The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-11-16
DEATH REVEALED
STORY OF LOVE
And SisterIy Devotion on Part Of
Daughter OF Heroes.
WEREAL WAYS TOGETHER
ENDURED PRlvATlON AND HUN
GER RATHER THAN ACCEPT
CHARITY or THEIR KIND
NEiGH5ORS.

New York, Nov. l5.-Death has re-
sealed a story OF e,sterly devotion,
pride under poverty and heroic endu
rance of privations even to the enl
that has seldom been equaled in fact
or fiction.
Gentle, refined and reared amid
luxurious surroundings, the Misses Ma
tilda and Frances Van Dolsen aged
respectively ~ and 70, were the daugh-
ters and grand daughters of soldier
heroes. Men with long and honorable
records of service and suffering for
their country in the Revolutionary war
and in the struggle of 1912.
Last night the elder of these sis
tiers died from sheer privation and
want lin a suuaid room at 55S East
One-hundred-and-T d-Thirty-ninth street,
whose dingy walls were hung with the
weapons and relics of her ancestors
heroism, and the frail younger sister
is bowed and heartbroken with grief
for the loss of her sister. from whom
she was never separated in life, and
for whose sake she denied herself
food
The aged sisters were devoted TO
each other, SO much in fact, that
1t was common talk among the neigh
bors. They were always together and
were seldom seen apart.
When their father, who was in the
custom house, died in this city 25
years ago, he left them little money.
The sisters lived frugally and man
aged to get along for few years. But
The money was finally expended for
the necessaries Of life. and they were
compelled to seek work
Everybody in the neighborhood Of |
street got |
to know the sisters. quiet, unassum-
ing and gentle
Before they faced the wretched con
ditions which later prevailed in their
life. they spoke of their father. Will /
lam Fl. Van Dolsen, sailor in the
war of 1912. and their grandfather.
Henry Van Dolsen, Washington's
staff officer.
Generous hearted neighbors, know.
ing of the plight of the two aged
spinsters. volunteered to aid them. and
many offered food and clothes. All
offers of aid, however were gently
yet firmly. declined
And from that time. several years
ago. they always kept to themselves.
refusing preferred aid. although il
could plainly be seen that they were
sadly in need of food, clothes and
On the walls of their little rooms
here hung relics of the Revolutionary
var and the War Of 1912. The grand
ather's old flint-lock musket, his an.
ique revolver and long saber are on
he walls today; their fathers old.
ashloned rifle, revolver. parts Of the
I'D time uniforms ard powder TASKS
ire there also, and although the sis
ers could realize goodly sums from
hese. never would they part with
tem
A few months ago Matilda was G
tricken with paralysis. and when {
MUSICIAN was sent to the house he !
Idv.sed that she be removed 10 f
hospital q
Can ! have my sister Frances with S
ne?" she asked
No replied the doctor. no hos
'ital would permit of that"
Then refuse TO GO said the aged y
woman. "I'll stay here and die with (
ny sister" =
A few days ago Matilda was strick. I
n a second time With paralysis. and ]
ank SO rapidly that last night she a
unconscious and died before d
physician could he summoned.
When neighbor called in the dingy q
ooms. Frances was found bending T
yer the silent form Ct her sister. q
'rying as if her heart would break.
There was no food In the house. no fire c
n the stove and nc medicine.
ii was said that the love Of the two
listers was 50 great that they both
made vow. when they were young :
women that they would never marry.
Ind they kept the vow throughout life.
Henry Van D0lsen. the grandfather.
vas collector Of the port of New
Jersey many years ago. The sisters
Isd an old pug dog they called Jes
te. and it &c sad to have been the :
let of the women for fourteen years.
The tev IN the sttna.ion 5s odxo-