Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/853

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
810
Part Taken by Women in American History

about through her intense interest and indignation over the wrongs of the Indians inflicted upon them by the white race. She advocated education and christianization of the race rather than their extermination. Leaving home, she spent three months in New York in the Astor Library gathering facts and material for her "Century of Dishonor." When published she sent a copy to each member of Congress at her own expense to awaken interest in her favorite theme, and this resulted in her being appointed special commissioner with Abbott Kinney, her friend, to examine and report on the condition of the Indians in California. She went into the work with enthusiasm and energy and the report was most exhaustive and convincing. In the winter of 1883, she began to write her famous novel, "Ramona," and we quote her own language when she says of it "I put my heart and soul into it." The book enjoyed wonderful popularity not only in this country but in England. In June, 1884, a fall caused a long, severe and painful illness. She was taken to Los Angeles, for the winter, but a slow malarial fever followed and she was removed to San Francisco and on the evening of August 12, 1885, she died. Her two works "Ramona," and "The Century of Dishonor" will ever preserve her name among the famous literary women of America. "The Century of Dishonor," has placed her name among the up-builders of our nation. She was buried near the summit of Cheyenne Mountain, four miles from Colorado Springs, a spot of her own choosing, and which is to-day one of the shrines of America.

THE CARY SISTERS.

The Cary sisters stand out as the most prominent poetical writers of the state of Ohio. Alice Cary was born April 26, 1820, on the farm of her father, situated within the present limits of Mount Healthy, Ohio. In 1832, the family moved to a larger residence near their former home, and it was christened "Clover Nook." Alice Cary had only the advantages of ordinary school education, but began early in life to contribute literary compositions, and at the age of eighteen, her first poetical adventure, "The Child of Sorrow," to the Sentinel and Star, a universalist paper of Cincinnati. Gradually her reputation spread and she contributed to many papers, among them, the National Mirror of Washington, D. C, the editor of which, Dr. Bailey, was the first to consider her writings worthy of pecuniary reward. In 1848, her name appeared first among the female poets of America, and in 1850, a small collection of poems by Alice and Phoebe Cary made their first appearance. Horace Greeley and John G. Whittier were among the warm friends and literary admirers of the Cary sisters. In 1860, Alice moved to New York City, and on February 12, 1870, she died.

PHOEBE CARY.

Was born September 4, 1824, in the old homestead at Clover Nook, Hamilton County, Ohio. Her writings were noted for their sincerity and sweetness. Her gifts were hardly inferior to those of her sister, Alice, whom she outlived but one year and a half, dying July 31, 1871.