The National tribune., 1909-11-18

tional in their way. If the managers OF
these five-cent shows would purge their
places of amusement and put before
the public only the very best, the public
would respond just as readily as it does
now to the suggestive nastiness Of a
| good many of the films.
|
Mary Witherow Purman.
There died in Washington, on Sept.
30, 1909, a sweet, gentle woman, whose
passing away was mourned by everyone
who had ever known her. Mrs. Mary
Witherow Purman had more romances
in her life, perhaps, than falls to the
lot Of the average woman. She was
the eldest daughter in large family,
and her birthplace was Gettysburg, Pa,
where she first saw the light July %,
1910. She was the daughter of Samuel
and Jane mckinley Witherow, and the
large stone house which was then the
Witherow home has stood since Penn
sylvania was a Colony, and was then,
and still is, an interesting as well as
historic landmark. When only Is years
old Miss Witherow was obliged to leave
school and assume the responsibilities
Of housekeeping for the family She
kept up her reading and study, however,
putting her Paradise Lost under her
pillow in order that she might read a
little early in the morning. She was a
member of the Presbyterian Church
and of its choir, and was one of those
who helped to render the music at the
dedication of the National Cemetery
when President Lincoln made his fam
Gus Gettysburg address. The stirring
days of the civil war brought to the
people of Gettysburg many trials and
plenty of opportunity for great service.
The Witherow home was thrown wide
open to the wounded. and the daugh-
ters of the household not only nursed
those who Were sheltered there, but
visited the hospitals of both Union and
Confederate sides. While on one of
these excursions Miss Witherow, with
her sister Sarah, carried delicacies to
one Capt. w. c. Ward, of the 4th Ala,
c. s. A. In speaking Of this particular
incident Capt Ward says: II was awak-
ened by the passing of a shadow across
my face. and L opened my eyes to see a
very beautiful young woman. She came
several times to the hospital, and her
attentions to me while wounded and
lying on the battlefield, tho l was, ac-
cording to her own views, an enemy to
her country and her people, were of
the most unselfish character"
After the death of Mrs. Purman Mai
A. A. Nickerson, Of Washington, D. c.,
came to her late residence for the pur-
pose of pinning upon her breast small
It
ago. he said, Mrs. Purman, then Miss
Mary Witherow. saw me as l was being
carried past her window on stretcher
during the battle of Gettysburg, and
brought me wine sangaree and pinned
this little flag upon my breast I have
kept 1t until now, and have intended to
place it upon her breast at her DEATH
or all the several incidents of her
life at this time one was of deepest in
hepalGn tHv
portant consequences. Lieut., now Dr.,
Purman, who had been severely wound
ed in both legs, one of which had been
amputated, was brought to the With
crow home and there cared for until
he was sufficiently recovered to be re-
moved to his own home. A year later
he visited Gettysburg and renewed the
acquaintance. when the friendship be-
tween he and Miss Witherow ripened
into love, and on June 90, 1869, they
were married in the old Presbyterian
Church of Washington, d. C.
Mrs. Purman was a devoted Christian
and deeply interested in foreign mis-
sions. She had wide knowledge of
men and affairs, and from early girl
hood had been a member of the Pres
byterian Church. Three children were
born to DIR. and Mrs. Purman, and she
is survived by them and her husband.
An Explanation.
Several have asked the import of the
Following item which appeared in
washington news week or so ago:
The War Department has sent back
TO some 41O enlisted men of the Army
their respective cards, upon which were
recorded the names of the beneficiaries
to whom was to be paid, in the event of
the death OF the soldiers, sum equal
m hOf
that this many cards, out of about 1O0,-
600 on file in the office of the Paynas-
ter-Genera1, needed correction in ac-
cordance with recent opinion of the
ge-Advocate-GeneraI to the effect
that in naming benefciaries a person
and not an organization should be indi-
Gated. This is clearly set forth in the
law' ana 1t Is to avoid complications
and to save the benefits from nullifica-
ton that the cards have been returned
for correct designations"
Every enlisted man of the Army and
OF the Navy goes into the service know
ing full well the dangers that are before
him. He usually arranges his worldly
affairs so that If he is suddenly taken
on there will be no trouble at all in set
ting them. Those enlisting leave with
the War Department card, upon which
they give the name or names Of those
VINO are to receive their property and
become their beneficiaries in the event
OF their death, which is usually a sum
equal to six months pay. If death is in
CURED in line of service. The Judge
Advocate-General has decided that
these enlisted men must make some
person the beneficiary of their property,
and not an organization, as a company,
sanitarium, an orphan asylum or an