Page:Women of distinction.djvu/413

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
WOMEN OF DISTINCTION.
333

In October of the same year, shortly after the death of her only brother, she went to Chatham, Va., to teach school. In May, 1884, she returned to her home in New York, and she and her sister opened a private school for little girls, which they managed very successfully for four years, Lucie taking charge principally of the musical part. Several white girls were among the pupils, one of whom married a noted professor of music.

It was during these four years that she wrote many articles for the Richmond Planet and other race journals. In 1886 she published a grammar designed for beginners, entitled "Grammar-Land." This work in itself would have placed her name high among the literary fraternity, being her original method as a teacher. It was at once comprehensive and simple, enabling the child to grasp the lesson to be learned, and placing before it such examples that the most stupid could not fail to receive some information.

On the evening of February 22, 1888, she was married to Dr. L. A. Scruggs, of Raleigh, N. C, who had won her heart while she was yet a school-girl. They were married at St. Mark's M. E. Church, New York, by Rev. H. L. Morehouse, D. D., assisted by the pastor. Rev. Dr. Monroe. Their union proved a happy one, and was blessed with two children.

Soon after her marriage she wrote a drama, "Farmer Fox," which was played in Blount Street Hall. Her attention being taken by housekeeping and other duties, she gave very little time to literary work. Mrs. Scruggs was always admired for her unfeigned, modesty. She