Her father has been entirely deprived of the use of both eyes for more than thirty years, and possibly has gazed but little, if at all, upon his child of whom we now write. He has been in the employment of Trinity Chapel twenty-six years notwithstanding his physical defect. When she was about fifteen years old her mother, whose tender care a child most needs, was suddenly taken from her bv death. Virginia was for some time a pupil under Prof Charles L. Reason, and was in the graduating class when her mother died. Having to assume the duties of housekeeper for her father (who was blind), she was compelled to leave school before finishing, and was his only domestic dependence up to the time of her marriage, February 21, 1889. During this period she continued a fondness for music, having taken her first lessons at the age of nine years under Madam Magnan, who taught her with much success. Her second teacher was Miss Blanche D. Washington, whose instruction she received for seven or eight years, making most wonderful progress. There can be no question but that she owes much of her success to Miss Washington.
In 1881 she gave a concert of amateur performers which was a success in every way and greatly commented upon by the public, the proceeds of which were used in continuing her musical education.
After this lengthy course of private instruction she entered the New York Conservatory of Music, where two years were devoted to the organ with much success; also received instruction upon the piano, and in the mean-
