Misses G. and F. Leonard are still living at 154 Washington street, Cambridgeport, Mass., leading happy, busy, useful lives, and dispensing hospitality with rare tact and courtesy.
Miss Caroline White is living in her childhood home in Delta, N. Y. The sisters, who for so many years helped to make it the home to which she gladly turned in her vacations, have passed away. A companion shares her home with her, and her brother and family, in whom she is greatly interested, are living near.
Mrs. Nias and daughter are pleasantly situated at Wellesley, Mass. Joy, when East, spent some days at the college, and was delightfully entertained as their guest at Stone Hall, where Mrs. Nias is in charge.
Miss S. L. Hamblen became Mrs. Gast, last July, and went to Europe on her wedding tour. After traveling for some time in Germany, they went to Florence, where both studied voice culture with the celebrated teacher Vanucinni. During the spring they traveled in Italy and then went to London. It is their purpose to return to Florence for the coming winter. Mrs. Gast is delighted with Florence and her instruction. She has met a number of friends during her travels, and made many agreeable acquaintances. In an interesting letter lately received, she writes of her school days in Mt. Carroll as among the happiest of her early life.
Miss J. Hattie O'Neal has continued as principal of the Leaf River public school during the past year. Of her former Seminary friends she writes: "I am unable to give you any recent knowledge, but hope for them the best of life's sunshine, the least of its shadows, and to those of this number who may share in the Reunion I wish you would extend my best wishes; of myself I can only say, I am busy in my chosen field—the school—enjoying it more each year, and finding more to do and indulging in the hope that there may be well-ripened wheat in the sheaves I bring to the final garner."
Miss Ellen Eastman has been in charge of the grammar school in Crystal Lake, Ill., since her graduation in '89. In a recent letter she writes: "I have a very pleasant position here, and have been re-elected for the coming year. But if you think I mean by pleasant position one involving light responsibility and work, let me explain by saying I have forty boys and girls, between the ages of twelve and sixteen years, averaging about thirteen and a half years, or possibly fourteen, and I know young America reaches the typical stage then, if ever."
Mrs. Florence Bailey Farnsworth, in a pleasant letter to Mrs. Shimer, among other things says: " I have been thinking so much to-day about the busy times we used to have in April and May, and as the loved faces seemed to come up before me, I thought how much I would like to see the home of my childhood and the school that mingled its duties with almost all my girlhood. But were I there to-day how fully would I realize time's changes in the absence of those who used to seem almost a part of the institution. I think so fondly of the patient teachers whose influence I have felt through the years that have seemed to pass so quickly." Mrs. Farnsworth's address is 1229 Bales avenue, Kansas City, Mo.
Hannah L. Nichols, M. D. was another of the students who contributed to the pleasure of listeners at Re-union. Dr. Nichols was so devoted to her profession she could not remain to share the hospitality of the occasion extended to all old students by Mrs. Shimer in an invitation to tea. Earnest and strong, as in her school days, she gives promise of continued growth as a woman and physician.
Miss Bonnie Ridgeway, now of Lake View, Chicago, returned from Europe, a few weeks since, in answer to a message informing her of the serious illness of her sister. The sister is now better, and Miss Ridgeway is planning to teach drawing and German this coming year. She helped to make Reunion pleasant by her presence and warm greeting after her three years' absence abroad. Although so much enjoying the beauties of Europe, she is interested in her school home, which she pronounces "one of the prettiest places she has ever seen."
Mrs. Mary Van Vechten Pinkney, of Chicago, delighted her many school friends by being one of the daughters to come home in June. The friends found in her the ripened, cultured woman of which her early days gave promise. The same might be said of Miss Blanche Strong, who visited Alma Mater a little earlier. Miss Strong has spent some time abroad since in Mt. Carroll before, and there, as in her own country, has been using all means at command for well-rounded development, Miss Strong is now studying with Mr. Sherwood, who gives her great encouragement by openly recognizing her musical ability and artistic skill.
Miss Clara Ferguson, with her usual energy, is moving along the line of progress. In a recent letter, she ex-presses the determination that life shall bring "improvement rather than retrogression." She filled a number of engagements this spring in different places, and is again in charge of the music at the summer school in Fayette, Ia.
Miss Mary Hofer remains in Chicago as Mr. Tomlin's assistant.
Through Mr. J. Bonham, we learn of Nellie and Florence, his daughters. The former taught in the Chicago public school after leaving till her marriage; the latter lately graduated from the Baptist Missionary Training-school in Chicago, and is now engaged as teacher for the coming year in a colored school in Houston, Tex. Two other daughters of Mr. Bonham are successful teachers in the Indian University near Muscogee, I. T.
DR. SARAH HACKETT STEVENSON was a very welcome visitor at the Seminary when she responded to an invitation of the Oreads to give their annual lecture, Anniversary Week. She was in early years one of the Seminary students, and has since led a most active life. It was a matter of much surprise that she held in memory so many of her associates and the incidents of her girlhood days. Dr. Stevenson is now a fine-looking woman, with strong, vigorous mind and cordial manners. We copy from the Woman's Journal of some months past the following:
Dr. Sarah Hackett Stevenson.
The recognition and successes of women physicians are matters of special pride to the Woman's Journal, which holds close relations to the first woman medical graduate in America and it is pleasant to find in the Lady's Pictorial, an English magazine, the following tribute to Dr. Sarah Hackett Stevenson, who went abroad in May and is now on her way home:
"Dr. Sarah Hackett Stevenson, of Chicago, whose portrait we have the pleasure of producing, arrived in Manchester the 23d, on her way to the International Medical Congress in Berlin, in order to visit our local hospitals, especially St. Mary's. Dr. Stevenson is well known in Europe, having visited London and Paris on several previous occasions for the purpose of investigating the various methods employed in hospitals, etc. Few American ladies have done more in their own country, or in such an unobtrusive manner, to promote the interests of female medical students. She was the first woman ever placed on the staff of a public hospital and the first named to the American Medical Association. She now holds the Chair of Obstetrics in the Woman's Medical College, and is the attending physician at the Cook County Hospital and at the Women's and Children's as well as the Woman's Hospital. Dr. Stevenson possesses very unusual mental gifts, and, had she devoted herself to journalism, would have undoubtedly made a wide reputation in that direction. She is a leading spirit in the Fortnightly Club in Chicago, and there is sure to be a crowded house when her name is on the list as the speaker of the Evening. Her last paper, on 'Shakespeare's Characterization of Abnormal Conditions," created great interest and much discussion in literary circles. She represents the 'Queen Isabella Association,' which has been organized is connection with the Columbian Exhibition, which will be held in Chicago in 1893 to commemorate the discovery of America and the Queen of Spain's share in it."
