The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-29
Brooklyn Women Who Died
in Venice Both PantheiSts
Religious and Artistic Mysticism Ruled the Lives Of Mrs.
McCay and Miss Royae, Says Lawyer They
Befriended as Youth.


beauties. and then wen die together
they said.
For three months before they left for
Europe I had not gone to zee them be-
cause I finally became embarrassed by
their Oft repeated endeavors to give me
presents from among their belongings.
When we're gone you shall have what
ever you want they said. often reaching
down an expensive book or costly piece OF
ware and placing II in my hands.
when I finally found them on the eve
OF departure they had carefully kept
their greatest treasure. the fragile, daisy
covered vase beloved OF their father, who
was himself a passionate lover OF oeauti-
full things. This vase they gave me as a
last remembrance. II broke a week ago in
sort OF mystic representation OF their
death.
They sailed away on the steamship
Ancona. Prof. Goodyear and I saw them
or at the pier. They smiled cheerfully as
they said good-by. saying. We all have
to 20 some time. you know: yet Il may
not be for quite a while who knowsT
For two years now they had been
roaming over the Italy they had longed
for SO many years 20 see. Apparently
they were not economical with their funds
but spent as their fancy dictated, sure of
an easy and quiet solution when the pen
MES were all gone.
Their humorous-tragio mood seems
never to have forsaken them, FOR Mrs. Nc
Cay wrote to Miss Emma Monk OF 10
Greene avenue Brooklyn. on September l
from Milan: II we meet one OF the mines
with which Germany Is sowing the seas,
well, we will be minus--nice for my last
words The letter also contains graceful
references TO the plains of Lomba rdy, Ital-
ian sunsets, Florence and tho Arno, that
falrest spot Sight OF Da Vincis Last
supper in the peaceful sunny cloister
was most beautiful and impressive
Pantheistic in Faith.
They intended to visit Egypt also, but
suppose their funds gave out and they
decided to settle at Venice. which was
al!uring TO them mainly because OF the
sea. Life liz sweet in Venice and mex
pensive The note said to have been round
In their room declared that they were
Protestants, but that was merely that
they might be buried as we're their ia
theirs, for they were pantheistic in faith
and conduct. Their bible was a collection
az poems about the sea. This they ALWAYS
took with them. The frontispiece poem
OF this volume, which expresses, I believe,
tho whole philosophy OF their life and
death. Is as follows:
As lonely sit I on this desolatsd beach.
Most miserable thoughts come surSins
through my mind
Like unto this roaring ocean.
| vacant gave into Its reach immessurabls
And see and feel before. above behind. IN.
| fathomsble mystery.
one minute marvel a. Nature, wise
| And wonder ~ IL could convert me IN ar
element so
| That were par, OF water. heaven. eartt
and skies.
| To know but what the oceans moaning me an
| To be a part OF Natures mysteriea
Miss Royael and her sister we're too
tender, too spiritual. for this earth. They
were not too proud to accept help. But
people with their philosophy. with such
| all end as theirs In view, what was the
need? Who could say them nayT'