1899

The death of Joseph Wilson Hobbs of Kittery, Me., on January 16 and that of Joseph William Gannon of West Cornwall, Conn., on January 25 are here officially reported to Class and College. But to each on the day of his final sacred rites there came that tribute long established among '99 customs, the gift of red roses, a memorial by classmates of years of mutual affection. A more extended tribute to each man will appear in this or a subsequent issue in the Memorial section. Here in this column we testify only that each loved Dartmouth College and the Class of '99 and served them both with rare devotion.

Probably before you read this column you will have heard that the Alumni Fund Drive of 1967 has begun. Perhaps we of '99 as we read will be remembering Joe Gannon's many years of service in that cause, and will feel glad to make our gift this year in a spirit of gratitude. We shall soon be sending out our own bulletin about the drive. But no man or woman need wait for that additional reminder. If any wish to subscribe at once just mail your check to Dartmouth Alumni Fund, Hanover, N. H.

We promised last month to say more of "Bess" Miller, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth White Miller, who died last December 12. She was the mother of Mary Louise Spang of Stamford and Ed Miller '40 of Greenwich. She was a woman of rare courage and self reliance. Such qualities she doubtless inherited in part from pioneer Quaker ancestors who trekked in early days from Virginia to Ohio; and also certainly from her Chase National Bank and Erie Railroad father, and from her mother who founded Brooks Seminary for young women in her native Poughkeepsie. There the first requisite was self-discipline by the individual and self-government by the group. The students learned to think rather than to memorize and glibly quote; they learned to reason about standards of conduct rather than blindly to obey an edict. And this early training enabled her to benefit even more by the still higher standards of Bryn Mawr where she graduated in 1900.

She continued to learn by her marriage to our Carl Miller, bearing him four children; and when the two oldest died at six and eight years of bovine tuberculosis she learned the bitter-sweet joy of helping to save hundreds of other mothers' children from the same fate by influencing the State Legislature to pass an act making tubercular inoculation of cows mandatory. And when Carl himself died suddenly at fortysix she successfully took over the presidency of his big department store founded by his father, though she was a complete novice in the world of business.

Such a woman was inevitably chosen for leadership in other fields. She became one of the first women to be elected "ruler elder" in the First Presbyterian Church in Stamford; publicity chairman for the Women's Association; the first woman trustee of the Princeton, N. J., Theological Seminary; member of the new Building Committee; member of the Board of Foreign Missions; a director of the local Y.W.C.A., as well as member of its national board; and chairman of other important committees. Thus Bess Miller became herself a pioneer like her ancestors, but in the fields of social and religious influence instead of in areas of continental expansion. Thus too her courageous heart and her keen mind continued to find means of realizing some of her dreams for better things for less fortunate human beings everywhere. She wanted all to share the joys of that Promised Land of which the symbol for centuries has been a Moses under Divine guidance pointing the way.

We are privileged to quote from the tribute printed in the order of service December 14 when the City of Stamford gathered at the First Presbyterian Church to honor the passing of Bess Miller:

"She was like the North Star on a clear night, a guide to those who need a chart to direct their course. Her courage stiffened less resolute spirits by her example. Her wisdom was a pillar strengthening many who leaned upon her. Yet - her clear reasoning, her loyalty to her Church, her compassion for all were no more striking characteristics than was her complete humility."

Secretary, 40 Church St. Winchester, Mass. 01890