to place the profession on a higher plane. Since Mrs. Bethune entered this profession as its woman pioneer, there have been several others who have taken it up and gained distinction.
LOUISA DOW BENTON.
Mrs. Benton was born in Portland, Maine, March 23, 1831, and is the daughter of Neal Dow, and Cornelia Durant Maynard. On December 12, i860, she married Jacob Benton, of Lancaster, New Hampshire, who was later a member of Congress, and they spent four years of their life in Washington, D. C. She became a confirmed invalid from rheumatism, being unable to walk, and lost almost the entire use of her hands, but possessed such fortitiude and courage that even this did not prevent her from study, and she learned to read Italian, Spanish, German, Greek, and Russian without any instruction. Then she took up Volapuk, and is well-known as a Volapiik scholar. Has carried on correspondence with several linguists in Europe and associations for the spreading of this language.
FRANCES BENJAMIN JOHNSTON.
Miss Johnston has made a reputation for herself in photography and photographic illustrations, particularly of public places and men and women prominent in official and social life of Washington; has done work for the railroads in illustrating folders of scenery in the West and Northwest. Born at Grafton, West Virginia, January 15, 1864; daughter of Anderson D. and Frances Benjamin Johnston; studied in Paris at the Julien Academy; also charter member of the Washington, D. C. Art Students' League; exhibited at the Chicago World's Fair, Paris Exposition, Pan-American Exposition, St. Louis Exposition; received gold medal at the Paris Exposition in 1900; was
