The Close of a Beautiful Life.

White Ribbon, Volume 3, Issue 34, 1 April 1898, Page 7

The Close of a Beautiful Life.

American papers by the last mail give some particulars of Miss Willard’s illness and death. From them we learn that uniil less than a week before her death there was no reason to suppose that she was seriously unwell. Miss Anna Gordon, Miss Willard's private secretary, and her constant and devoted companion for twenty-one years,

wrotetohead quarters,Chicago, on February 12. The letter was dated from New York, and stated that Miss Willard had been suffering from influenza for three weeks. Until three days before the letter was written, there had been no unusual symptoms, and it was supposed that she would lie even better than usual, because of the enforced quiet and rest. Then it was found that she was extremely weak, and show’ed no rallying power, and headquarters was communicated with. On Feb. 14 Mrs L. M. N. Stevens, National vice-president, left for New York to try and help Miss Gordon. From that time frequent telegrams bearing messages of alternating hope and fear were received, until 4 o’clock of the morning of Friday, Feb. 18, when Mrs Katherine Lente Stevenson, corresponding secretary, received the following telegram from Miss Gordon : “Our precious leade r has entered upon the activities that are not succeeded by weariness. • • God comfort us all ” In the early evening of the 17th, Miss Willard grasped Dr Hill’s hand, and asked him to tell her exactly w hat to expect. Dr. Hills told her the truth that she was failing so rapidly that he could not promise her that she would see another morning. To this Miss Willard replied that it was w’ell. Turning slightly on her bed, after she had heard the doctor’s answe r to her query, Miss Willard called Miss Gordon to her, and gave her some final instructions concerning the w’ork of tne W.C. T.U. At her bedside were her niece, Mrs. Katherine Willard Baldwin, Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens, Miss Gordon, and Dr. 1 fills. She was conscious up to midnight, and just before breath departed she opened her eyes and seemed to recognise those about her. She pressed Miss Gordon’s hand and smiled faintly. In another moment she had passed away. After her death, a cable message from Lidy Henry Somerset was received by

Miss Gordon saying that if there was any hope of seeing Miss Willard alive she would sail at once from England. During the day of the 18th Miss Willard’s body was removed from the hotel Empire, where she died, to the home of Mrs Baldwin, where it remained until Sunday afternoon, when funeral services were held at the Broadway Tabernacle. The service was conducted by Bishop Newman, and Drs Bayne and Tipple, all of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Miss Willard was a member. The casket was covered with a white silk banner, studded with golden >iars, and the insignia of the organization to which she had given her life. The sides were sashed with deep white ribbon caught in a large Low, with a clasp of gold, at the foot of the coffin The church w’as crowded, and the large number of floral tributes which had l>een receiwd were used in conjunction with palms for decorating the building. In compliance with Lady Henry Somerset's cabled request, Mrs Katherine Lente Stevenson procured a heart of pure white roses, and laid it upon Miss Willard’s heart; an eloquent tribute from the faithful friend across the water. At the conclusion of the service the remains were taken back to Mrs Baldwin’s home, and at 9 o’clock on Monday morning the sad journey to Chicago was begun. In response to a request from the citizens of Churchvil e, Miss Willard’s birthplace, a bait w’as made there for a few hours to g ve her friends there an opportunity for taking a last farewell. The cortege arrived in Chicago on Wednesday morning, the flags of that city flying at half-mast, in response to a request from the Mayor. Received by a guard of honour, the casket was taken to Willard Hall, which was exquisitely decorated with garlands of white flowers and fern. From morning till evening many thousands of men and w jmen passed reverntly through the hall o take a last look

at the form of one of earth’s noblest women. Arrayed in a dainty gown of white s ill- and lace, it lay as if in a dreamless sleep. From the little satin slippers to the pillow that cushioned the weary head, all was a vision of purest, softest white. A spray of lilies of the valley was loosely clasped in one hand, and Lady Henry Somerset’s token of lilies of the valley and Cape jasmine had been laid over her heart. In the evening the casket was taken by train to Evanston, and was received by the students of the North-Western University. By them it was taken to Rest Cottage, the home which Miss Willard loved so well. Here also floral tributes ha been received, among them being a wreath of violets and roses from the Catholic Little Sisters of VisitationOn Thursday morning the body was removed to the first Methodist Episco. pal Church of Evanston. Among the decorations here was a floral rainbow erected by the Superintendent of Flower Missions, beneath which was a broad white ribbon bearing in silver letters Miss Willard’s last words on earth : “ How beautiful to be with God.’’ The service was conducted by I)r Bristol, the pastor of the church, and Bishop Bowman. Add. cjses were given by the President of tne University on “ Miss Willard as an Educator,’’ by Mrs L. S. Rounds on “ Miss Willard as a Patriot,” by Mrs Clara C. Hoffman on “ M iss Willard as a Leader,” and by Mrs K. L. Stevenson on “ Miss Willard as a Friend. ' A number of ladies and gentlemen addresses, amongst the former being Miss Johansdotter of Iceland, who said that “ through her women all over the world are sisters.” Then the casket was taken out through the pure white snow, glistening in the calm bright sunshine, and iaid away in an outer coffin of oak and burnished copper in the Rosehill Cemetery.