Representative women of New England/Margaret J. Magennis
MARGARET J. MAGENNIS is one of the best known and most highly respected and beloved among the newspaper women in Boston. In her honor a room was dedicated by the Massachusetts Flower Mission of the W. C. T. U. at the New England Home for Deaf Mutes, Allston, on July 11 of the present year, 1904. This tribute is significant of one among the many worthy benevolent enterprises for which Mrs. Magennis has worked with pen and voice. Her literary aptitude was inherited, and she drifted into the work almost as her birthright. Her father was Archibald McMechan, of Norman and Scotch-Irish ancestry. He was widely known over the country for liberalism and defence of the tenant farmer. Her mother was Mary Nelson, of Norfolk (England) stock, of which Lord Nelson was a famed member. From her grandmother, Mollie Morehead, she inherited her Scottish blood. Mrs. Magennis was born in Greater Belfast, Ireland. She married young, and was left a widow at an early age.
Mrs. Magennis was one of the first representatives of her sex to engage in the profession of journalism in Boston. Her first contributions to the press appeared in the Watchman and Reflector in 1868. She was afterward en gaged on a suburban weekly, and in 1874 ac- cepted a position on the Boston Traveller, which she still holds.
In the line of special reporting she has done work such as women seldom enter. For ten or twelve years she chronicled the proceedings of one of the municipal courts, and, becoming interested in the criminal class, es])ecially the victims of intemperance, for several years she voluntarily assisted one of the judges in taking men and women on probation. Criminal reporting was at first repulsive to her sensitive nature, but her loyalty to duty called forth her unhesitating allegiance. Her reluctant task became to her an opportunity for service to the unfortunates of the Tombs. Among the important reportorial work early undertaken by her was that of the intiuest on the death of Katie Curran, whf) was murdered by Jesse Pome- roy. She described the big guns built in South Boston, attended yacht races, and has handled other strong matt(>r.
In addition to her newspaper work Mrs. Magennis has given time and energy to re- ligious enter]3rises. She has filled the position of Suffolk County Superintendent of IVison and Almshouse Work for the* Woman's Christian Temperance l^nion, and has made a jilace for temj)erance in all the penal institutions. For many years she has conducted gospel services at Rainsford and Deer Islands, which necessi- tatefl her leaving her home when living in Dor- chester at ?ix o'clock on Sunday morning in all sorts of weather. She has .systematically visited the Chai'lestown State I'risoTi, the House of Correction, and the various homes and mis- sions in the city.
Mrs. Magennis has been identified with nearly ev(>ry charitable institution in Boston diu'ing the past thirty-six years. She took the in- itiative in the first free kindergarten, and worked zealously for the school established in the pen- insula. She made the first appeal through the Traveller for industrial training at the Boston Farm School, which has been for several years in successful operation.' When the Massachu- setts Indian Association was formed, Mrs. Magennis was appointed on the press committee, and was unwearied in her efforts with her ]ien. She was a member of the National Prison Association until the Ma,ssachusetts branch was formed, to which she transferred her member- ship. As a Sunday-school teacher in the North End Mi.ssion from its inception, she became acquainted with Miss Caroline Burnap, the founder of the Home for the Aged and Friend- l<>ss Women, and the first fair to aid the work was held through the efforts of Mrs. Magennis. She was also instrumental in founding a Home for Aged Couples and subsequently the Working (iirls' Home, on Pembroke Street, known as the New lingland Helping Hand Society. The Woman's Charity Club and the New England W'oman's Press Association both claim her as a valued membei'. She is also identified with the State Flower Mission work, the New England Home for Deaf Mutes, and is on the auxiliary board of the Cullis Consumptive Home.
At the dedication of the room named in her honor at Allstoi,!, July 11, as above mentioned, there were many complimentary references to her good work by leaders of philantlirojiic movements in Boston. Mrs. Marion A. McBride, in a report of the dedication cere- monies which was printed in the Woman '.x Journal, July 16, said: " If every good work of hers were marked, there would be lines of triumphal arches along the years wherein she has worked in Boston. Strong touches of true sympathy have given support to hundreds whose lives have been lirighter for this woman's thought."
In the early part of her work she wrote a series of stories over- the signature " Drift," which attracted much attention, as did also her articles on the "Old Houses of Boston and Vicinity." She is the author of the popular little book entitled "The Foe of the Household; or. Scenes in Temj^erance Work." A short time ago she wrote sketches (illustrated) of the old masters and teachers of Boston.
Her leisure hours have been given without money and without jirice to aid others, and she has always been ready to share with the needy from her limited income. She is frequently seen about Boston streets on her errands of mercy, carrying parcels of clothing for some poor woman or child in need.
Mrs. Magennis is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, and is on the Press Committee for the week of the National Encampment to be held in Boston in August, 1904.
Her pen has often paid tribute to lives far less worthy of mention than her own modest, unselfish one. At Easter of the present year a beautiful tribute was paid to Mrs. Magennis by Miss Alice Stone Blackwell, whose mother, Lucy Stone, was a warm friend of hers:—
" I know of one who seems a nun
Retired, not seeking praise;
Yet she has wings, and heaven's light clings
Around her quiet ways.
Her pen she wields in many fields
To help good thin^ along,
And, undismayed, will always aid
The right against the wrong.
"Sh^ fills her days in silent ways.
With helping many needs.
No robe of light she wears in sight:
She's clad in kindly deeds."