The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-04-20
Death Of a Most Estimnble Lady and a
Monument Proposed

Editors lntclligcnccr: Little time
have now to contribute to ncwspa
pcrS, but opportunity would be unkind
indeed that denied me favor of IL few
lines to Tho lntclligencer On the death
of the chlldrcn's friend, Miss Mamie
Donald, who died at her home in Pied :
mont on the 12th inst. of paralysis
his Is not news | am communicate
ing 1T seems some repetition OF some
thing seneciess and gloomy that will
not dcsist in saying, "slc is dead, she
is dead - for "Miss Mamie" chill
q ems fricnd-is yet living to us all. 3.
We do not rcal!z" that in reality she
was buried from i!r Presbyterian
Church on Thursda, last.
We attended the r"rycc and snw the
impressive caskct borne IN and out by
tho Hover and chivairy OF l'icdm0nt's
honorable men, crushed. themselves,
between the GrIci and sobs strong men
| innst not know; they laid the caskrt
at rest ut tho altar amid the flowers,
and we all heard the culoglcs pro-
nnnnccd by four deep voiced clergy
men who spoke of the caskct as though
there lay "Miss Mamie"
The little children Of the day and
Sunday Schools, who were Miss Ma
ME- secular and spiritual charge, flied
IN ANA ont to hear about and look at
Miss Nlamic's cnsket; but it did not
appear they knew what they were do
ing; and like lambs before their fate
were acting the ciaradc Of death. The
whole Church space was filled to its
capacity and sobs were stIllrd in hand
kcrcillets while some llnspOkcn mean
ing iloatcd mystrlinIsly over all; but
no one thought Miss Mamie was dead.
Ii the choir where she was almost as
constant aS the sacred text the young
people made sad plight of the orthO
dox singing, the choking in their voices
go blent with the strained music; they
sang Of the glQries Of Heaven, none
| seeming to think there was happiness
anywhere, and when tho whole c0ngre-
CATION with the choir burst into re-
lief OF vOice-half sObbing and sing
ing, "Nearer my God to Thee" per
haps it was only then we realized Miss
| Mamie was there in that casket.
As 1T 10 now the writer recalls these
scenes for their conviction that that
beautiful, active life has passed away
for ever. Miss Donald-the vital
name written with the pen, the memo
ry of death yetpalpable to the senses
this mention of both together on paper
is incongruous-irre -irreconcilable-sbe was
ono OF the bes. known young women
in and far around Piedmont. AS an
early young graduate she etaught in the
schools the children who are to day
many of them mothers of the little
| ones who loved her and must be re-
signed to her lose. School nor Church,
| nor anywhere. needing helpful,
! Christian hand waa complete without
"diiss Mamie;' si'a was all sufficient
| every ywhere.
| Not sick at all before she died; gave
no indication nat attention would be
needed and from some merry gathe--
| ing with childr,n that day and an an
pearance Mt the home supper te',t
| feeling only what she thought slight,
| tired headache, being advised by her
| kind family to lie down u while she re-
tiroi. only to be found 10y n member of
the family who ran up to her-incapa-
her death Her brother. tho distin-
j guished DR.. Donald, whose presence
is often life itself to tho hopelessly
afflicted was without avail mt the star
tied moment of the unheralded stroke
of paralysis. This was the form OF
her makers message that her work was
ended.
Now, perhaps, l did not write the
newspaper siMply of death, these
visitations are 80 common; but there
are uncommon lives and of this am
writing; as the communicative of IL mes.
sage to the 1ntelligencer-unas
and almost unknown invite the aid
| OF voices better known in Piedmont
than mine and ask them to suggest tC
the children Il tribute to Miss Donald
The pennies or small allowances of the
children would not be long in raising
to the beloved teacher small monu-
ment from the children to the chill
dren's friend. The children's several
pastors or school professor, Mr.. Grier
would secure the Contributions. With
great modesty for this mention of a
delightful duty the writer will gladly
appear among those Mt tho head of the
list. This little monument would be
an honor to the children and children'i
children in Piedmont. that they loved
their teacher 80 we'll they were not
willing her memory nor .nemory of hel
grave should fade from sight. There
would they gather from time to time
and strew flowers from the little handt
she 80 often touched-on her grave
marked by that small monument from
the children to "Miss Mamie,n the
"Children's Friend"
With respect and apologies fo,
aught have snid that ia uncalled fol
OF undesirable, I remain truly.
Piedm:,nt. Anril IA 1ana