Page:Sketches of representative women of New England.djvu/306

Rh 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.

ATILDA JANE CAMPBELL WILKIN, educator, is of English-Scotch parentage, and was born in Harrington, Me., where the early years of her childhood were passed. As a forecast of her scholarly career, she left home at the early age of eleven to obtain better school privileges at East Machias. First she attended the public schools and later the Washington County Academy, located in this charming little New England village. Entering the Normal School at Salem, Mass., in February, 1867, Miss Campbell was graduated on January 21, 1869. The following year she went to Minnesota. She taught three years in the grammar schools of Minneapolis, and then gave up teaching for a while to continue her studies at the University of Minnesota. She was graduated in the class of 77, of which she was valedictorian. In 1890 she took the degree of Master of Literature from her Alma Mater, and more recently she has spent some time at the University of Chicago, with a view to taking the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. She is a member of the honorary society of Phi Beta Kappa. In 1880 Miss Campbell attended the centennial of the Sunday-School in London, as a delegate from Minnesota, which State she very ably represented.

In 1882 she married the Rev. George F. Wilkin, of Warsaw, N.Y., later known as the author of "The Prophesying of Women" and "Control in Evolution."

Mrs. Wilkin has travelled extensively in Europe, having been abroad three times. She studied at the University College in London and at Gottingen, Germany. She was especially interested in linguistic studies, and spent much time in perfecting her knowledge of Latin, Anglo-Saxon, and German. For the past twenty-five years she has been connected