The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-09-22

afternoon at O'Clock from
Emanuel Episcopal Church,
Henrico county.
Mrs Isobel Lamont Stewart Bryan.
widow OF Joseph Bryan, died some
what suddenly at her home. 'sIabur-
mum, yesterday afternoon shortly al
ter II O'Clock, while undergoing an
operation for glaucOma, a disease of
the eye which threatened q complete
loss of sight.
She was under the influence of an
anaesthetic when the end came and
the operation had been nearly con-
Guided. When IL was discovered that
respiration had ceased oxygen was
quickly administered, but to no pur-
pose. Evidently the heart was AFFECT
ed by the chloroform-
Scores OF similar operations are
performed without serious results.
and therefore the death of Mrs. BRYAN
came with terrible unexpectedness
While her family, OF course, was anx-
lous, the members Of the household
hao no occasion for serious apprehen-
sion. nor did DR.. ]. A. White. the
physician, foresee the terrible conse-
quences of her weakness
IN the passing Of this noble Virginia
, woman, the city of Richmond. as well
as the entire Commonwealth. loses a
hsh activities have made her name
lustrous.
Indeed. IL seems difficult to conceive
now her place will ever be filled in
t .he OIo dominion. for Mrs. Bryan,
though consistently modest and unos-
tentatious, wrought INCREASINGLY in
every good cause TO which her atten-
ton was directed.
When one attempts to enumerate
ner virtues, one is halted at the ont
set by the recollection of her many
splendid qualities and by the Thought
OF the loyalty with which she es-
! poused every movement of interest TO
the South and to this CITY and state
Aside from all this, she was a very
| paragon as wife and mother. while
| ner manifold charities have drawn
thousands to her by ties which neither
time nor death can weaken.
The secret Of this lies not so much
IN the fact that Mrs. Bryan was a gen
erous. willing and almost indefatiga-
BILE worker, but because in her the
quality of sympathy was ever domi-
nant.
1t is probable that despite all she
accomplished in the way of public
works, she is best known and best be-
loved on account of her strictly pri-
Vate charities.
Those in trouble and distress al
ways found her gentle, kind. APP
proachable and eager to lend them
her moral support. Moreover, she
was cheerful, unpretentious and cor
! dial one meeting her for the first
tlme was most of all impressed with
| her simplicity OF manner. and i'm this
simplicity could be Immediately rec
| ognized those sterling forces which
made her power for good. Perhaps
II the emdium OF her praises were re-
stricted TO but one word, that adicc-
tive would be the sweet old word.
motherly."
Mrs. Bryan's health has been poor
Tor several years. and since the pass
ing of her courtly husband, a little
less than two years ago, she had one
| by one relinquished her public inter
ests and sought to f>vz more and more
within her home circle.
Thus IL was that Richmond saw Iass
OF her. but this retiremeut-if such
thing were po6Sible-drew her closer
than ever TO her family and intimates.
Her Home Life Beautiful.
Mrs. Bryans associations all con-
nected her intimately with this CITY
and the county in which the Virginia
capital is located. She was horn AnI
gust 20. 1S47, the second daughter of
John Stewart, OF Brook Hill" and
as girl is fondly recalled for her
sparkling wit, her charm OF manner.
ana her irresistible magnetism
She became the bride of Joseph
BrNan February l, 1871, and six chill
dren came TO bless this union which
was IN every way an ideal one.
OF these children one died i'm in
tancy. Five sturdy sons. all of whom
have entered mans estate and taken
prominent stations in life survive
They are John Stewart, Robert c.,
Jonathan, Joseph st. George and
Thomas Pinckney Bryan.
Crushed as was Mrs BRYAN nv the
death of her husband, her magnificent
benefacuonS did not end even after
he had been laid in rne grave. Her
maj act of public heneficence came
when she and her children gave the
city the beautiful suburban estate TO
be known as the Joseph Bryan Park
Summary of Her PtfIIIic Works.
sorrowing friend. TX. T.. M. ." who
mas written a beautiful eeltlu4sN of Mrs
BrNan. ,epitomizes her ss0od works in
these words:
The following are the snOst .proYli-.
nent OF her benefactionS: The 3Wo-'
man Christian Association was but
a small and insignificant enterprise,
when Mrs. Bryan consented to serve
as It's president. Her wise admins
tratlon speedily developed a new life
and when she and her sisters. the
Misses Stewart, of Brook Hill. united
ana purchased the house now occu-
pied by the association. the perma-
'neItce of the kRstitution was assured.
Whlle busy over the problems arising
IN TINS noble charity, Mrs. Bryan was
persuaded To accept the presidency
or the Hollywood Memorial AsSocia-
uon- Here, again. her wonderful
power of orgenSzation, Joined TO
DoundIeaS enthusiasm for the cause
resulted not only iB the reorganiza-
ton of the memorial association and |
the development of flesh interest in |
the care OF the sOldiegs' graves. but |
also led to the creation of a kindred |
organization--the Confederate Me-
mortal Literary Society. This was de-
slsned to secure museum for Con-
ledeTate relics IL the Executive Man
SION of the Confederacy.
At that time President Davis Off
,iat residence was used as public
school, and was in a most dilatTdated
condition 1t was Mrs. Bryan's genius
which conceived the sdea of convert
ing II TO this noble purpose, and if
was her marvellous capacity to initiate
ana power to attract others to herself
which resulted in the successful es-
adjustment OF a museum long sInc-
recognized as the most unique build
ng of the Confederate capital and
'ne OF the most valuable repositories
u history in this country.
1t was under Mrs. Bryan's direc-
Ion, and aided by Mrs. E. d. Hotch-
Kiss. who was elected it's president !
hat bazaar was held in the spring
II 1893, from which was realized tbe
um of $4,000, one-half of which was
,iVen 10 the completion of the SOL
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