Rev. L. B. Fisher, of Bridgeport, Conn., became interested in her work She united with his church in May, 1889. Her pastor presented her a library of books and assisted in procuring her a license to preach. On 25th September, 1890, she was ordained in Stony Brook. Mrs. Bennett entered the ministry with the determination never to accept a good position and stated salary, but to labor where the faith was new and for the free-will offering of the people, and, although tempted by large salaries, she has never wavered in that determination. Mrs. Bennett published verses at the age of eleven years, and she has through life given a portion of her time to literary work. In 1875 she was married to William Bennett, and they have three children. She divides her time between her home duties and her ministerial labor, doing full justice to both.
BENTON, Mrs. Louisa Dow, linguist, born in Portland. Maine, 23rd March, 1831. She is the daughter of Neal Dow and Cornelia Durant Maynard. She was educated in the best schools of her native city, the last and chief of which was the Free Street Seminary for young ladies, Master Hezekiah Packard, teacher. She had, besides these, teachers in French. On 12th December, 1860, she was married to Jacob Benton, of Lancaster, N. H. She passed four seasons in Washington, D. C., while Mr. Benton was member of Congress. She was physically as well as intellectually strong and active. In the fall of 1887 she contracted rheumatism, of which she thought little at first, but it soon assumed a serious form, when most energetic measures were adopted to throw it off, but all in vain. She went several times to mineral springs in Canada, and to Hot Springs in Arkansas, but
LOUISA DOW BENTON.
derived no benefit from any of them. At last she could not walk nor even stand, and was confined to her chair, w here she passed the time away with books, pen, drawing and painting. But her hands and arms were so greatly and increasingly affected by the disease that drawing and painting were soon given up, and she devoted herself to the acquisition of languages, a study which was always especially attractive to her. She learned to read freely Italian, Spanish, German, Greek and Russian, all with no teacher except for Greek. After that she took up the Votapuk and mastered it easily. She is so well known as a Volapuk scholar that correspondence has come to her from several prominent linguists in Europe, and several European Volapuk associations have elected her corresponding member. During her pains and aches from the disease, she has always been cheerful, never discouraged.
BERG, Miss Lillie, musician and musical educator, was born in New York City. Her father
LILLIE BERG.
was a German of noble birth, and her mother was a New England woman with a proud English ancestry. Miss Berg passed her childhood in Stuttgart, Germany, where she was thoroughly trained in piano, organ and harmony by professors Lebert, Paisst and Stark. She was graduated from the Royal School in Stuttgart, attending at the same time the Conservatory of Music. Professors Lebert
and Stark complimented her by sending to her pupils to prepare in piano and harmony for their classes, while under the direction of the organ teacher, Dr. Faisst, she was organist and choir director of one of the most prominent churches in that city. Her precociousness caused such musical authorities a«- Julius Benedict and Emma Albani to advise her to devote her attention to her voice, predicting for her a brilliant future. Mine. Albani directed her to her own master, Lamperti. Lamperti, soon perceiving the ability of his new pupil, gave her the position of accompanist, whic h she held for three years, enabling her to note the artistic and vocal training of many of the most famous artists on the operatic and concert stages. In America she holds the position of the foremost should be u umlaut - fixed a column brokenness.
