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BITTENBENDER.
BLACK.

made by Senator Blair, of New Hampshire. In 1888 she was elected attorney for the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, which position she still holds. She is the author of the chapter on "Woman in Law" in "Woman's Work in America" (New York, 1891). In September, 1891, she was placed in nomination on the prohibition ticket in Nebraska for Judge of the Supreme Court of that State. She received 7,322 votes out of a total of 155,000 cast in the State in 1891, the largest vote in proportion ever given for the head of the prohibition ticket. Her practice has been large, and her activity has been incessant. She has spent much time in Washington, D. C. Mrs. Bittenbender is the author of the "National Prohibitory Amendment Guide," a manual to aid in obtaining an amendment to the Federal Constitution which shall outlaw forever the traffic in alcoholic beverages. The "plan of canvassing" contained in her manual has been quite generally indorsed. She is preparing a treatise on the law of alcoholic liquors as a beverage, showing the unconstitutionality of license laws, as deduced from judicial decisions, including procedures in testing the matter and in enforcing prohibition. She and her husband will bring such test cases in the courts to secure decisions. Mrs. Bittenbender has for years borne a wonderful burden of work, showing the capacity of woman to endure the strain of deep thinking and of arduous professional labor. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church and has been an earnest Sabbath-school teacher.


FANNIE DE GRASSE BLACK. BLACK, Mrs. Fannie De Grasse, singer and pianist, born in Nisouri, Canada, 21st November, 1856. Her maiden name was De Grasse. She moved with her parents to the United States and made her home in Milwaukee, Wis., where she was educated in the high and normal schools, graduating in 1874. At ten years of age she began the study of piano and sight singing, continuing until her sixteenth year, when she became a pupil of Prof. William Mickler, formerly director in court to the Duke of Hesse, Germany, studying with him for four years. She sang in public when she was only six years old, and made her debut in classic music at the age of eighteen, under the direction of Professor Mickler, in the concerts of the Milwaukee German Musical Society, and has since sung successfully in opera and oratorio. Later on she took up the study of the pipe organ and is now {1892) organist of the Presbyterian church, El Dorado. In 1S81 she was married to Judge S. K. Black, of El Dorado, Kan. Mrs. Black is a thorough scholar, and she believes that only a thorough scholar and student can become a fine musician. She sings equally well in English, German and Italian, and her pleasant El Dorado home is a center of music and refinement.

MARY FLEMING BLACK. BLACK, Mrs. Mary Fleming, author and religious worker, born in Georgetown, S. C., 4th August, 1848. Her father, Rev. W. H. Fleming, D. D., was a distinguished member of the South Carolina Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and died while pastor of Bethel Church, Charleston, S. C, in 1877. Her parents were both Charlestonians. Her mother, born Agnes A. Magill, was the daughter of Dr. William Magill, a prominent physician of that city. The education of Mrs. Black was begun in one of the city schools of Charleston. She was afterward graduated with honor in Spartanburg Female College, and later took a special course under the instructions of the faculty of Wofford Male College, of which Rev. A. M. Shipp, D.D., LL.D., was president. Soon after the completion of her studies she was married to Rev. W. S. Black, D. D., then a member of the South Carolina Conference. Mrs. Black soon displayed ability as a writer, her prose and verse productions appearing in various newspapers and periodicals. In 1882 she became