Representative women of New England/Emma A. Greely

by Mary H. Graves

EMMA AUGUSTA GREELY

EMMA AUGUSTA GREELY, the head of the Greely School of Elocution and Dramatic Art, was born in Chelsea, Mass., March 12, 1869, daughter of John Lyman Greely and his wife, Octavia Augusta Stevens. Through her father's mother Miss Greely traces her ancestry back to Josiah Bartlett, of Kingston, N.H., signer of the Declaration of Independence, and through him to his immigrant progenitor, Richard' Bartlett, Sr., who in 1642 was one of the grantees of Newbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Richard Bartlett is spoken of by historical writers of New England as "one of the Wiltshire colony who came over with the Rev. Thomas Parker in 1634." Of his birthplace and parentage he appears to have left no record, and vain the attempt with the little information available to trace his English antecedents. Mention, however, may here be made of an interesting relic now owned by one of his descendants, namely, a copy of the "Breeches Bible," purchased by Richard Bartlett, as certified in his own handwriting on the margin of one of its pages, in 1612 and brought by him to Newbury. On a blank page is his record of the births of his children— Joane, John, Thomas, Richard, Cris (Christopher), and Anne (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. xl.). The name Bartlett is said to be common in Wiltshire, Devonshire, Somersetshire, and other parts of England.

From Richard¹ Bartlett, of Newbury, the line descended through Richard² (born in England in 1621) and his wife Abigail; Richard,³ of Newbury, born in 1649, and his wife, Hannah^ Emery— daughter of John² and Mary (Webster) Emery—to Stephen,⁴ born in Newbury in 1691, who married in 1712 Hannah, daughter of John³ Webster, of Newbury and Salisbury. Stephen⁴ Bartlett was Deacon of the first church of Amesbury. He died April 10, 1773, in his eighty-second year.

The Hon. Josiah Bartlett, M.D., the Revolutionary patriot, son of Deacon Stephen and Hannah (Webster) Bartlett, was born in Amesbury, Mass., in 1729. He settled as a physician in Kingston, N.H., where his old homestead is still standing, being occupied by members of the family. He became Chief Justice of New Hampshire in 1788, was President of the State in 1790, 1791, and 1792, and in 1793, under the amended constitution of New Hampshire, was Governor. His wife was Mary Bartlett, of Newton, N.H. They had nine children. The sons, Levi, Josiah, Jr., and Ezra, all became physicians. The line of descent to the subject of this sketch is through his daughter Mary, who riiarried Jonathan Greely, and whose son Josiah was father of John Lyman Greely, Miss Greely's father. The Greelys were prominent in public affairs in Kingston, and John Lyman Greely was at one time a member of the New Hampshire Legislature. His wife, Octavia A. Stevens, who was born in Brentwood, N.H., was also of an old New Hampshire family.

Enmia Augusta Greely had the misfortune at a very early age to lose her mother, but this sad loss was largely compensated by the devoted care and sympathetic companionship of her father, to whom she owes her broad views of life and the development of some of her higher personal qualities, he being a man of lofty ideals, great sincerity of character, and decided business ability. She was educated in the public schools, graduating from the Chelsea High School in 1887. Even during her school-days her inclination was toward the study of literature and its correct interpretation, and to this end she took some private instruction in the art of expression, in the autumn of 1888 entering the Boston School of Oratory, under iIoses True Brown, principal, and Hamlin Garland, literary instructor. In this school, after completing both the regular course and a post-graduate course, she accepted a position as teacher, and, entering upon her duties in the fall of 1891, continued to teach there until the retirement of Professor Brown owing to ill health. She then became associate principal with Clara Power Edgerly at the Boston College of Oratory, of which Mrs. Edgerly, with whom she had been associated for a number of years, at first as her pupil, was the founder. To this lamented teacher, now deceased, Miss Greely owes much of her inspiration in her own work, Mrs. Etlgerly's foundation of common sense, sincerity, and naturalness in interpretation causing her pupil to leave behind the old stilted elocutionary style.

Miss Greely has also taught in her own line of education at the Posse Gymnasium and at different times in various other institutions. She was among the charter members, in 1892, of the National Association of Elocutionists. Since 1895 she has been a member of its Board of Directors, and in 1901 she was made treasurer of the association, which position she held for two years. In October, 1900, Miss Greely felt justified in opening the Greely School of Elocution and Dramatic Art. This school is in Thespian Hall, 168 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston. It is now in its fourth year, antl its original membership has doubled. The graduates continue their work, some as teachers, others upon the lyceum platform, either as reciters or as members of dramatic companies.

Not running in a single groove, as is the wont in some siinilai- schools, the course in the institution presided over by Miss Greely offers general culture and a liberal education; for the technical work of expression is fast becoming a science. To quote her own words from a chain letter to one of her classes while she was abroad: "In all work and in life no sure advancement comes with little effort. We must each be so sincere in our work and have such faith in it that we cannot fail. Success rests with ourselves. If we love the work and show people that we do, if we make manifest the difference between the true study of the best literature from the master minds and the school-girl elocution; and, above all, if we have enthusiasm in regard to its application to daily life and soul improvement, I am sure we shall never fail to arouse a corresponding interest in our auditors. Do not think that small things are unworthy your attention. Were it possible to spring at once into the greatest things, perhaps one's development would suffer."

That a woman not yet in her prime should have already accomplished so much augurs well for her future career; for her power seems marked by continuous growth, and, best of all, her character keeps pace, and harmonizes with her intellectual attainments. With the author of "David Grieve," she realizes the "poverty and ho])elessness of all self-seeking, the essential wealth, rich and making rich, of all self-spentling."