The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-17
NO, NOT MRS. STANTON'S BRAIN
SHE DID NOT LEAVE 1T TO COR
NELL UNIVERSITY.
Denial From Her Daughter. Mrs. Batch
The Report Seems to Have Come
From Miss Helen Gardener, Who Gave
u lurrency In q Lecture nj Nashin EtOn.

u Currency In q Lecture NJ Washington.
The relatives Of the late Elizabeth Cady
Stanton were incensed yesterday when
they read in the papers a despatch from
Ithaca to the effect that Mrs. Stanton had
willed her brain to Cornell University
and that Prof Burt G.. Wilder OF the de-
partment Of neurology was wondering
why he had not received II to add to the
collection of brains Of other distinguished
persons already there.
Mrs. Stanton Batch. Mrs. Stanton's
daughter. said yesterday that unless some
person came forward with a paper sign Vi
by Mrs. stanton showing that she desired
TO have this disposition made of her brain
the family would never believe that Mrs.
Stanton ever did seriously contemplate
any such thing. Mrs. Blatch wrote note
like this 10 the newspapers:
To THE EpiToR OF TIE SuN Sir: Will
YOU allow me TO correct despatch from
Ithaca which you publish this morning:
Neither Prof. Wilder nor any one has APP
preached any member of Mrs stanton
family. either directly or indirectly. a. TO
the disposition of Mrs. STATIONS brain Nor
WAS any bequest such as the telegram refers
to made in Mrs. STATIONS will
HARRIET STANTON BLATCH.
$50 West Ninety-fourth II Nov. is.
Mrs. Blatch said yesterday that not only
had her mot hers will contained no reference
to her brain and its disposition, but that
not one member of her family had ever
heard her speak Of giving it to Cornell
While the report from Cornell concerning
the CNpectant attitude Of the authorities
there has amazed Mrs Batch and the other
members Of the family. 1t was not entirely
n surprise TO them. because three days
| ago Mrs Batch received from Washington
! a letter written by VI ~ Helen Gardener. a
| frierd of her mothers and an advocate
! Of womans rights, containing this inquiry.
Has YOUR mothers brain gone To Cornell
| University YETI"
| As there was nothing in the context OF
| the letter to explain this rather startling
! inquiry. Mrs. Batch was myst!fied. Before
! she had time To write to Miss Gardener fol
an explanation. she received on Saturday
a Washington paper nlaning an address
| delivered on Friday before a meeting OF
Friends in Washington by Miss Gardener
| which still more surprised her In this
! address Miss Gardener said that three
years ago Mrs stanton had asked her
| TO speak for her in case she, Mrs. stanton
| should "go before her into silence and
then farther along followed this:
II was Mrs STATIONS earnest wish 10 give
her useless brain when she should he done
! with u to Cornell I nlNerslty, that II might
serve science and mankind TO help us arrive
| at truth after her death. She knew the bra u
| of no woman had been examined after death
| She knew the brains of all womanhind had
been Judged and preserved by that which
| science had learned through its hospita
subjects Us unknown dead She knew this
: was wholly unfair TO women. She kne"
| that the brains of men were Judged by no
| such inadequate records, but that they haG
their great ones preserved and sacredly held
| 10 show the Use and benefits of education. OF
| the opportunity Of the Development of the |
| time She felt that brain like hers would
| TO useful for records. as u would give to the
| world for the first time the scicntitc record
| of thinker among women.
Mrs Blatch said yesterday that she did
not know Miss Gardener except as one
| of the legion Of friends her mother had,
and that AZ soon as she read this she sat
| down and wrote TO her that she did not
| like her address at all.
Il have not heard from Miss Gardener
| since" said Mrs. Blatch yesterday, but
| matter enianated from her. What author
| ity. II any, she had for making any such
statement concerning my mother | do
! not know. The dispatches from Cornell
! mention Miss Gardener as having willed
| her brain To the university and say that
| II was she who Induced nv mother to make
like dep -.tion e her brain in her Will
| Tn will @, nta'n,d nothing e the kind
Ny mother never did anything TO Pain
! those nearest to her and whom she loved
| ana | am quite sure rilS NoulG never nave
| done this Mis- Gardener was a friend
Of hers and possibly might have mentioned
such a thing To her aud thought she had
her verbal acduie-ccnce. But had she
meant il We who lived with her would
| have known II.
IF Miss Gardener has any paper written
ana signed 10y my mother making such
| disposition Of her brain she ought to pro-
| duce il. OF course, now We should never
consent 20 the Cli. interment of my mothers
boay. no matter if absolute proof Of Miss
| Gardeners statements was presented
| That il out of the question.
The memorial service n honor Of Mrs
Stanton IL to be held on VI pdresday even.
ing al Assembly Hall in the Presbyterian
| Building, and among these who are down
To speak, in addition 10 John :. Crosby
| William Lloyd Garrison, Mrs Carrie Chap
| man Gait and others il Mrs Gardener
| Mrs Batch who is one Of those in charge
Of the arrangements, said that this was not
at the request of the committee, but because
| Ni'. Gardener had come forward herself
with the statems n. that Mrs. Stanton hac
personally requested here to speak AT suci
| a meeting
A great many women who knew my
| mother have made similar statement
said Mrs Batch and, Of course. we hav,
no way Of disproying them. Miss Gardener
| understand. is To arrive here tomorrow
from Washington for the meeting, and eithe
az the meeting or before | hope to Learn
from her lust what her authority II 70
| ma king the a sertiou that my mother made
any such abatement regarding her brain
and a, the same t.m' kept her own famil,
in utter igrorar of II.