president of that club she was unanimously re-elected. That office she still holds. On 25th July. 1891, she had the honor of presiding over the first woman in suffrage meeting ever held at the great Chautauqua Assembly, where, through the request of the county club.the subject was allow ed to be advocated. Aside from the presidency of these clubs, she has Served upon a number of important committees connected with suffrage work. Although deeply interested in all the reforms of the day tending to the uplifting of humanity, she has devoted most of her time to the enfranchisement of woman believing this to be the most important reform before the American people to-day, and one U|x>n which all other reforms rest.
EMMA WHITCOMB BABCOCK.
BABCOCK, Mrs. Emma Whitcomb, author, born in Adams, N. V., 24th April, 1S49. She is now a resident of Oil City, Pa., in which town her huslwind, C. A. Babcock, is superintendent of schools. As a writer, Mrs. Babcock has been before the public for years, and has contributed to journals and magazines, besides doing good work as a book-reviewer, but is probably best known through her series of unsized articles which during rive years appeared in the New York "Evening Post." She was a contributor to the first number of "Babyhood" and also of the "Cosmopolitan." She has published one volume, "Household Hints" (1890. and is about to issue another. "A Mother's Note Book." At present she is conducting a department in the "Homemaker." Mrs. Babcock has written a novel, which embodies many distinctive features of the oil country. Her husband's profession turned her attention to educational subjects, and she has published many articles in the technical journals on those subjects. She is interested in home mission work and is president of a literary club which is known throughout western Pennsylvania, and which has founded a public library.
HELEN LOUISE B. BABCOCK.
BABCOCK, Mrs. Helen Louise B., dramatic reader, born in Galva, III.. 13th August, 1867. Her maiden name was Bailey. She early displayed a marked talent for elocution and on reaching woman's estate she decided to make dramatic reading her profession. With that aim she became a pupil in the Cumnock School of Oratory of the
Northwestern University, and, being an earnest student, she was graduated with the highest honors. Afterwards she became an assistant instructor in the same oratorical school and was very successful in the delicate and difficult work of developing elocutionary and dramatic talents in others. Perfectly familiar with the work, she was able to guide students rapidly Over the rough places and start them on the high road to success. After severing her connection with the Cumnock school, she taught for a time in Mount Vernon Seminary, Washington, D. C. After the death of her mother, in 1890, she accompanied her father abroad and spent some time in visiting the principal countries of Europe. In 1891 she was married to Dr. F. C. Babcock, of Hastings. Neb., where she now lives.
BAER, Mrs. Libbie C. Riley, poet, born near Bethel. Clermont county. Ohio, 18th November, 1849. Her ancestors on the paternal side were the two families Riley and Swing. From the original family of the former descended the distinguished poet and humorist, James Whitcomb Riley, and from the latter the eminent philosopher and preacher. Prof. David Swing, of Chicago. On the maternal side Mrs. Baer is a descendant of the Blairs, an old and favorably known family of Southern Ohio. It is not surprising, therefore, that through early associations, combined with a natural taste and aptitude for literary work, her genius for poetry was shown during childhood. Her first poem, written when she was scarcely ten years of age, was a spontaneous and really remarkable production for one so young. In November, 1867, she was
