Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-01-29
CLOSE on A SUNNY YOUNG LIFE.


out rebellion or complaint, trusting
implicitly in that love that doeth all
things well, MISS HELEN MuNsoN made
brave fight for life against unequal
odds. She entered into her rest at
Gas Sunday evening, January 26, l90S
this because of the unfortunate acci-
dent of Sunday, January 5. The Christ
mas recess had been a home gathering
season at the family residence, the
father from his duties as secretary to
the governor of the state; Barbara, the
Oldest daughter, from her school at
Montfort; Helen and Hope from the
university at Madison. These with the
mother and younger daughter, Cath
crime, and a cousin Mr.. Harry r. Wul-
fing, had enjoyed the reunion together.
School duties had called Barbara and
Hope back to their respective work,
following the New Year Helen and
her father We're to leave in day or
two. On Sunday forenoon while in the
act of replenishing the furnace fire in
the basement of their home, her cloth
ing ignited. The fire door of the fur
mace is very low down, the lowest por-
ton being but six inches from the
flsor. 1t is supposed chat the draft at
the open door sucked IN her apron,
when in a moment her cotton dress
was lblaze. Speeding across the ce-
ment floor, that offered absolutely no
means of extinguishing the blaze, pass
ing through the furnace cellar to the
provision cellar and then up stairs to
the kitchen. Here the hardqtood floor
again offered no means of help, and on
into sitting room where rugs and a
couch cover could be utilized to smother
the flames. This was her course, forty
one steps as paced by the writer. Here
through her great presence of mind
and the heroic efforts of her mother,
brought from roonI above by the
victims cries ap imFaeai',@ death Was
averted. During the twenty -four hours
Immediately following the accident
little hope of recovery was entertained.
Her remarkable constitution conquered
though for the time being and until last
Friday it was hoped that a permanent
recovery might be effected. 1t was too
sanguine hope. Too large a surface
had been burned, and the close of the
! day on Sunday, just three weeks from
the day Of the accident, her eyes closed
in peaceful sleep.
HELEN ALICE, second daughter of
Senator and Mrs. o. G. Munson, was
born at Richland Center, November %,
1884, III the same house and room in
which her mother and elder sister Bar
bara were born. When eleven months
old the family moved to Viroqua. Here
the whole life of Helen was that of a
retired, modest, unselfish character,
sympathetic, loyal to her family and
| friends. She had positive convictions
of right doing and pure motives in life.
| In 1862, in the same class with her SIS
/ ter Barbara, she graduated from the
/ Viroqua high school, but owing to an
awful shock to her nervous system, a
! drowning accident in which she nearly
| lost her life, Helen was unable to enter
4 the state university with Barbara, but
I followed a year later. She was to have
| graduated in June next. At TIE uni
/ Yersty she was member of thu lappa
Kappa Gamma Sorority. The sisterly
| love of the fraternity was exemplified
/ by the presence at the obsequies of six
/ Of her associates of the fraternity who
acted as honorary pail bearers. LEAD
/ Kindly Light, and Jesus Savior
| Pilot Me" were sung by quartet OF
| girl friends. Revs. H. G. Goodsell and
/ j. e. Searles read the scripture and
/ offered prayer. Rev. Chas. Il. Buffers,
pastor and Sunday school teacher of the
| deceased, followed with an address in
which he spoke of the beautiful quail
| ties of her character, unselfishness,
courage, unaffectedness, cheerfulness,
sympathy and piety. The casket was
covered and surrounded with dainty
! lace works Of flowers and ferns from
the hands Of loving friends, making a
bower Of beauty and fragrance. These
made her last resting place in Viroqua /
cemetery prophecy and promise OF
/ the resurrection. c. E. b.
friends Of the deceased and the fam
! lily who came from abroad TO attend the
/ last sad rites are: Governor and Mrs.
Davidson, State Treasurer and Mrs. A.
/ Fl. Dahl, Bank Commissioner and Mrs.
NJ c. Bergh, Mrs J. w. Groves, Miss
Myrtle Shanks, Miss Elnora Dahl,
Ralph H. Thurber, executive clerk ln
+ the governors Office; John I. Gethi1g
( passenger agent for the Northwestern
/ railway; the Misses Rhoda Reitow, Ed
ma Brown, Alice CLrrie, Jeanne Kir.
wan, Cosalette Elliott, representing
the university Sorority Of which Miss
4 Munson was a member, all Of Madison
+ G. G. Kalb, Hillsboro; NJ. G. Jefferson
/ Madison: Z. H. Brown, Cashton; Ches
ter Ward, Chaseburg; Hon. Atley Peter
. r~Fs ECld5ays (tVotu