Representative women of New England/Dora Bascom Smith
DORA BASCOM SMITH, of Brookline, first vice-president of the Ladies' Physiological Institute, has been co-worker with most of the notable women philanthropists, reformers, suffragists, of the day, and hits filled various responsible official positions.
A native of Massachusetts, born in the town of Palmer, September 18, 1840, daughter of Alonzo and Clarissa (Keith) Bascom, she comes of old colonial stock, tracing her paternal ancestry back to Thomas Bascom, who came from England l(ss than twenty years after the landing of the Pilgrims, lived for a time in Connecticut, and thence removed to Northampton, Mass. Several succeeding generations of the family resided in the Connecticut valley. Alonzo Bascom was in business for many years as a cotton manufacturer in East Jaffrey, N.H. His sterling qualities strongly impressed his daughter, ancl exerted a marked influence on her character. His wife Clarissa, mother of Dora, was the daughter of DanieP and Lydia (Frost) Keith and grand-daughter of Alexander* Keith, who is mentioned in the History of Palmer, Mass., as a descendant in the fourth generation of the Rev. James Keith, the first minister of Bridgewater, Mass. James Keith came from Scotland in 1662. He had been a student at Aberdeen. He married Susanna Edson, daughter of Deacon Samuel Edson, of Bridgewater. Bereft of a mother's loving care at the age of six years, Dora Basconi early learned lessons of self-reliance and of unselfishness and usefulness to those around her. She was educated al Townsend Female Seminary, and at the age of sixteen she entered her father's counting-room, where she filled the position of hook- keeper and confidential clerk until her mar- riage. To that period, with its varied ex- periences, she is indebted for her broad and practical views of life. It is a mistaken idea that business development in woman blunts her finer sensibilities: the opposite is the truth. Like a ))lant whose blossoms are cut freely, human nature repays in richness and fruitful- ness for all drafts properly made on its re- sources; and a woman who has become |)unc- tilious in business detail has learned to solve many problems in profit and loss, eciuity, jus- tice, that must be encountered and .wived in the same punctilious way in daily life. Dora Bascom, while in her father's business office, came in contact with many people, and her philanthropic spirit early manifested itself in kindly ministrations to the poor and sick of the village. When the Civil War broke out, and the Sanitary Commission was formed in June, 1861, she joined the ranks of devoted patriotic women, and worked early and late for relief of the "boy's in blue."
She was married November 27, 1862, to Samuel Garfield Smith, a well-known watchmaker of Boston. Two children, Kate Auzella and Dexter Munroe, blessed this happy union. Kate Auzella Smith was married April 23, 1889, to Charles Sunmer Waterhouse. They live in Brookline, Mass., and have one child, a daughter named Irma. Mrs. Waterhouse is a well-known whist teacher.
Dexter Munroe Smith, broker, was for fifteen years in the employ of F. H. Prince & Co., Boston. He married December 19, 1894, Anna Cogswell, of Ipswich, Mass., where they now reside. They have two children, Helen C. and Julian D.
Mrs. Smith was one of the earliest members of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union of Boston, and for many years served on important committees. She was influential in agitating the question of the placing of ma- trons in the police ;?i.ations. She was a charter member of the New Eilgland Helping Hand Society and was on its Board of Government for several years. This opened to her numerous opportunities for quiet, unostentatious charity. Many a wronged girl has reason to bless her for pecuniary help as well as kindly sympathy. She was on one of the committees of the fair for Mrs. Charpiot's Home for Intemperate Women, by which thirteen thousand dollars was raised. These committees conceived the idea of forming the Woman's Charity Club of Boston. Mrs. Smith was one of the organizers thereof and its first hospital treasurer, holding the position five years, until obliged to resign by a protracted illness. She served for six years as first vice-president of the club. Of the Ladies' Physiological Institute of Boston, said to be the oldest women's organi- zation in America, she has been the first vice- president for twenty-one years. The object of the Institute is to bring within the reach of women, by open lecture platform, in a simple way, such medical, hygienic, and physiological instruction as shall lead, by interesting them, to deeper study and usefuhiess reganling the health and welfare of those in their keeping. Some of its charter members who lived to a ripe old age were bitterly opposed to woman suffrage, and the question was debarred from its platform and discussions for many years. As the membership gradually included the modern woman with advanced ideas, the spirit of harmony between the elders and the later members is evidence of the wisdom, judgment, and tact of its official incumbents. Mrs. Smith still holds the position of first vice-president, fre<|uently occupying the chair. None of her rulings are ever questioned, and a Boston daily paper says of her, "She is a thorough parlia- mentarian, and no possible tangle or mix-up in a meeting can faze her."
Mrs. Smith is also connected with the Woman's Relief Corps and with the Eastern Stcar, a Masonic association. Becoming much interested in the woman's suffrage movement after hearing in the seventies the strong, earnest words of JuHa Ward Howe and Lucy Stone on the subject, she innuediately joined the ranks, and labored in the cause with untiring zeal. She was treasurer for many years of the National Woman Suffrage Association of Massachusetts, and several times went to Washington as delegate to suffrage conventions. Mrs. Smith was first vice-president of the Committee of Council and Co-operation, better known as the three C's, and in connection with the late Dr. Salome Merritt was instrumental in many public reformatory movements.
She generously opened her house two years for the use of the Boston Political Class, formed by the National Woman Suffrage Association of Massachusetts, for the purpose of giving instruction to women in the various departments of political economy, English common law, national and State constitutions, civil service, elections, municipal affairs, and parliamentary law.
Dora Bascom Smith has a reputation as a public reader. She has on several occasions taken the part of leading lady in private theatricals, and has been instrumental in forwarding various entertainments, being always ready to utilize her talents in response to ever-recurring calls for charity. She was a student of Professor Emerson, of the Emerson School of Oratory, but, independently of that training, she has a style of her own, whose charm lies in its simplicity and purity, clear, reaching enunciation, and naturalness of expression. She has given the Institute many delightful sessions, filling the absence of president or lecturer by readings or original productions. Her lecture on "Pearls and Patches," replete with character sketches and anecdote, made a strong and lasting impression.
Her religious views are broad and liberal and practical, rather than .sentimental. She was a member of the Church of the Unity during the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Minot J. Savage, and enjoyed his intimate acquaintance while he remained in Boston. The choice booklet, "Stray Arrows: Selections from M. J. Savage," compiled by Mrs. Smith, was published by her in 1886.
It is a pleasure to record that with all the outside work Mrs. Smith has accomplished she has been a thorough housekeeper, true mother, and faithful wife.
In personal appearance Mrs. Smith is a quiet, unassuming lady of medium size and height, with a low, pleasant voice and a presence that is felt for strength and comfort if one is depressed and like "oil on the waters" if untler any undue excitement. The strength of character indicated in her face she claims for a heritage.