Iowa University, Fayette, Iowa. She remained in that institution one year, having charge of the art department. Soon after she was married to Emery H. Blair, of Iowa, at one time professor of mathematics
ELLEN A. DAYTON BLAIR.
in Clinton Liberal Institute, N. Y. Both were strong in anti-slavery and prohibition sentiments. During the Woman's Crusade Mrs. Blair discovered her ability as a temperance speaker. Loving the cause and zealous in its behalf, she has ever since been one of its faithful workers. She is the mother of five sons, three of whom are living. Young men were her special care during the Crusade and in Sunday-school work. Moving to Wisconsin in 1881, she began her illustrative talks to children, on the invitation of Mrs. Mary B. Willard, and later was made superintendent of the juvenile department for Wisconsin. In 1885 she was elected to her present position as national organizer and "chalk talker" of the juvenile department of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. In fulfillment of her duties she has visited nearly every State and Territory, as well as Canada and has been a member of nearly every national convention. Since she removed to Creighton, Neb., she has continued her work in the same field. During the prohibitory amendment campaign in that State she was one of the leaders. As superintendent of the Demurest medal contests, which has occupied much of her time and that of several assistants, under her care Nebraska leads the world in that line of temperance work. Mrs. Blair's greatest influence as a temperance worker lies in her illustrative talks, by which she interests young and old. In her hand the piece of chalk becomes a power. She is a natural artist and, when not engaged in public duties, devotes herself to teaching oil painting, drawing and crayon work.
BLAKE, Mrs. Alice R. Jordan, lawyer, born in Norwalk, Ohio, 10th October, 1864. She bears the distinction of being the first and so far the only woman to be graduated with a degree from Yale College. She received her high-school education in Coldwater, Mich., where from childhood she was considered a prodigy in learning. After graduating from the high school, the youngest of her class, she entered the University of Michigan at the age of sixteen years, being at that time the youngest pupil who had ever entered the course. After graduating from the literary department at the end of four years, Miss Jordan decided to study law, and she entered the law department of the University, then under Judge Thomas M. Cooley. So diligently did she prosecute her studies that, at the end of the first year, before she had even entered the senior class, she passed a most rigid examination in open court and was admitted to practice in all the courts of Michigan. Being ambitious that the foundation of her future work should be thoroughly assured. Miss Jordan wished to continue her studies, and with that view she applied for admission to the Law Department of Columbia College, but admission was refused because she was a woman. Not daunted by refusal, she applied to Harvard, but with like result. The authorities there were, if anything, more hostile even than those of Columbia had been. Then she opened correspondence with the authorities of Yale, but with the same discouraging reply that the constitution forbade the granting of a degree to a woman. So it did, but by perseverance against every obstacle, the door was finally opened to her, and she entered the senior class. So strange was it to see a young lady passing to and fro in those halls, dedicated only to young men, and to be reciting in the classes, that a few of the more conservative professors anticipated dire results, but in less than a fortnight
ALICE R. JORDAN BLAKE.
the refining influence was felt in hall and class-room, much to the satisfaction of the faculty. At first a few of the young men felt that their prerogatives had been invaded and their standard lowered by
