she would play on the piano, giving a left-hand accompaniment, while the remarkable memory for committing music began to develop also. Miss MacGregor has had the benefit of the best instruction in piano playing, harmony, and counterpoint, under Carl Baermann, of Boston, Dudley Buck, of New York, and other leading teachers. Her first compositions of instrumental music were marches, which have received the commendation of Gilmore, Sousa, Jean Missud, and other leading band-masters in this country, who have paid her the high compliment of adapting and ])laying them on important occasions. At the Maine Musical Festival given in Portland in October, 1899, her compositions were played, and received great favor. Of late she has been turning her attention with marked success to song-writing almost exclusively, and numbers among her productions some very taking songs: a lullaby, "We're sailing to Dreamland" (with violin obligato); "My Phyllis"; "The Old Love"; Serenade; "Now and Then"; and "O Lassie, be True to me," a Scottish song for contralto, which has been received most favorably. Of her instrumental music the "Dirigo March," "The Bowdoin," "The Gaiety" (two-step), and the "Colonial Dames Waltzes" are best known. Some of her most recent compositions are: "Little Gems for Little Folks" (a set of eight pieces for piano), and "The Fadette Two-step," dedicated to Caroline Nichols, leader of Fadette Woman's Orchestra.
As a prominent member of the Rossini Club, an organization of Portland ladies, she is identified with the musical interests, not only of Maine, but of all New England. She is a member of the Shubert Concert Company (as pianist and accompanist), and has been a member of the Boston Ideal Quartette (miscellaneous). Miss MacGregor has ixho given a number of musical lecture recitals on famous composers, besides one on " Contemporary Women Composers," and two others entitled respectively " Development of the Opera," and "Formation of the Ballad," all illustrated by music. Her services musically have always been freely given for charity, and few musicians have contributed more liberally of their talent and time than Miss MacGregor.
ADELAIDE A. HOSMER CALKINS, of Springfield, Mass., was born in West Boylston, Worcester County, where her paternal ancestors settled before the Revolution. She is the daughter of the late Ebenezer Mason Hosmer and Mary Cheney, his wife, and is of pure English stock. She is descended from the colonial family of James Hosmer, who came to America from Hawkhurst, England, in 1635, and settled in Concord, Mass.
Mrs. Calkins acquired her education in the schools of her native town, Wilbraham Academy, and Charlestown Female Seminary, the last named being a flourishing institution in its time, conducted by Miss Martha Whiting, who stood high among the educators of the State. In 1855 she (Adelaide A. Hosmer) married Dr. Marshall Calkins, and in 1860 they took up their residence in Springfield. Of this union there is one child, Dr. Cheney Hosmer Calkins, an oculist, residing in Springfield.
In 1865 the Home for Friendless Women and Children was organized. Mrs. Calkins became a manager in 1867, and for the ten succeeding years was active in its work, serving on the Children's Committee.
In 1877 she was appointed by Governor Rice one of an advisory board of three women to the State Board of Charities, and was its chairman, its duties being to inspect quarterly the Tewskbury almshouse and the State primary and reform schools, and report upon the same. The following year the advisory board was abolished, and its members appointed as trustees of the same institutions, where direct power rather than advisory could be exercised. Heretofore the trustees governing State institutions, except those for women only, were composed entirely of men.
Mrs. Calkins being appointed on the trustee board of the State primary and reform schools, the State primary at once engaged her most careful attention. This congregate institution, with its system of herding hundreds of children together with the fewest possible chances for the right development of mind and body, had appealed to Mrs. Calkins while a member of the advisory board as a subject for reform.
