Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 1.djvu/136

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Beale
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Beale

purpose, which came of her native horror of oppression and injustice, militated against her mastery of the whole art of fiction.

In 1906 a memorial window by Kempe was placed in St. Peter's Church, Eastbourne (built 1896), where Miss Bayly had worshipped and to which she had presented the seats. She had given in 1887 a peal of three bells to St. Saviour's Church, named Donovan, Erica, and Hugo, after leading characters in her three chief books. Other works by Miss Bayly are: 1. 'Their Happiest Christmas,' 1886. 2. 'Knight Errant,' 1887 (a story of the life of a public singer, suggested by her acquaintance with Miss Mary Davies, formed while travelling in Norway). 3. 'Derrick Vaughan, Novelist,' 1889, dedicated to Miss Mary Davies, an embodiment of Miss Bayly's literary experiences, first published periodically in 'Murray's Magazine.' 4. 'A Hardy Norseman,' 1889. 5. 'Max Hereford's Dream,' 1891 (new edit. 1900). 6. 'To Right the Wrong,' 1892, an historical seventeenth-century novel, first published in 'Good Words.' 7. 'How the Children raised the Wind,' 1895. 8. 'Wayfaring Men,' 1897, a story of the stage. 9. 'Hope the Hermit,' 1898, a Cumberland tale of the days of William and Mary, which had run through the 'Christian World,' of which 9000 copies were sold on the day of separate publication. 10. 'In Spite of All,' 1901, an historical tale of the seventeenth century, originally written as a drama and produced without success at Eastbourne by the Ben Greet company, 4 Jan. 1900, then at Cambridge, and finally at the Comedy Theatre, London, 5 Feb. 1900. She also wrote a preface to 'The Story of an African Chief by Mr, Wyndham Knight - Bruce, 1893, and on Mrs. Gaskell in 'Women Novelists of Queen Victoria's Reign,' 1897.

[J. M. Escreet, Life of Edna Lyall, 1904; The Times, 10 Feb. 1903; Athenaeum, 14 Feb. 1903; G. A. Payne, Edna Lyall, 1903; H. C. Black, Notable Women Authors of the Day, 1893, with portrait; private information.]

E. L.


BEALE, DOROTHEA (1831–1906), principal of Cheltenham Ladies' College, born on 21 March 1831 at 41 Bishopsgate Street Within, London, was fourth child and third daughter of the eleven children of Miles Beale, a surgeon, of a Gloucestershire family, who took an active interest in educational and social questions. His wife, Dorothea Margaret Complin, of Huguenot extraction, was first cousin to Caroline Frances Cornwallis [q. v.], to early intercourse with whom Dorothea owed much. Educated till the age of thirteen partly at home and partly at a school at Stratford, Essex, Dorothea then attended lectures at Gresham College and at the Crosby Hall Literary Institution, and developed an aptitude for mathematics. In 1847 she went with two older sisters to Mrs. Bray's fashionable school for English girls in Paris, where she remained till the revolution of 1848 brought the school to an end. In 1848 Dorothea and her sisters were among the earliest students at the newly opened Queen's College, Harley Street. Their companions included Miss Buss and Adelaide Procter [q. v.]. In 1849 Miss Beale was appointed mathematical tutor at Queen's College, and in 1854 she became head teacher in the school attached to the college, under Miss Parry. During her holidays she visited schools in Switzerland and Germany. At the end of 1856 she left Queen's College owing to dissatisfaction with its administration, and in January 1857 became head teacher of the Clergy Daughters' School, Casterton, Westmorland (founded in 1823 by Carus Wilson at Cowan Bridge, the Lowood of Charlotte Bronte's 'Jane Eyre'; cf. Dorothea Beale, Girls' Schools Past and Present, in Nineteenth Century, xxiii.). At Casterton Miss Beale's insistence on the need of reforms led to her resignation in December following; many changes in the management of the school were made next year. In 1906 Miss Beale established a scholarship from Casterton School to Cheltenham.

While seeking fresh work Miss Beale taught mathematics and Latin at Miss Elwall's school at Barnes, and compiled her 'Students' Text-Book of English and General History from b.c. 100 to the Present Time,' for the use of teachers (published Aug. 1858; 5th edit. 1862).

On 16 June 1858 Miss Beale was chosen out of fifty candidates principal of the Ladies' College, Cheltenham, the earliest proprietary girls' school in England, which had been opened on 13 Feb. 1854 with eighty-two pupils on a capital of 2000l. With Cheltenham the rest of Miss Beale's career was identified. When she entered on her duties there were sixty-nine pupils and only 400l. of the original capital remained. For the next two years the college had a hard struggle. In 1860 the financial arrangements were reorganised, and by 1863 the numbers had risen to 126. Thenceforward the success of the college was assured. In 1873 it was first installed in buildings of its own, which were enlarged three years later, when there were 310 names on the