Mrs. N. F. Mossell says:
Miss Smith writes compactly, is acute, clean and crisp in her acquirements, and has good descriptive powers. Of strong convictions, she is not slow in proving their soundness by a logical course of reasoning. Her style is transparent, lucid, and in many respects few of her race can surpass her.
But, alas! "Death loves a shining mark—a signal blow."
In the fall of 1888 overwork began to tell on her features, then a dreaded cough set in. Her friends became alarmed from the first and begged her to give up work and take rest. She only smiled at such requests and said, "It will be all right." Everything was done for her, yet deeper and deeper fastened the disease upon her. Physicians were consulted and assured anxious friends that all would be useless unless she gave up work. Yet she worked right along without a complaint, without a frown, without a murmur, but with a smile she would greet all. Summer came, she went off for vacation, but too late then to do much good. September, 1889, when school opened, she was found at her post of duty, feeble and emaciated, but with the same iron will and bright mind. She knew what the result would be and requested Dr. Simmons to preach her funeral; selected hymns and passages of scripture for the occasion, though to others she never hinted death, but talked of her future work for her sex, etc. Her mother came to be with her and if possible have her go home, Lexington, Ky., but she stoutly refused. October 15, 1889, she consented to go home, and was accompanied by the
