Michigan, and in 1903 the Ode of her class at its anniversary meeting.
Notwithstanding; her professional duties and her student life, Miss Benneson has not been indifferent to any human interest. She has been a keen observer of all the activities of women, has been quick to deplore any tendency that would destroy womanliness in the highest sense and as ready to aid any movement that would give women a fuller and richer life and make them more efficient members of society.
"The coming woman," writes Miss Benneson, "will not hesitate to do whatever she feels will benefit humanity, and she will develop her own faculties to the utmost because by so doing she can best serve. She will have a home, of course. She will not marry, however, for the sake of a home, because she will be self-supporting. The home she will help to found will not be for the selfish gratification of two individuals, but a centre of light and harmony to all that come within the sphere of its radiance. Many so-called duties, that drain the nerve force of the modern woman, the coming woman will omit or delegate. One duty she will not delegate—the character moulding of her children. The woman of the future comes not to destroy, but to fulfil the law. She will not confine her influence to a limited circle. It will be felt in the nation's housekeeping. Wherever she is needed there will she be found."
Miss Benneson believes that reforms cannot be forced upon society, but must come through a natural evolution, and that one can do another no more serious injury than to deprive him of liberty of opinion and action. Hence she is never dogmatic or aggressive. Her rule of conduct, though perhaps not .so formulated, seems to be "to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, await occasions, hurry never." From her earliest years her life has been characterized by calmness and deliberation. She carries the burdens of others easily, and seems to have none of her own. "Verite sans peur" is Miss Benneson's motto, adopted when she was eighteen year's old and so faithfully adhered to that her friends, seeing it even on her office; walls, have come to associate it with her name. Following truth without fear and seeing the best that is in every one, she has become to others a constant stimulus to new and high achievement. They cannot bring into her atmosphere what is trifling or degrading. She opens to them a larger life, helping them by showing them how to help themselves. Her secret of happy living is to convert difficulties into blessings by making them contribute to self-mastery and spiritual development.
ELLA C. R. WHITON (Mrs. Royal Whiton) was born in lirookline, Mass., March 9, 1857, daughter of Alvin A. and Eleanor J. (Woodbury) Rice. Her father died in December, 1865, and her mother in March, 1902.
Ella C. Rice was educated in the public schools of Boston and Brookline, and early entered upon a business life. She was married March 9, 1887, to Royal Whiton, who was born July 2S, 1846, in Hingham, Mass., son of Royal and Rebecca A. (Lothrop) Whiton. Mr. WHiiton is a descendant in the eighth generation of James Whiton (or Whiting), who was in Hingham as early as 1647.
Mrs. Whiton for a number of years has taken an active part in club life and philanthropic work. She was associated for some time with the workers for the Charity Club Hospital and later for the Aged Couples' Home and in recent years with the Dorchester Woman's Club. She was a charter member of that club, and served it for five years as treasurer. She did very efficient work in securing the building of the beautiful club-house of the Dorchester Woman's Club House As.sociation, of which from its organization .she has been the {^resident. This house, now six years old, was the first woman's club-house of any importance in Massachusetts, and has always been managed by women. Its success has been largely due to Mrs. Whiton's untiring efforts. Through her skilful financial management it will begin its seventh year entirely free from debt.
Mrs. Whiton is interested in all well-considered movements for the public good, and is a resourceful, unselfish, and conscientious worker. The good of her cause is always her first thought,
