The Bismarck tribune., 1918-05-14
''THE LITTLE LADY IN GRAY
(By r. F. Paine)

''THE LITTLE LADY IN GRAY
(By r. F. Paine)
i Here, before me- she lies ''in state"-"the lit
tie lady in gray" thousands called her, as they
passed through Public square, in Cleveland, and
caught her thin, sweet voice rising in hymns
J Major Eta knight of the Volunteers of Amer
lea, as few of the great city's poor knew her
Major Knights lying g-in-state is an extraordi-
nary lying-in-state No fortune has been spent on
coffin and it's decorations No soldiers stand like
statues at the corners of this majors casket, in
headquarters of this "army." Headquarters is
bare cold room, Is by 80, half filled with hard
wooden benches and chairs, with small plat
form and simple desk, or altar. There are no
great floral pieces of "Gates Ajar," no ANGELS
| of white roses, no piles of costly wreaths.
In rain, hot sun and swirling snow, Major
Knight sang in the Square, in hope that her prom
Use of Gods love and mercy might touch the heart
of just one sinner, just one man, or woman, or
| girl who was balancing between the right and the
wrong, and many of the victories this major
won were never chronicled. BY night, the
major begged for the poor, comforted the down
fallen and needy.
And now here the major lies in state. | last
saw her Christmas eve, in this very headquarters.
There was tree, cheap, starved looking tree,
and about it were two dozen old-faced, half-clad
children, needy children from God only knows
where, but happy children, for one had got
bright apple, another alsorange another 5-cent
toy, this little girl red ribbon, that wee china
doll, and the major was all hustle and cheer and
wholesale motherliness. l q q. agl1 as.a5
look into that coffin and seea frail, emaciat-
led, plainly clad corpse "The little lady in gray"
does not make much Of corpse. The little chill
|dren can bear her coffin easily. But in her face
there shines greatness bigness that cannot be
understood
/ In early boyhood looked upon the face Of old
Abe Lincoln, whose body was lying in state in this
very Public square where "thesRttle lady in gray
sang her hymns. Il Old Abe Rksatnost homely but
in his face was q glory, dness something som
that was not to be hddSS they screwed down
the caskets lid; radiation, spirit, mark, soul
or something that penetrated mems very hearts
and lived in them all their lives. What is it? Is
it the indelible glory Of service?
e You see this thing now, in little Major Eta
Knights calm, sweet dead face. You want to
know who she was, and they tell you that for
81 years she sang praise of God and served the
poor Where did she spring from? Of what fam
lily was she part? What sort Of romance, or loss,
or inspiration drove her from the ordinary life Of
woman to public singing in the rain, sleet and
snow and fearless, cheerful sharing OF the miser-
les Of the very poor? 1t tmatters not. For q long
years she served, and only the good she did is to
live after her.
Hush Major knight is lying in state Here
comes poor Mrs. Carrigan, whose man was killed
by great ore bucket on the DOCKS last fall There
was that awful night, last winter, when baby
was coming and not doctor, or midwife, or friend
on hand, and in walked Major knight with hot
Cruel and blankets and words of courage and
strong, soft hands that comforted. And all that
Mrs. Carigan can offer at the majors lying-in-
state is a flood Of tears, and a trembling Of her
body as she looks and passes out
Comes next little girl, spectacled, and clad
in an old shawl, terribly thin skirt and dapitated
shoes, without stockings. One time, the child was
fast going blind. Major knight begged those fine
glasses Of the best known oculist in the town.
Then come rows Of other little ones and grown
ups, too. They've all lost something that money
cannot buy, by this lying-in-state Of 'the little
lady in gray" They behold that unnamed thing
in the dear dead face, shake their heads sadly,
weep little, and then go back into the world,
leaving the major alone in her glory.
No great government commissions majors like
those who serve as do these unknown little ladies
in gray" but I'll bet that ST. Peter saluted when
he threw wide the gates for Major Eta knight.
Anyhow, Asquith and his man Maurice make
enough Of party to play cribbage.
II A o1o,oIy hoe hooo uao
Ia cOnk? ySsS + IA