Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/700

Rh the breadth of her view and the wide scope of her abilities, and identified with the interests of the Women's Christian Temperance Union almost from its inception, she has conserved and served these interests with love and loyalty. Loyalty may be said to be the crowning virtue of her character, a character possessing many of those sterling qualities which we have come to regard as the birthright of the native-born New Englander. Through her extensive travels on behalf of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, Miss Gordon has acquired an added breadth and culture which make her equally at home in social and official life. As honorary secretary of the World's Women's Christian Temperance Union, Miss Gordon enjoys almost a world-wide reputation, but it is as "the friend of the children" that she is best known on both sides of the Atlantic.

As general secretary of the World's Loyal Temperance Legion (the branch of the organization work devoted to the boys and girls of this and other countries), Miss Gordon has made a large place for herself in the hearts and lives of the world's young people. She has written quite a number of musical compositions for this work and her "Marching Songs" in particular have been a conspicuous factor in popularizing the work of the Loyal Temperance Legion. By the terms of Miss Willard's will, Miss Gordon was made, in conjunction with Lady Henry Somerset, her literary executor. By request of the general officers of the National Women's Christian Temperance Union, she undertook to prepare a biography of Miss Willard and in a very short space of time she gave to the world "The Beautiful Life of Frances E. Willard." She has written several pieces of prose and poetry and contributed to the work "Questions Answered; a Manual of the Loyal Temperance Legion work," "Marching Songs for Young Crusaders" Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, "The White Ribbon Birthday Book," "The Y Song Book," and "The White Ribbon Hymnal." Her style is terse and strong.