The Washington herald., 1920-06-06

MRS. CHARLES EMORY SMITH.
Plunged into grief by the tragic
death of her husband, the "prettiesi
and wittiest woman in society" and
the brightest woman in the Ma.
tion's Capital" no longer graces
Washington's social circles, but i.
leading the life she has chosen as q
nun.
She is Mrs. Charles Emory Smith
widow of one of Mckinley's post
masters general, who was a widely
known newspaper editor and once
Ambassador to Russia.
Forsaking society, Mrs. Smith has
dedicated her life to the easing oi
suffering and the bringing of joy to
New York's drab East Side.
Tribute From Chauncey Depew.
Once the beautiful society leader
whom Chauncey Depew called 'tht
brightest woman i ever sat with
at table" Mrs. Smith now reigns in
from teeming, ill-smelling tenement
homes.
Framed by the dark robes that are
the badge of her service to human
ity. Sister Joseph's level blue eyes
look out calmly and peacefully on &
world of strife which has left hel
face fresh and unlined, the face oi
a happy woman.
Sister Joseph. for that is her only
name now. lives quietly in the sim
N1x- fttr rtGh Of ha N m 4
of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine
at 173 Cherry street. New York.
There. with background oi
whitewashed walls and few piece,
of plain furniture scattered through
the room. she smiled with the charm
of a beautiful woman as her ever
voice rippled on clearly, telling the
tale of her life in her new world oi
helpfulness.
Rises mt Five O'Clock.
Rising at o'clock in the morn
ing. Sister Joseph is ready for the
first of the poor mothers" who trust
their tbabies to her gentle care
while they toll through the day.
When ] see those poor women.
she said. Il am almost ashamed t.
be leading a life as quiet and peace
full and restful as the religious life
When Mrs. Smith renounced th'
life she had been leading and be
came a novice at the Institute oi
Our Lady of Christian Doctrine. an
other sister. Mrs. James f. Sullivan
Nof Philadelphia. said to her:
MY sister was very much in love
with her husband and his death &
few months after their marriage
was a great shock to her.
I'VE had no doubt she would
make a brilliant match, however
Some of the greatest men in the
country were her friends and ad'
mired her greatly for her ready
wit and beauty. She was on init
mate terms with the families oi
President Mckinley and Presiden
Roosevelt. and no social function in
Washington was considered com
plete without her"
Aimed to Help Others.
With the death of her distin-
guished husband, however. Mrs
Smiths interest in social and diplo'
matte life seemed gone. She turned
to relieving the distress of the poor
and to helping others bear Their
burdens.
Seeking refuge in the arms of the
church, her own burden and sorrow
apparently were dimmed when she
consecrated her life to humanity
Joyous peace and rest in the midst
of her labors have been her LOT
since then, she says.
Instead of her palatial home. she
now lives in a neat but sparsely
I'll hNnil
street. New York. Gone are her
Jewels and gowns. which are re-
placed by the black and white oi
her order: her only ornament {
rosary and cross. Her beautiful
hair Is hidden. but the finely nodded
features. the perfect complexion and
the cleaning white teeth revealed
by her ready smile. are still those
which formerly were welcomed a.
the White House, in the homes oil
Washineton's social leaders, and al
the courts of Europe.
Day after day the women VINO
work bring her their babies. AS
aarlv as $50 in the morning they
bring them here" Sister Joseph SAID
1--WE take babies as little as l year
old, We have kindergarten loi
them and in the afternoon we have
classes for the school children. some
of them stay here all day, and the
place is really home to them.
Form Bread Lines.
"But il is not just the children
whom we reach. We nave many
dances, for we would rather have
the young people come here ant
dance while We chaperone them than
to go to the Bowery.
Then there are CLUBS, with
.gy mnasium. pool tables and music
for mothers, fathers, for boys and
for girls. We go to visit the women
while they are at work and see how
some of the bosses treat them. We
see all that, so we understand them
and their problems.
.tOf course, We visit the sick and
the needy, and" her voice faltered
sometimes we have to form bread
lines to feed the hungry.
; Sister Joseph's blue eyes shone as
she Ntold Of her work among the
poor. She spoke with the convic-
tion of one who had found some
thing priceless. There was no need