xt70rx937t9n_492 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt70rx937t9n/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt70rx937t9n/data/46m4.dao.xml unknown 13.63 Cubic Feet 34 boxes, 2 folders, 3 items In safe - drawer 3 archival material 46m4 English University of Kentucky The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Laura Clay papers Temperance. Women -- Political activity -- Kentucky. Women's rights -- Kentucky. Women's rights -- United States -- History. Women -- Suffrage -- Kentucky. Women -- Suffrage -- United States. Woman's Progress text Woman's Progress 2020 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt70rx937t9n/data/46m4/Box_17/Folder_36/Multipage21397.pdf 1895 January 1895 1895 January section false xt70rx937t9n_492 xt70rx937t9n  

 

 

  

 

 

 

SUSAN HAYHURST, M. D.

 

  

WOMAN’S PROGRESS.

No. 2.

 

 

Vol. IV. JANUARY, 1895.

REPRESENTA’E‘EVE WOMEN.

SUSAN HAYHURST, M. D.

We have become so accustomed to women outside of what was
lately considered her own legitimate sphere, that it may seem almost
unworthy of comment when one finds her path leading into new
fields, into lines of study and work heretofore entirely occupied by
man. But the entrance of Dr. Susan Hayhurst, of the ‘Woman’s
Hospital of Philadelphia, into the College of Pharmacy in this city,
the first woman to take up that branch and pursue the entire course
of study, and the practical results that have attended that knowledge,
make it very worthy of notice even in this age of the marked
success of women.

When asked of her birthplace she might laughingly tell you
she had none! “for Attleboro is not andl was not born at Lang-
horne. ” (Attleboro is now called Langhorne.)

That she comes from a long line of Quaker ancestry we have
ample proof. The family record goes back several generations—
amongst the English Friends. Before this particular branch came,
in 1682 with Mr. Penn, in “the good ship Welcome” to America,
Cuthbert Hayhurst took up lands on the banks of the Neshaminy,
Bucks county, twenty miles from Philadelphia. He was a minister
in his religious society—twice imprisoned in England for his
opinions, and is especially mentioned as a valued member, in a
“ minute” from Settle monthly meeting, Yorkshire, England, at the
time of his departure, with others, for this country.

On the mother’s side the American record dates from 1662,
where, in West Chester county, N. Y., her direct ancestor, John
Quimby, is mentioned in the colonial record as one of the leaders in
his community.

In 1662, Governor Stuyvesant'granted the inhabitants the right
of choosing their own magistrates. Of the six appointed, this John
Quimby was one. '

There are other records that show his judgment was sought
and respected. When, in the course of years a descendant wished
to come and settle in the province of Pennsylvania, Governor Lewis
Morris, of New Jersey, who was a resident of West Chester county,

1

 

  

52 WOMAN’S PROGRESS.

a neighbor of the Quimbys, offered him a letter of introduction to
Colonel Thomas, then Governor of Pennsylvania, from which is
quoted :

“ The bearer hereof has long been a neighbor of mine in the
Province of New York. . . . . . He has a very good mechanical
head and has been successful in several enterprises. . . . . . He
is now on a scheme of an extraordinary nature, but which will be most
useful if it succeeds ; being intended to destroy ships of war coming
to attack a seaport. . . . . . He has communicated his ideas
to me, as I suppose he will to you and Mr. Penn, if you desire
it. . . . . . He has a large share of natural ability and being
a Quaker, is willing to believe it will not be unacceptable as it is
Intended only to destroy vessels, not take away the lives of men.
Should any occasion arise to assist him I hope you will.

“ I am, etc., etc.,
“Tmzzz‘mz, Few/nary 2 3, 1740.” “L. M.”

Although this family resided in Norfolk, England, and were of
the same society, there is genealogical record stating they were of
French—Norman extraction. Of such ancestry was Dr. Hayhurst.
One of a large family—six brothers and three sisters, they were
reared in almost Puritanical strictness. Early in her memory the
family moved to Wilmington, Del. Here the little girl, always a
delicate child, was most fortunate in her surroundings, as they seem
to have fitted so well to her peculiar taste and temperament. She
does not remember when she could not read, but distinctly recalls
the delight with which she followed the fortunes of “ Jack Halyard,”
the first book she read all by herself, from the pure delight of it.
Then she could not have been more than five years old. “ Captain
Riley,” a narrative of shipwreck and enslavement by the Arabs, was
an early friend, and from these the vista opened wide amongst the
opportunities which came to her. Next door to the Wilmington
home lived a cultured and kindly Quaker gentleman who owned a
varied and valuable library. ‘

The houses seemed to have been built for joint occupancy, since
there were communicating doors, particularly in the attic. As a
very young child she was given the entire freedom of the library,
which in her way she appreciated, but the attic had charms
particularly its own. There were discarded books, and pamphlets,
and basketfuls of Benjamin Lundy’s Genius of Universal Emancipa—
tion, the first American newspaper to plead the cause of the slave.
She does not remember whether these were the current numbers or
old ones stored away, but only knows they were delightfuereading.
There was a trap-door to the roof at a point where the houses
joined, making a most lovely angle. Here she established her
reading place, secure alike from the girls that might want to go to
play or any household duties that might have suited her years.
Here many a summer morning was spent, and many a summer
afternoon, shaded by the kindly angle. Here from these papers she
studied the great question which was destined to test this government

 

 SUSAN HAYHURST, M. D. 53

to its foundations, and then and there in a slave State, with all
other influences around her conservative on the subject, she decided
slavery for the “black man, in America,” was all wrong and must
be given up at whatever cost, and so became an Abolitionist—took
no sugar in her coffee, nor ate cake or candy.

One family only, amongst those she visited in that city, in a
slave-holding State, were anti-slavery. There she met the late
james A. Wright, then as always a friend to the slave. He was
much impressed that one so young, with such surrounding influ—
ences, .should express such views, and sent her a copy of Whittier’s
poems, a first edition. But Benjamin Lundy and his “ turning of the
world upside-down ” was not all she read of or learned in her nook
on the housetop. Fiction, biography, travel—much of the best
literature of the day, was at her disposal. Here she doubtless laid
the foundation of that habit “ consulting books of reference,” just
at the right moment, which has been a marked feature of her plan
of study.

Her school girl days were passed at an institution in Wilming—
ton, under the influence of “ Friends.” As a student she was
particularly apt at mathematics and could recite wréatz'm any
amount of text. Would have been considered an apt pupil, but
when she came to teach found the want of that technical training
which she afterward adopted by taking the best instructor available
in whatever study she wished to pursue. The family moved to a
village in Chester county. Here she commenced teaching; here
the writer of these notes first saw her, one summer morning, as
she lifted her head from a bed of pansies, throwing back a mass of
golden curls as she made some remark about the “ human-ness ” of
“ their little faces.” She has always been devoted to the cultivation
of flowers, making more of a success of it than most amateurs.

In various country schools she spent some years as a teacher,
an important and interesting portion of her life, as much of her time
was spent with a class of people interested in the stirring events of
that day, and many of them not lacking in intellectual culture. At
one time she was a frequent companion of a skilled botanist, and
together they became acquainted with the wild flowers of field and
forest and meadow.

When her parents moved to Philadelphia, amongst her new
acquaintances she found in one of the professors of the Woman’s
Medical College, a very superior teacher of chemistry. To avail
herself of Dr. johnson’s instruction, she entered the college for
that and physiology—thinking to better qualify herself for teaching
these branches. After some months’ study, becoming deeply
interested, she decided to take the entire medical course. To do this
it was necessary to teach in the summer whilst attending lectures
in the winter. Again she went to the country where she found
liberal minded people and a devoted botanist. There she and her
medical books were curiosities.

The last year of her course at college she was induced to
take charge of the Friends’ School at Fourth and Green streets,

 

  

54 WOMAN’ S PROGRESS.

Philadelphia; was principal of that school when she graduated in
medicine in 1857.

That graduation day would contrast greatly with one from the
same college at this time. The medical woman to-day knows little
of the social ostracism that attended the pioneers in this profession.
Now unnoticed in the crowd, or respected and even honored when-
ever they come to the front, in past days, even on the street, they
were subject to indignities from their fellow students of other medi-
cal colleges. The commencement (numbering ten candidates) was
a quiet affair, with a few friends who were brave enough to stand
by those, who, better than they then knew, were “ paving the way
for liberal education.” On this occasion, Professor C. D. Cleveland,
the writer on English Literature, then president of the college,
came forward and stated that he had sought in vain in this city for
a Reverend who would take part in the services, and then himself
——-a laymen—asked the Divine blessing on these young women who
were about to enter an almost untried field.

Dr. Hayhurst still continued ten years at Fourth and Green
streets, then opened a school of her own with a class of fifty, many
of whom had been her former pupils.

We next find her going West for a much—needed rest and
change, and to visit friends. Then she was asked to organize a new
public school in the town she was visiting, on the Philadelphia plan.
Having finished this work and made the visit, she, at the end of a
year, returned to Philadelphia, and with the intention of taking
up the practice of medicine, entered the Woman’s Hospital to
familiarize herself with the advance ideas in medicine since her
graduation.

She was solicited by the management of the hospital to take
charge of its Pharmaceutical department, a position of great
responsibility.

With her life-long habit of knowing—what may be known—-
of the subject in hand—having turned away from that which she
had intended as a life work, she again took up the student life in
connection with daily service as pharmacist at the hospital. It was
not her habit to leave anything undone in the way of investigation
that could add to her efficiency. 50 she sought and obtained per-
mission to matriculate at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.

No difficulty surrounded her attendance of these lectures. The
boys probably were not glad to receive this one woman who
entered a class heretofore occupied entirely by men, and who might
mar their college freedom, but they made no offensive demonstra—
tion, and in Professor Remington she had a most faithful and
efficient friend.

When she took her tickets it was a question whether the col—
lege would grant her its diploma, but on the completion of its four
years’ course, she was graduated in 1883.

Professor Remington, in his valedictory address, said: “ It is
the best and largest class we have ever graduated, and we do what
has never been done in the history of these sixty—two commencements,

 

 SUSAN HAYHURST, M. D. 55

confer the degree on a woman.” Then arose such a storm of
applause as would have satisfied the most ambitious debutante.
The large hall was filled in every part, and the graduates, I50 in
number, seemed to vie with the audience in expressing their
gratification.

The contrast in twenty-six years between these two commence-
ments in which Dr. Hayhurst participated marks the advance
of public sentiment. At the first when it was an innovation for
women to enter the medical world, there were “ but ten graduates,
a small audience, and no enthusiasm.”

In the many years in 'which Dr. Hayhurst has quietly pursued her
profession, the amount of work done, and the assistance to others, is
little imagined by those who know of the hospital only as one of
the charitable institutions of a great city. To those who desire to
study Pharmacy, her drug—rooms offer perhaps the best place, and
the number of places are very limited indeed, in Philadelphia, where
a woman can get the four years’ practical training required both by
the State law and the charter of the college for its diploma.

Many young women have passed under her tuition, receiving
that instruction and assistance in various ways which only a skilled
teacher and a woman of delicate intuition could give one anxious
to make the best possible use of all opportunities.

One bright, and up to date “Pharmacy” in Philadelphia, is
owned and managed entirely by a woman who had her training
with Dr. Hayhurst, and proves that women can take their place
successfullly in this work.

A wide acquaintance with medical students makes her influ-
ence far reaching. From India, China and Japan come messages,
gifts of rare and beautiful things, thanks for advice given, for sup-
plies of all kinds selected.

Many a missionary owes the successful equipment for her
work to this kindly care either before she goes, or in answer to
requests after she arrives in the foreign country. The purchase and
manufacture of supplies for her own department in the hospital
pass under Dr. Hayhurst’s supervision, “and a care” at times is
extended to matters not connected with drugs. To see her with
screw-driver and hammer in hand one might wonder if she possessed
any of the characteristics of that ancestor who had “ a very good
mechanical head, ”according to his neighbor and friend, the one
time Governor of New Jersey. All this makes a busy life, yet it
does not prevent an every summer’s devotion to a flower garden
which furnishes many a bouquet for friend or invalid, nor the tak-
ing up of a new study, or the critical pursuit of an old one. All
her life she has been a painstaking student, and an inspiration for
faithful work. Always ready to assist others, and that help is—
knowledge—exact—in accord with the best authorities. Nor has
this shut her out from social life, which she enjoys even with the
children of those who have been her school girls. She is a mem—
ber of various societies for the advancement of knowledge—ewould
grant freedom to others as she has asked it for herself—to study in

 

...—. ._ ._—-<-~u.—‘-~.._iw—r.—rr . .

 

 

  

56 WOMAN’S PROGRESS.

whatever lines opened to her, thus an advocate for the education
and cultivation of all classes.

Her own particular delight is in collecting books along the
various lines of reading, and the great number of reference books
in her possession is the key to the reason that when the writer, on
different occasions, appealed to the doctor for information on vari-
ous subjects, she has never failed to get for answer, “ How to do it.”

S. P. CHAMBERS.

A BURMESE‘FAIR.

Impelled by curiosity, but somewhat doubtful whether European
and Oriental ideas of amusement were the same, three of us started
out on our ponies in the early morning to see a fair which was
being held on the occasion of a native festival some twelve miles
away. We rode some distance to our point of embarkation, where
our boat, previously ordered, was awaiting us.
These boats are about thirty feet in length, and are capable of
holding nearly the same number of passengers, who pack themselves
away as only Eastern natives can. The breeze is behind us, our sail,
consisting of blue and white bed ticking, with a broad red band at
the top, is hoisted, and our boat skims along at a merry pace, its
lighter cargo and loftier sail enabling it to pass the majority of other
crafts which are all hastening in the same direction. Some ofthe boats
are especially got up for the occasion, the decorations, consisting
of a boy or girl-doll, a card-board monstrosity, half fish, half fowl, a
stork with a movable pith head which sways in the breeze or a
bunch of flowers stuck up on the counter. The favorite decoration,
however, consists of an inverted soda water bottle, tastefully
wreathed with flowers round the neck.
On the top of the bank by the side of the canal runs the road,
along which dashing young sparks on their diminutive ponies; old
women carrying the large red box which contains the day’s food for
the family, children in their gala kit which consists generally of two
bangles, two ankletts and a necklace; dainty little minkles in their
best silk; old men vying with them in the gaudiness of their attire;
rich and poor, young and old, all sorts and conditions of men,
women and children, press forward, in a ceaseless, living, stream,
beguiling their long journey by greeting or chaffing their fellow \l
travellers, and criticising the occupants of the boats as they pass by. ,
Arrived at last at our destination, our boat is punted to the ‘9
bank alongside another, which is carpeted with gorgeous rugs, on
which, clad in the richest silks, her fingers half hidden with massive
rings, with embroidered velvet slippers, diamond necklace and
golden hairpins, her face covered with powder and a strong
suspicion of rouge upon her cheeks, a Burmese lady of high degree
reclines: in attendance are five handmaidens who are setting out
the looking—glass, scents, powder-box, and all the other wonderful

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 A BURMESE FAIR. 57

necessaries of the female toilet, for the wind has ruffled my lady’s
hair, the bustle of the journey has disarranged her attire, and her
boat remains moored to the bank until recombed and repowdered,
having washed her hands in scent and arranged a chaplet of
artificial flowers made of pith and gold leaf in her raven locks, she
is ready at last to meet the gaze of the vulgar crowd.

Having left our tiffin—basket in a hut by the shore, which is
readily lent us for the purpose, we proceed with the crowd in the
direction of the fair. A Madrasi sounding a small cracked gong
first claims our attention: he informs us that he has in a tent close
by “a cock with three legs, the most wonderful, never seeing like
before,” but we are deaf to his blandishments and pass on.

Hundreds of bamboo stalls have been built in long streets, and
the open space round the “ pya ” has, for the time being, been
converted into a huge bazaar. A picture-stall has a group of open-
mouthed boys gathered round it, the pictures, for the most part,
represent either events in the life of Theebaw, or else the punish-
ments of the wicked in the next world, with a plentiful sprinkling
of blue devils and long pitchforks. One of these works of art
represents the coming of the “foreign dogs,” as the English are
politely called; seated on gorgeous cushions are an orange—com-
plexioned Theebaw and Sapialat, his head wife, with his burnt
Sienna attendants on his left; whilst on the right a white Sladen,
escorted by two light-yellow “Tommies” and a very dark—brown
Sepoy, all with huge noses and large mustaches, is apparently
explaining his uncomfortable situation to the king.

On turning the next corner, one could almost imagine one’s self
at one ofthe old-fashioned English country fairs; merry—go-rounds are
in full swing; the owners of peep shows are doing a thriving trade,
introducing each picture as it meets the gaze of the curious, with
the monotonous parrot-like sing—song of description that constant
reiteration invariably produces; the swings only stop to pick up
fresh passengers; and the incessant chatter of the holiday-makers,
broken every now and then by the shrill cries of the hawkers or the
dull boom of some distant gong, keep up that unintelligible drone
which the babel of a large concourse of any nationality always
forms.

Further on is the large shed in which the boxing is going to
take place. A crowd has already squatted patiently on their
haunches in the interior, and the lofty crazy benches on the outside

\3 are rapidly filling up; one side of the building is reserved for the

fi' Myook, his friends, and the more important patrons of the enter-

"’ tainment; thither we push our way and are received with great
courtesy, and provided with seats which give us a good view of the
whole proceedings.

After a short interval the band strikes up an overture, eminently
Oriental, and eminently discordant, the drum, gong and castanet
element predominating; and their monotony is only occasionally
broken by the feeble squawk of a native clarionette as it manages to
make itself heard above the din. After some time three slim

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58 \‘VOMAN’S PROGRESS. ‘

youths in pink silk head-dress and loin~cloth walk into the ring
and hold a long, and to the on—looker, tedious whispered conversa—
tion; then four light wicker—work balls are produced; the drums
and gongs vie with each other in the volume of sound, and the per—
formers proceed to gird up their loins; their tricks consist of
juggling and balancing feats, and display a simplicity and wonderful
accuracy which one seldom sees surpassed. There is also a
“clown” who makes most skilful blunders, and is very like his
fellow-fool all over the world.

The jugglers retire, and the stewards of the boxing enter the
ring. The first two combatants are long haired, large featured and
long limbed hobble-de-hoys, with much energy and little skill,
being in the fourth class. After circling round each other with
short and rapid steps, the left hand open and extended to the front,
the right clenched and drawn back ready for a blow, they rush on
each other, deliver one wild blow and close for a fall. This is
repeated during four rounds. Luck seems evenly divided, and
though some hard knocks are received by both, their leathery hides
refused to break and no blood is drawn. One of the stewards
whispers to the Myook, and the combatants are informed that one
round more will be allowed; this also being without result, the
contest is left undecided, and the unsuccessful pair retire to explain
how it all happened to their partisans in the crowd, having first of
'all received a prize ofone small pink silk goung-boung or head-
cloth, as a reward for their energetic but unskilful diSplay.

Then follow some more combats of more merit, after which the
conquerors squat in the middle of the ring and receive from one of
the stewards a reward of five rupees in cash and a yellow silk
“goung-boung.” Va w’cz’z‘s is apparently an unrecognized axiom
here, for to our surprise the losers receive exactly the same prizes.

The atmosphere of the closely packed shed, warmed by the
midday sun and laden with the smoke of hundreds of long cheroots,
now begins to feel somewhat oppressive, and we are beginning to
feel stiff from sitting cramped up tailor fashion so long. With
many bows and thanks to our hosts we take our leave and proceed
to the but where our tiffin was left.

Having satisfied our inner man and woman, we wandered off
to see the “pya,” which was the primary cause of all this gaiety.
In front of the large gilt Guatama within the “ pya,” kneeling
pilgrims pray and present their offerings of candles, hundreds of ,.
which are already smoking, sputtering and flickering in front of the hi
impassible idol, making a long stay in the interior a veritable it
penance, which should atone for many backslidings. i

A little further on in a large, open building the images of
the ten evil spirits are gathered in state; in attendance are some ten
or twelve young girls, who receive the numerous offerings of
flowers which are brought by the devout and superstitious, and
arrange them around the gilt pedestals of the local genii.

As we arrive we find the crowd within divided in two by a long
lane from the entrance up to the altar, up which, with feeble steps,

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 i‘

A BURMESE FAIR. 59

'totters a procession of the oldest women in the place, to ask per-
mission to dance for the amusement of the powers that be; three
times this is refused by a fat gentleman, who apparently has the
private ear of the departed souls, but on the fourth occasion per-
mission is graciously granted, and, overcome by their exertions, the
3ng band immediately squat down in front of the altar, and having
regaled themselves on a liquid that looks like water, proceed to
dance by proxy.

The band strikes up an “ andante inferno,” the youths collect in
front of the altar, and averitable devil dance begins. Pointing in
the direction of the images with either hand alternately, shouting,
leaping, bounding, and pirouetting, they work themselves into a
kind of hysterical frenzy, and madly dance till at length flesh gives
out before the willing spirit, and one tired devotee sinks exhausted
on the floor clutching at his gasping companions in his fall till the
whole company lie prostrate, a confused mass of sprawling, panting
humanity on the hard boards, in which position we leave them.

Having had rather a long day of it, we wend our way back to
our rendezvous, passing through long streets, some given up to silk
wares, others more varied, in which card board marionettes, dates,
edibles, flowers and pictures are all set out to tempt the eye of the
passer-by. Little knots of excited speculators mark the positions
of the gambling tables, where on a rough kind of roulette board,
you may back your favorite color in the hopes of winning a bottle
of sweets, a shell box, or some gaudy monstrosity.

The “ gnapee ” stalls give early warning of their proximity,
and make us hurry along with quickened pace whenever we meet
the vendor of this overpowering dainty. The few natives of India
one meets are all on business intent, the majority of them wander-
ing about with their trays of sweets and doing a brisk trade.
Though here and there one meets a boisterous youth, who has par-
taken somewhat too freely of the forbidden spirits, one cannot help
being struck by the orderly behavior of the vast crowd. The few
policemen present seem to find their billet a sinecure, and despair-
ing of more legitimate work are watching the fortunes of the gam-
blers at the tables.

The sun is setting fast, and the cool night breeze has sprung
up, as we, thoroughly tired out, lie at our ease in a boat during the
return voyage. As we glide along—more laboriously this time, for
the wind is against us, and we have to be punted—we pass many
boats full of expectant sightseers, who are hastening to the fair for
the dancing which takes place later on, for entertainments succeed
each other day and night through, and whatever hour you choose
to arrive during the five days’ gayety, you can be certain of amuse—
ment of some form or other. Some indeed take up their residence
there for the whole period during which this gigantic fair lasts, and
assiduously attending every entertainment, make of their pleasure
a veritable business.

CORA URQUHART POTTER.

“wag“..-s...“ ,.._--,..l.

.c—- .

 

  

60 WOMAN’S PROGRESS.

A SHORT LIFE,

Last fall our quiet and uneventful college life was interrupted
by the death, by drowning, of one of the brightest and most
promising students of the university.

The truth was forced upon us that Mary Yeargin, whom every
one had learned to respect and admire, and those who knew her
best, to love, would be seen no more among us. Our first thought
was, how can her parents do without her; our second, how can
Cornell do without her; and our third, how can the world do with—
out her. For truly, death could have taken no other from us who
had planned a nobler life-work or who was more full of promise for
the future.

Mary Little Yeargin was born in Laurens county, S. C., April
12, 1867. Her father had lost his property in the war and was
obliged to struggle for a livelihood against many disadvantages.
He had lost his right arm while bravely fighting for the side which he
considered right, and no pension aided him in the support of his
family. In her earlier years Mary showed a passionate love for
books. The district school, however, afforded the only opportunity
for education which her father could give her. Here she showed
such ability that when fifteen years old the trustees of that district
urged upon her the position of teacher, which she accepted for a
short time.

Mary had decided almost as soon as she knew anything about
colleges, that she must attend one, although she realized that if she
did, it would be entirely through her own efforts. When she was
quite a child her father had opened a cotton mill. She watched
him run the engine with great interest, and one day, much to his
surprise, she took his place and ran it as well as he did himself.
This knowledge was now of service to her.

Finding that she was not going to earn enough money to pay
her expenses by teaching the district school, she asked her father to
give her the place of engineer in his mill. He did so, and she per-
formed the work in that position, as in every other, thoroughly and
satisfactorily.

By this means she earned enough to enter the junior class of
Columbia. College in 1884. In one year she did the regular work
of the Junior and Senior years and graduated as valedictorian of
her class.

A position as teacher in the same institution was then offered
her, which she accepted and filled with great success for two years.
With a part of the salary she received she gave a younger sister an
opportunity of attending the college. It was during her second
year as teacher that Frances E. Willard visited Columbia on her
Southern organizing tour in 1887. With her characteristic earnest-
ness, Mary not only took up the work of the Y. W. C. T. U., and

 

 

 fr..:§..~-‘

A SHORT LIFE. 6!

became president of a band, but also became deeply interested in
the Woman Suffrage movement. A wave of opposition arose at
the college against the latter cause, as it was not thought best for
the instructors of young girls to hold such radical views on the
position of women, and Mary Yeargin, together with two or three
other teachers, were asked to repress their views on the subject or
resign their positions. Although Mary never tried to force her
opinions on another in any way, yet she could not suppress them,
for she was so thoroughly in earnest in everything, that if she was
once convinced that a principle was right, it became a part of her
life and she acted in accordance with it. Rather, therefore, than
sacrifice her idea ofjustice she resigned her position and taught for
a year in Laurens county, near her home.

The next year she aided Professor and Mrs. Haynes, who had
resigned with her from Columbia College, to open an academy at
Leesville. Here she taught for three years with the highest success
and at the same time educated another sister.

In the spring of 1891 Mary was appointed by Governor
Tillman, of South Carolina, as one of a committee of three to
consider the advisability of founding a State Industrial School for
Women, and to visit the cities of the North to learn the latest and
best methods used in our industrial schools. So thoroughly and
efficiently did she do her work that the governor expressed himself
as satisfied that intellectually she was the first woman of the State,
and was proud to call her the “ ward of the administration.”

In the summer of 1892 she was offered a position in an insur-
ance company in Washington. Aweek before she was to begin her
work there, as she was stopping to visit some friends on her way to
Washington, she received word that a lady she had met some time
before wished to see her. She went to her immediately. This
lady, who from seeing her once had recognized her ability, wished
to pay her expenses at some northern university. Still thirsting
for more knowledge, Mary gladly accepted the kind offer, but only