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258 scheme, and for some weeks there was a contest of wits to see who would get control of the most blocks. When the next meeting was called, it was supposed that the property would be transferred to the Boston party, but it transpired to every one's astonishment that Mrs. Dow was master of the situation; she had acquired more than half the stock. Her election to the presidency was certain. As her own votes would elect the directorate, that body would lie necessarily of her own choice. Several among the Hover gentlemen, who desired to be on the board, said that they would not vote for a woman for president. It was simply preposterous and meant bankruptcy. But the matter presented itself to the ambitious gentlemen in this form : Agree to vote for Mrs. Dow, and you can hold office; otherwise you can not. They succumbed, but with chagrin and trepidation. Mrs. Dow at once demonstrated her ability to manage the road so as to make it a paying property. She did that to perfection, showing herself the equal of any male manager in the country.

DOWD, Miss Mary Alice, poet and educator, born in Frankford, Greenbrier county. W. Va, 16th December, 1855. Her parents were school-teachers of Puritan descent, their ancestors having landed in New England about the year 1630. In both families were found officers and privates of the Revolutionary army. On her father's side she is related to the well-known family of Field and the old English family of Dudley. She was the youngest of four children Her early home was among the Berkshire Hills, whence her parents removed to Westfield, Mass., a town noted for its schools. Alice was a delicate child, and her parents scarcely dared to hope that ?he would be spared to

years of maturity. Shy and reserved, she early showed a great love of nature and a deep appreciation of all natural beauty. She was educated at home and in the public schools of Westfield. She was graduated from the English and classical departments of the high school, taking the two courses simultaneously. In the normal school she studied optionals with the prescribed branches and composed a class hymn sung at her graduation Since that time she has been constantly employed as a teacher. During the past eleven years she has held her present position of first assistant in the high school of Stamford, Conn. Of scholarly attainments, she has helped many young men to prepare for college. She has taken several courses in the Sauveur Summer School of Languages and has especially fitted herself to give instruction in German. In the greatest sorrow of her life came to her in the sudden death of her mother. She has published one volume of verse, "Vacation Verses" (Buffalo, 1891).

DOWNS, Mrs. Sallie Ward, social leader, is descended on the paternal side from Lord Ward,

of England. Her maiden name was Ward. On her mother's side she is descended from the Fleur-noys, Huguenots, a prominent family She is a resident of Louisville, Ky., and has been a social leader in the society of the South and Southwest for many years. She is distinguished for her beauty of person, her charm of manners ind her cultured intellect Mrs. Downs has been married four times. She has traveled extensively in Europe, and was presented at various courts, and even-where was admired for her graces of mind and person. She is a thoroughly educated woman, speaks French fluently and is a line musician. In religion she is a Roman Catholic, a convert to that faith. She has one child, a son, John Hunt, of New York, who has won a reputation as a journalist. She is noted as a letter writer, and she has contributed to eastern journals. She is, despite her social prestige, a woman of democratic instincts. Her charities were numerous, large and entirely unostentatious. She has a fine and valuable collection of treasures.