The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-15

college for theological training. She
was the first woman TO take the course.
and this she did i'm the teeth of opposi-
ton that would have daunted any wo-
man who could have been daunted.
Nature, too seemed 10 have frowned
on her aspiration by giving her a
voice somewhat weak and slightly
sharp. She worked resolutely on this
voice year after year. lowering it's pitch.
modulating it's tones. increasing it's VOL
ume, till from being shrill and small IL
became full. rich and resonant. Rev.
Olympia Brown is a most eloquent and
impressive speaker
After graduating at the theological
school she was for nine years pastor OF
church in Racine. Meantime she
was married to MIR. Willis, but always
kept her own name of Brown. She be-
lieves women who wed should do this.
Lately friend asked her concerning a
lady who was a mutual acquaintance.
oh" said Mrs. Brown she's mar
ried to Mr. Blank. and she calls her.
self Blank. in that foolish way women
have of changing their Names"
Mrs Browns domestic life was very
happy one. Her son and daughter both
are graduates of Chicago university.
Each after graduation I'm America stud
led In Europe. After his return TO his
own land, her son. Parker Willis, be-
came a professor in Washington and
Lee university and later the Washing
ton correspondent Of a New York paper
He and his mother now have their home
together in Washington.
While the daughter. Gwendolin. was
in college a great sorrow came to the
"a N ha 80
II only served to bring out the resource
fulness of Olympia Brown. Her hus-
band was the manager and chief owner
of daily newspaper in Racine IL was
fiourishing under his superintendence
but all its prosperity threatened TO melt
away when he left Il. Mrs. Brown
knew nothing practically of the man
aeement of a newspaper. yet she brave
Is took hold OF IL. Her task was the
more difficult from the fact that a large
job printing office was connected with
the business.
Her daughter Gwendolin was at that
time I'm Chicago university. The college
girl came home 20 her mother. and for
seven years these two women conducted
the paper successfully. Once n strike
was on i'm the office and a boycott of the
paper was instituted. but through IL all
the two ladies brought out their daily
regularly, not missing an issue. Dur
ing those years domestic cares, which
always fall more heavily on woman
than on man. also bore down upon the
dauntless little minister Her aged
mother became an invalid, requiring
constant watchfulness and service.
Still brave Olympia Brown and her
girl Gwendolin held their daily paper
on It's course. This woman newspaper
Office. like that OF La Fronde i'm Paris.
was noted for its neatness and tasteful
furnishings, more like private home
than business place. II was immacu-
lately clean and orderly, and flowers
bloomed in it's windows Olympia was
editor and business manager OF her
paper. as her husband had been before
her. and she had TO learn her duties as
she went. every step OF the way.
AT length there came opportunity TO
dispose OF the newspaper without loss.
Mrs. Browns mother had become still
more helpless. and Miss Gwendoln was
dreaming. studentlike. OF visiting the
old world and garnering rich treasures
OF learning. The business the two had
conducted so bravely and successfully
was sold. Mrs. Brown took her place