The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1944-03-23
Turning Over An
Old Leaf
BY PHILLIP A. Gladden.


scenes take on strangeness. SO it is
with the passing Of personalities. made
venerable by age and tradition. Like
landmarks they keep, so long as they
live. old scenes familiar. Like land
marks they recall the olden scenes and
point with a venerable finger towards
the old paths that grow faint and
neglected.
Minnie Phillips limbaugh was such
a landmark in our community. If it
were not for people of her tempera-
ment we could not understand the
Victorian culture from whence came
the new, whatever we may choose to
call it. Because of her ramiiied family
connections with personages distin-
guishcd by their fiXity in the 10Th cen
fury traditions, and by their wordess
opposition to the spirit Of modernism,
there was no placating of her spirit
with Innovations Out Of her musings
as she glided nonchalcntly about on
It quiet eddy she would suddenly shout
a torrent Of invectves at those in mid
stream. In later years, Aunt Minnie
decided to save her breath.
People today are prone to lose in
terest in their relatives, either the
living or the dead 1t is considered
passcc to display the family album.
We prefer instead to boast of our an
tiques, our collection Of old things, Of
this and that Our acquisition of new
refrigerator. But Aunt Minnie stuck
to the family album Between the two
kinds Of hobbies, hers was at least
human, even though her range of in
terest was limited to ancestry
Her culture had three dimensional
expression. Her oil painting occupied
her interest to the very end, even in
her last months when she was en-
fecLIed She contributed several arti-
cles dealing with local hist ". On
reading them, one observes tina. hey
took form out of very accurate mem
DRY rather than by means Of studious
research. Like the bards of old, she
kept tradition alive within the mind,
in order to pass it on orally AMI in
writing. 1t was in her oral expression
that She showed her greatest talent.
If only the younger generation could
again learn to sit at the feet Of the
elders. Who will forget the intona-
tons Of her voice-the English essay
style of her sentences, and her Weighty
conversations investing the present
with the dignity Of the past? She al
ways bad something to say, and when
silent, she could still communicate
herself through her wistful features.
Remembering her face, in the words
Of Amy lowell
you are beautiful and faded,
Like an oil opera tune
Played upon a harpsichord;
Or like the sm-hooded silks
Of an eighteenth century boudoir.
In your eyes
Shoulder the fallen roses Of outlived
minutes
The last story she told the writer
was but a few months ago. | took with
me a copy Of Kipling, as l wanted to
quote some lines pertinent to a con-
yarsation we had had previously about
the British I wanted to show her how
much Kipling had in common with
Carlyle After had finished my quota
lions She told how Mr.. Kipling and his
family were associated with the Hoyes
Of Maryland.
Marcia Bishop, great granddaughter
Of Waller Hoye was engaged to VOL
colt Ballestier. Wolcott was a brother
to Mrs. Rudyard Kipling, and one of
/ Mr.. Kipling's collaborators. The at
! tachmcnt developed when Wolcott was
visiting his sister and brother in-law
when they were living in Vermont. 1t
| happened that the Bishops lived with
| in the same ncighborhood as the Kip
lings, and both families were on the
/ most intimate terms. WolcOtt had
to return to London 1t was arranged
before leaving that Marcia would visit
him there. By the time Marcia arrived
Wolcott was forced to be absent in
/ Spain on some mission. While there he
contracted typhus fever and died.
Marcia returned home and in the Hoye
tradition remained single the remain
Ger of her life
Mr. Kipling was often spoken of as
the last of the Victorian poets. Be
cause Minnie Phillips Hinebaugh, also
one of the Hoyes Of Maryland, so
faithfully reflected this tradition
throughout her life, and because she
will be best remembered by her many
friends here for her beautiful paint
ings, "L'Envoi," by Rudyard Kipling,
would seem the most appropriate sum-
mary Of her spirit.
When earth's last picture is painted,
And the tubes are twisted and dried;
When the oldest color has faded,
And the youngest critic has died:
We shall rest and faith we shall need it
Lie down for an aeon or two,
Till the Master Of all good workmen
Shall call us to work anew.
And those that were good shall be
They Shall sit in golden chair;