child, of a dreamy, studious and poetic nature. She was an apt scholar and, before she was thirteen years old, she was teaching a district school. The committee hesitated about appointing her, on account of her extreme youth and diminutive size.
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SUSAN HELEN WIXON.
"Indeed, I can teach," she said. "Give me a chance, and see!" They did so, and her words proved true. She followed teaching with success for several years, and desired to make that profession her life-work. Early in life, after the loss of four brothers at sea, all at one time, the family removed from their country home to Fall River, Mass., where Miss Wixon now lives with her sister. In 1873 she was elected a member of the school board of that city, serving three years. In 1890 she was again elected to that position, where
she is now serving. For several years she has had the editorial charge of the children's department of the New York "Truth Seeker." She is a contributor to several magazines and newspapers, and at one time was a regular reporter on the staff of the Moston "Sunday Record." She is an easy, graceful writer, both in prose and poetry. Her poem, "When Womanhood Awakes," is considered one of the most inspiring among the poems written in the behalf of women. She is the well-known author of several books, "Apples of Gold" (Boston, 1876); "Sunday Observance" (1883); "All In a Lifetime" (Boston, 1884); "The Story Hour" (New York, 1885); "Summer Days at Onset" (Boston, 1887), besides tracts and pamphlets. She is a lecturer of ability on moral reform and educational topics. She is interested in scientific matters and is president of the Humboldt Scientific Society and president of the Woman's Educational and Industrial Society, of Fall River. She is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, and takes an active interest in several other organizations. She was elected a member of the committee on woman's industrial advancement, World's Columbian Exposition, in the inventors' department. She is an ardent supporter of all reformatory measures, and it was her suggestion to Gov. Russell, and her able representation of the need of women as factory inspectors in Massachusetts, that caused the appointment of two women to that position in 1891. She is a member of the executive council of the Woman's National Liberal Union, whose first convention was held in Washington in February, 1890. She especially espouses the cause of women and children. In both politics and religion she holds radical views, boldly denouncing all shams and hypocrisies, wherever they appear. In 1892 she made a tour of Europe, studying principally the tariff question. Upon her return her opinions, published in Fall River, aroused much interest and discussion.
WOLFE, Miss Catherine Lorillard, philanthropist, born in New York City, 28th Much, 1828, and died there 4th April, 1887. She was the daughter of John David Wolfe, the New York merchant, and the granddaughter of David Wolfe, who served in the Revolutionary War under Washington. Her mother was Dorothea Ann Lorillard, a daughter of Peter Lorillard. Miss Wolfe inherited from her father and grandfather an invested fortune of $10,000,000, and from her father she inherited her philanthropic tendencies. She was carefully educated, and from early childhood she was interested in benevolent work. After coming into control of her fortune, she at first spent $100,000 a year in charity, and, as her income increased, she increased her expenditures to $250,000 a year. She supported the charities which her father had established, and carried out his design in giving a site for the Home for Incurables in Fordham, N. Y. She gave $100,000 to Union College, $30,000 to St. Luke's Hospital in New York City and $65,000 to St. Johnland, Long Island She aided in building the American Chapel in Rome, Italy, and gave a large sum of money to the American Chapel in Paris, France. She founded an Italian mission costing $50,000, a newsboy's lodging-house, and a diocesan house costing $170,000. She built schools and churches in many southern and western towns, added to the funds of the Alexandria Seminary, the American school in Athens, Greece, Griswold College, and gave large sums for indigent clergymen and deserving poor through the Protestant Episcopal Church, In 1884 she sent an expedition to Asia Minor, headed by Dr. William H. Ward, which resulted in important discoveries in archeology. To Grace Church, in New York City she gave a chantry, reredos and other buildings that cost $250,000, and she left that church an endowment of $350,000. Her home was filled with costly paintings, which she willed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, together with $200,000 for its preservation and enlargement. Her benefactions during her life amounted to millions.
WOOD, Mrs. Frances Fisher, educator, lecturer and scientist, was born in Massachusetts while her mother was on a visit to that State. Her home was in Ohio. During her collegiate course in Vassar she was distinguished in mathematical and astronomical studies. She was a pupil and friend of Maria Mitchell. Some of her telescopic discoveries were considered of sufficient importance for publication in scientific journals. Finding the demands of conventional dress detrimental to health and success, the young girl applied to the authorities for permission to wear in college her mountain dress, consisting of a short kilted skirt and a comfortable jacket. Dress-reform at that time had not been incorporated in fashionable ethics, but the departure in costume, though requiring considerable
