Page:Representative Women of New England.djvu/449

334 opened an office in Newton Highlands, where she has built up a large practice. She stands not only for skill and ability in her profession, but as an influence for good in the community.

INA FRANK HECHT has been almost from the beginning of her residence ^ in the city of Boston the centre of all philanthropic activity in Jewish circles.

Bom in Baltimore, Md., November 27, 1848, Lina Frank was one of eight children, four sons and four daughters — namely, Sarah, Alexander, Daniel, Lina (Mrs. Hecht), Emma, Rosa, Abra- ham, and William — who formed the united household of Simon and Fanny (Naumburg) Frank.

The parents, coming from Germany and building a happy and comfortable home for their children of the new world, bequeathed to them nobility of character and a gracious pres- ence, in which inheritance Lina fully partici- pated.

On January 23, 1867, she married in Balti- more Jacob H. Hecht, a promising young mer- chant. After passing a year in San Francisco, they took up their residence in Boston, where Mr. Hecht became a prominent figure in com- mercial and philanthropic life.

Together they worked not only for the up- building of the poor of their own faith, but for the betterment of their city, for State, and for country. Their names are to be found on the boards of State and city institutions and on the membership rolls of nearly every prominent charitable institution of Boston. They were blessed with cultivated and artistic appreciation. Painters and musicians found in them generous patrons, and, with the literary men and women of our day, often enjoyed the hospitality of their beautiful home on Commonwealth Av- enue. Not having any children of her own, Mrs. Hecht took to her own heart and hearth- stone five nieces and a nephew, who bear to-day loving testimony to her sympathetic care and wise guidance.

Of a profoundly religious nature and religious training, the holy language that makes "char- ity" synonymous with "justice" readily finds expression in Mrs. Hecht's life. While very faithful to the claims of blood, here benevolence knows no limit of race, creed, or color. Her days are given up literally to the noble privi- lege of ministering to the needs of others. She has been the active president of the He- brew Women^s Sewing Society since its organi- zation. This is a society of over five hundred members, who give personal service in addition to material comfort to the hundreds of suffering poor who flock to our shores. The society aims to make its beneficiaries self-supporting, and, besides food, clothing, medicine, medical at- tendance, and "country weeks," has advanced capital to establish many worthy families in business.

Mrs. Hecht's fertile brain, her executive ability, and personal magnetism have all been called into play to make this society one of the most prominent women's organizations in the country, not only because of its far-reaching and helpful influence, but by reason also of its financial standing.

Fourteen years ago, when so many strange people of strange thought and habit came to Boston, Mrs. Hecht opened a school to assimi- late and Americanize the immigrants, in order that these human beings might not become a burden upon the Commonwealth, but a part of it. In her wisdom she realized that the prog- ress of the world rests upon " the breath of the school^children," and that they in turn influ- ence the parents. The Baroness de Hirsch and Baroness Rothschild both approved the plan when Mrs. Hecht presented it to them in Paris in 1896, and both became generous contribu- tors. The citizens of Boston, Jew and non- Jew, recognized the civilizing and Americaniz- ing power vested in this institution, called the Hebrew Industrial School, and also became subscribers. Mr. Hecht served as treasurer, and was a liberal patron, believing that there was no better work than that of helping to make good citizens and home-makers, as the school strives to do.

In the death of her husband, February 24, 1903, Mrs. Hecht was deprived of a compan- ion entirely at one with her in her hopes and aims, and it was a loss felt bv all who came within the influence of his sweet and