Page:Woman of the Century.djvu/305

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FRANK.
FRANKLIN.

she has had numerous inducements to adopt a stage career, but in this, as in all else, she has original ideas which have prevented her from accepting many good offers. Deciding that journalism is a preparatory school for those wishing to engage in higher literary work, she became a regular and conscientious contributor to various periodicals on diverse subjects. In 1890 she accepted an offer of several journals to write up the great Northwest, and one of the features of the consequent trip was the organization of permanent congregations of her people. Her fame as a young woman of rare good sense and eloquence had preceded her, and her co-religionists conferred upon her the great honor of inviting her to address them on the eve of the Day of Atonement, the most sacred of all Hebrew festivals. She is probably the first woman in the history of the world who has ever preached to the Jews upon that day. The Jews, as a people, have ever been opposed to women occupying the pulpit, but in Miss Frank's case they ave made an exception, believing that her sincere earnestness, natural eloquence and intense zeal peculiarly fit her for preaching. She is extremely liberal in her religious views, but possesses an intense interest in her people and their welfare. She has recently accented the editorship of the "Pacific Coast Home Monthly," a journal of excellent standing. She has contributed to the New York "Messenger." "American Hebrew," Oakland "Times," "Jewish Times and Observer." "The Young California" and other periodicals in Tacoma, Seattle and Sin Francisco. One of her stories, "An Experience Extraordinary," has proved very popular. Miss Frank's home is in Oakland, Cal., and her time is given up to teaching, preaching, housekeeping and journalism.


GERTRUDE FRANKLIN. FRANKLIN, Miss Gertrude [Virginia H. Beatty], singer and musical educator, born in Baltimore, Md., of a wealthy and aristocratic family. She is a granddaughter of the late James Beatty, the millionaire, of Baltimore, and is also closely related to some of the oldest Maryland families. Miss Franklin early manifested musical gifts of an uncommon order, and while still young her education in music was begun. She soon gave promise of In-coming a pianist of the first rank, but her tastes ran rather in a vocal than an instrumental direction, and, at the age of thirteen, prompted by her natural impulses and by the possession of a voice of sweetness and purity, she devoted her attention to singing. After pursuing her studies for a time in this country, she was at length induced by Signor Agramonte, with whom she had been studying, to go to Europe to complete her musical education. She went to London and became a pupil of Shakespeare, and then to Paris for two years, where she became a pupil of Madame Lagrange. She also studied with Professor Barbot, of the Conservatoire. Before leaving Paris. Miss Franklin appeared in a concert in the Salle Erard and achieved a flattering success, which was emphasized by immediate offers of concert engagements, and an offer from the Italian opera management for a season of opera. Miss Franklin was in haste to reach London, when she made arrangements to study oratorio and English ballad music under Randegger, who was so pleased with her voice and method that he besought her to remain and make a career in England. Eager to return home after her prolonged absence, she declined that, and also an offer from Carl Rosa to join his English Opera Company. After her return to America she took an extended course of study under Madame Rudersdorff for oratorio and the more serious range of classical Concert music. Miss Franklin his appeared in New York, Boston and Brooklyn in symphony concerts, and in classical and other concerts tn most of the leading cities in America with success. She has also sung with marked favor in London and Paris, where her artistic worth is perhaps still more appreciated than it is in her own country. Miss Franklin is in constant receipt of offers for opera and concert tours in Europe and America, but she objects to the fatigue and excitement of travel and does not appear before the public as often as she otherwise would. Being financially independent, she prefers the quiet of home and occasional appearances in important concerts. Miss Franklin is fully as successful as a teacher, as she has been as a singer.


FRAY, Mrs. Ellen Sulley, reformer, born in the parish of Calverton, Nottinghamshire. England, 2nd December, 1832. She is descended from both Huguenot and Danish ancestors. Her mother was a near relative of Lord Denman, Chief Justice of England, and from both sides of the house she inherited intellectual qualities. Her father was Richard Sulley. who married Elizabeth Denman in 1827. and of their six children Fallen was the third daughter. When she was but a child, Mr. Sulley moved with his family to the United States, and after some years located in Rochester, N. Y. During those early years of her life, while they were traveling from place to place, opportunities for education were limited so far as books were concerned. Her father thought that it mattered little, as all that qirls needed was to write and read, with a little knowledge of arithmetic added. Fallen became a reader and a student of history. Her father was a well-known writer upon social and economical questions, and had distinguished himself at the time of the repeal of the Com Laws in England. As a young girl Ellen heard such subjects is discussed constantly and became deeply interested in all reforms of the day. In 1848 she first