graduation.
There is a pretty little story connect
ed with the manner in which the Pan
American committee came into posses
sion of Miss Woods photograph. In
the summer of 1898, Alexander Black, of
New York, the author. was in Albemarle
Il, s..t.
who invited him to his house. The invi-
tation was accepted. and Mr.. Black saw
much of the genial Virginia gentleman
and his family. Mr. Black seems to have
especially admired the beauty and grace
Of the face. form, and character of Miss
Maude Woods.
Mr.. Bis k sought and obtained from
Miss Woes and her father permission to
photograph her in various poses, promis-
ing that If the pictures We're ever exhibit
ed the name of the lady should be care
fully concealed 81
Captain Woods and his daughter had
forgotten this, until December of that
year the young lady received beautifully
bound ana printed copy of Miss Ameri-
rally gratified at receiving so beautiful
souvenir from the author. but her pleas
ure was not equaled by her establishment
when she saw that she was the original
Mr.. Black had reproduced in his volume
the photographs taken several months
before. The name of Miss Woods was not
used. but the likeness was perfect.
Mr.. Black obtained five photographs of
Miss Woods. From one he made the
beautiful design which appeared on the
cover When the photographs were re-
turned this --ae was retained by the
fist as a valued memento- 1t was this
photograph which found ii way-without
the knowledge OF Miss Woods-to the
committee. and which led to a unanimous
selection by these judges of grace and
beauty.
Two full-length portraits ordered by the
United States Government of Miss Woods
and executed by a famous artist have I'M
fortunately been burned. one before the
exposition opened and one soon after its
completion. The burning of these pic
lures seemed ominous At the time and
was SO 81 oxen of by Miss Woods friends.
She had received invitations from ev-
cry Erst-class hotel in Buffalo. putting
suite of rooms at the disposal of her
self and chapcron for the season.