The Washington herald., 1909-05-30
Author of the Battle Hymn"
Celebrates Birthday.
IN MANY LINES OF ACTIVITY
Noted Woman Has Been a Unitarian
Preacher, Lecturer, and Pioneer
in Causes OF Anti-sIavery, in
Prison ~seform, Woman Suffrage,
and International Peace.

a. --CA AoLles n b0SLOut TIE llleLeLl
anniversary OF her birth.
Il is not her length Of days. however.
that were recalled in many distant cor
ners OF the earth, but her lofty purposes
which have vitaliZed the world for three
generations past Men and women al>o
paused in their work on that day and
found cause for COngratuiatIOn n the fact
that Mrs Howe. active as has bsen her
work IN former days. retains sIiU a vital
interest and takes leading psrE IN many
OF the nobleV efforts running through
events to-day.
Those newspaper readers who have been
reminded Of the educational advances
which have been accomplished during
forty years by DR.. Charles W Eliot. who
has retired from active service may not
have recalled that Mrs Howe was a
famous woman several years before the
venerable president OF Harvard was elect
ed 10 his position
To those persons in the vicinity Of BOs-
ton It IS not necessary TO state that Ms.
Howe has physical strength and mental
keeaness TO take part il many public
meetings II IS under her name and under
her direction that the Massachusetts
legislature was petiucned ar the present
session, as in many previous years. 10
grant the voting franchise to women Il
was only last week that Mrs Howe took
long. carriage drive from her home. st
~ Beacon street, 10 Jamaica Plain, where
she addressed d Kindergarten class OF
blind children. and was one Of the most
enthusiastic spectators who observed al
entertainment given by The children.
Has Musical Voice.
She also retains that sweet. clear. mJl-
steal voice which has been heard on the
lecture platform throughout this country
and at large meetings IN London. She
also frequently attends receptions given
in her honor by numerous organizations
Of which she has been a founder or presi-
dent. among such are tae American
suffrage Association. the New England
W0nen-s Club. and the Massachusetts
Federation Of WOmens Clubs
Her public appearances are less ITe- /
eUenJ than il former years however. ]
and in order 10 conserve her strength 4
she receives fewer Of those innumera- I
bic callers Who would Ike 10 visit her !
study room.
In her household. where her daugh- /
ters. Mrs Laura z Richards and Mrs /
Florence Howe Hall, attend 70 her more I
arduOuS cares, Hrs. Howe occupies her- /
self throughout most Ot| the days n ner
large study. where sunlight falls through /
the windows al the quiet side OF the
house. Here at q fat table Mrs H0we's ]
favorite chair IS placed. and here she
busies herself with books and magazines I
her correspondence. and her writing for
periodicals.
-z-rrf
she writes the most is q continuation OF
her efforts for woman suffrage Sac has /
written recently. however, for a na&Sa- /
zine an essay on Immortality
OF that portion Of personality which IS 4
immortal Mrs Howe said three years 4
ago OF Columbus But when We speak I
OF an nlustrious friend who has passed 4
away we shall speak Of tl-st which can 4
not die-the memory Of his good deeds (
Of his services 10 humanity" She made 4
this address 70 an assen5lage Of Italians 1
al FanueH Ean and spoke in their Ian I
gUage-
Grateful for FavOrE.
When asked 10 give some message Mrs. I
Richards. speaking for Mrs. Howe, said: 4
Mrs. Howe is ever grateful for the
friendly assistance Of the press IN al
OF her Ia5ors. and is appreciative Of the /
many kind tributes which indicate che
feeling Of the press toward her. Because
TIE press has been so universally kind.
however, It would be Invidious. IN so much
as the requests from newspapers are so
numerous for her 10 speak o. 10 write
for any particular paper.
II such q thing be possible. the Observ-
ance OF Mrs. Howe's anniversary was
without formality As on many previous
birthdays her family was with her, the 4
daughters who are with her from tine
10 time and those who have come from
z distance. Her daughters, Mrs. Maude
Howe Elliott. and her husband. Mr.
John Elliott. an artist, came from
their home in Italy especially for the oc-
casion. From New York came her son.
Prof. Henry Marion Howe, metallurgist
Of Columbia University Four genera
tons were represented. as there are
grandchildren and q great-grandchild.
COngratulatory letters, kilograms. and
floral tributes from all portions Of the 4
world found their way to "a Beacon
street in remembrance Of the many &C
tivities which have endeared 10 persons
IN ell walks OF life Americas grand old
lady
These tributes came from innumerabie
personal acquaintance. from wonen's
organizations. frcm Russian revolution
lists. from Armsnians and Hungarians,
from authors. editors. artists. actors. and
public men and women representing
many other causes.
II was just three days after the birth
OF Queen Victoria OF England that Mrs. f,
Howe was born in New York City. She
was descended from the stock OF Roger
Williams and Of Gov Ward, OF Rhode
Island. Her father, Samuel Ward. a
wealthy merchant, provided for her Jhat !
basic education. that familiarity with .
Latin and Greek, and the practical
knowledge Of French, Italian, and Ger
man which have proved useful to Mrs.
Howe ever since It was her brother ]
also who encouraged the late 2. Marion !
Crawford TO take UP the cultivation Of
the faculties which made him a distin-
guished novelist
Began Writing st Sixteen. :
Julia Ward was only sixteen years old
when she began writing for the newspa-
pers. Eight years later she was married
10 Dr.. Samuel Grldley Howe. Of Boston, y
AID aided hiH-in his efforts IN behalf OF !
The Greeks against the Turks and in his
later philanthropies for the blind
During her earlier writings Mrs Howe ,
penned drama, The Worlds Own" :
which was produced at Wallacks Thea
ter. Il New York. BY Matilda Heron and
1TFar Go-ha~- sa-Tr-