The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-17
MISS MASON DIES
IN. GEORGETOWN,
AGED 50
WAS SISTER OF FIRST GOVERNOR
OF MICHIGAN - p A r A L TIC
STROKE HURRIED THE END OF
EvENTFUL CAREER.

WASHINGTON, FEB. lt-Mlss
Emily Virginia Mason, sister of the
first governor OF Michigan. died al her
home In Georgetown last night. she
suffered paralytic stroke several
months ago and had failed In health
rapidly since then. She was 80 years
old
Miss Mason. author. traveller ana
philanthropist. was one of the most
striking figures In the United states
Despite her advanced age she took
broad and Intelligent interest in pub.
lie events almost TO the end Of her
eyentful life With her erect figure.
abundant Snowy hair and large, bril-
liant dark eyes, she was OF striking
personality. She always maintained
that a single life for a woman was the
broadcast and happiesI as well as the
most independent.
Well.known Author.
Miss Mason was the author OF a
Life Of Gen. Lee. and the compiler oil
\ book OF Confederate War Poems,
while she contributed at intervals 10
me prominent magazines. She was an
interchangeable traveller, having crossed
The ocean 80 odd times. spent 20 sum
mers travelling over The continent. and
making her home in Paris where she
met the Empress Eugenie. for . win.
ters In Rome she was identified with
"A southern colony. OF which Miss
Emily Harper of Baltimore. and Gen
John c. B.eckinridge. OF Kentucky,
were members. and with the latter
vas granted a special audience with
Pope Plus TX. who dubbed her The
Ambassadors OF the Southern Con
federacy.
In Spain she knew we'll the Mar
quise de Calderon dame d'honneur TO
the lnfanta and stayed al the Hotel
de In Paix with the earl OF Roslyn.
who came with his grand suite bring
ing wedding gifts, magnificent dia-
mond bracelet. and scimter with gold
scabbard set with sappnires and tur-
uuoises. to Alphonse (father OF the
present king and Mercedes, from
Queen Victoria and the Prince OF
Wales. now King Edward of England.
She also Witnessed the gorgeous pa
geant at the marriage OF the royal
pair. having a full view OF them In
their glass coach drawn by eight white
Arabian horses, and later attended
the me church with the queen.
Catholic Church Gets Dress.
She was also introduced at the Aus
trian court where she moved In the
/ most exclusive court circles, de5crlb-
ing the manners of the imperial arch
duchesses, with whom she lunched and
dined. as resembling in their simpli-
city those OF we'll bred Virginia WON
en-. Her court dress of crimson velvet
was afterwards worn at Il ball In Rich
mond, and finally presented To Ro-
man Catholic church where Ii was
In Miss Mason's drawing room in
her Georgetown home were portraits
Of Ave generations Of her family. in
| Guiding that of George Mason, of Guns
ton Hall, author OF the Bill of Rights;
stephen Mason. first United States
senator from Virginia; her brother. the
4 boy governor of Michigan" and her
niece. Miss Kate Mason Rowland. the
well known writer. Her mother was
Miss Moir, of Williamsburg, whose
father was a first cousin OF David
h Moir, the poet friend of Burns.
Native of Kentucky.
But though of Virginia parentage
she was native of Lexington, KY,
\ where she was born October 10. 1915,
1 while her father was marshal OF the
state When she was few weeks
4 ola the family returned TO Virginia,
remaining there 10 years, when they
removed to Washington. Miss Mason
! has known every president from Mon
roe to the present day. She was also
much with her brother while he was
governor OF, Michigan. receiving at the
executive mansion. and taking a prom
| inent part in the official gayeties gen
! orally.
During the civil war she was active.
~ engaged In hospital work al the
south, being at the head OF the Geor-
sia division OF Camp Wynder hospital.
| with 500 men under her care To
Cheer Respondent patients she prom
ised TO take an interest in their chill.
dren should they be left fatherless, and
after Lees surrender, while living in
I Baltimore, 30 confederate orphans
claimed this pledge. These. with the
assistance OF her church and large
and influential acquaintance. she sue
4 ceeded In providing for. Ten were
taken in charge by wealthy southern.
ers In St LOUIS. two being educated
at the convent OF the Visitation of
that city. Some went to friends OF
Miss Mason in New London, Conn.
and the remainder found homes in