Evening star., 1909-04-14
Curious Story Relating to the Fink
Home for Widows.
W0MAN's HEARTLESsNEsS
Evidence in New Orleans Of Be-
nevolence, Sacrifices and Good
Works Of Gentler Sex.
By WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

Haugherty, the baker -philanthropist, who
left fortune for the orphans Of New
Orleans; the next was the memorial to
the Chippewa Indian woman in Chicago;
the third was to Frances e. Willard, the
apostle OF temperance, in the Capitol OF
Washington: the next was erected In
honor OF a Confederate war heroine,
Emma Samson. at Gadsden, Ala. and
the most recent was raised in Capital
Park. Birmingham. in honor Of Mary A.
Catalan, school teacher. II any reader
OF these pages knows Of other monuments
or statues Of women in the United States,
would be glad to hear of them.
Emma Samson was tie daughter Of a
poor white farmer-a "hill-billy.' as such
people are cailed-livins a few miles from
part Of Alabama. When Gen. Forrest
came along that way In pursuit OF Gen.
Straight OF the Union army, in 1854 she
LED him through pass in the mountains
prise and capture Straight and his COM
mand. She afterward married and went
to Texas. where she died ten or twelve
years ago. The legislature of Alabama
voted her pension for life, and the legis-
while the people Of Gadsden and the sur
vivors OF Forests command erected a
monument In her honor.
The monument Is a. marble figure Of a
country girl, life size, in an animated at
titude, with her finger pointing into the
distance. and the inscription tells the
story In the single sentence:
Il will show you the way
Principal Of Public School.
For thirty years Mary A. Catalan was
principal of the Powell public school at
Birmingham. from the time when this
community was a mere village until 1t
became the greatest. richest and most
prosperous city of Alabama. and all Of
the business men who spent their boy
hood here were among her pupils. The
wives Of many prominent citizens Of
birmingham spent their girlhood under
the most popular and the most influential
woman In this section Of the state. She
gave her entire life to education, and did
more to shape the characters of the lead
ing men of this community than any
other agency. Hence, when she died last
year. public subscription was started for
q monument to her memory. Everybody
contributed; some more and some less;
many gave only a penny or a dime. and
the average was q dollar; SO that the
1t is marble figure. seated In an easy
pose, with q book In her hand and a
sweet, winning expression upon her face
which Is said to be lifelike.
It is also proposed to erect q memorial
library for the use Of the public school
children to bear her name and contribu-
tions are already being collected for that
purpose.
Reforms by Women.
referred the other day to the several
important reforms which have been
brought about in the state Of Alabama
recently through the influence Of women.
They have taken the lead in public af-
fairs. and have directed movements that
are revolutionizing educational and social
conditions. President Bailey Of Cornell
University, who is chairman OF the Presi-
dents commission on country life. and
member of that commission, both told me
that the most intelligent and compre
hensive statements presented at their pub
lie hearings were made by women
the leaders OF these movements. the
president and secretaries OF women's
clubs, who seem to understand the situa-
ton and measure the obstacles in the
path OF progress more accurately than
men.
few years since it was not considered
genteel or even proper in the south for
woman to take part In public affairs. and
until recently young women In Alabama
have not been permitted to seek employ
nent outside their own homes. It was
more honorable. or at least more becom-
Ing. for them to starve in poverty or ac-
cept the charity of friends than to sup-
port themselves. But gradually the an
eient social prejudices are dying away.
ana the only criticisms and objections to
woman wage earners now comes from the
relics OF the old plantation aristocracy,
who still adhere to the doctrine that II
ts unwomanly to accept wages. A prom
other day that he knows OF at least forty
young women of social rank and Of the
proudest ancestry In the south who are
now supporting themselves without for
which they had been born and educated,
and they are all the more respected and
admired. This, he said. would have been
impossible twenty or even ten years ago,
and he attributed the change in public
sentiment to the activity of women's clubs
and patriotic organizations, which have
broken down prejudices, trampled upon
traditions and have emancipated their
sex from the restrictions under which
they had always suffered. It is possible
to support herself pursuing the same voca-
tions as their sisters in the north without
losing caste.
Fink Home for Widows.
Down in New Orleans the other day
had pointed out to me the Fink Home for
Widows, to which a curious story is at
tached. Mr.. John Fink, wealthy but &C.
centric old bachelor. who founded this
worthy institution half century or mora
ago, was Tilted by beautiful cheole girl
She had no objection to his name or hab-
it's. or rank. or circumstances. but, after
accepting his hand. broke off the engage
ment merely because she did not care to
marry and preferred to remain an old
maid free to do as she pleased. and "to
work out her own Individual Destiny" as
she said. She told him that all the wives
she knew were slaves OF their husbands |
and that was something she would
never be.
The young woman never married. and
for twenty years or more John Fink FIRE.
quently renewed his offer for her hand.
Finally he accepted the situation. with
death left all his property to found and
endow this home for widows. with the
condition that mo old maid or unmarried
woman. no matter how aged or deserving
she be. or how necessitous her cireum- |
stances. shall ever enjoy the benefits Of
the bequest. directly or indirectly. or cross
the threshold Of the home" He closed
his singular testament with the words
with which his sweetheart had rejected
him:
LET every old maid work out her own
individual destiny"
Heartlessness Of Woman.
John McDonogh was another wealthy
man OF New Orleans who suffered the lat
ter years Of his life from the heartlessness
Of a woman, and dying unmarried. left
his fortune equally to the children OF that
brate May / as McDonogh day. with me-
raovtal eYercispS In his honor and send