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698 as she has written a large number of articles for popular magazines, illustrating each with charcoal, crayon or pen-and-ink sketches.

While she has always felt and shown the deepest interest in the welfare and success of young women in pursuit of higher education, that interest has not prevented her from being engaged most actively in philanthropic work.

STRANAHAN, Mrs. Clara Harrison, author, was born in Westfield, Mass. Her maiden name was Harrison In her early childhood her father took his family to northern Ohio for a period of five years, from 1836 to 1841, and there his children had the benefit of the excellent schools of that country. Clara afterwards received the advantages of the personal influence of both Mary Lyon and Emma Willard in her education, spending one year in Mount Holyoke Seminary, going thence to the Troy Female Seminary, where she completed the higher course of study instituted by Mrs. Willard. She had shown some power with her pen, and as early as her graduation from the Troy Seminary some of her productions were selected for publication.

She has since published some fugitive articles, a poem or a monograph, as "The Influence of the Medici," in the "National Quarterly Review," December, 1863. Her crowning work is "A History of French Fainting from its Earliest to its Latest Practice " (New York, 1888). She became the wife of Hon. J. S. T. Stranahan, of Brooklyn, N. Y., in July, 1870. Mrs. Stranahan inherits the qualities, as she does the physiognomy, of the old New England stock from which she is descended. Energy in the pursuit of her aims, and elevation of aim, with a strong sense of justice and an earnest patriotism, are as marked in her as in the "builders" of New England. This is shown in her interest in and knowledge of the affairs of the Commonwealth. Whatever she may have done for the French in her history, or for the great army of the poor by her intelligent and practical benevolence of many years, or for education in her constant promotion of its interests, it is not among the least of her satisfactions that her husband is a sturdy supporter of all the patriotic movements of his city and country, as well as an efficient helper of all projects of progress. Passing from the State legislature to the United States Congress, he has served as member of both the conventions that nominated Lincoln for President, and as elector-at-large in the college that placed Benjamin Harrison in that office. In his municipal relations he has been honored by his compatriots under the title of "First Citizen of Brooklyn" with a bronze statue of heroic size, erected while he yet lived, 6th June, 1891.

STRAUB, Miss Maria, song-writer, born in De Kalb county, Ind, 27th October, 1838. She was the sixth of eight children. Her parents, who were of German origin, were Pennsylvanians. The family were greatly diversified in religious belief, representing; the extremes as well as the more moderate views. The religious proclivity of Miss Straub is strongly indicated by the numerous hymns of hers sung in churches and Sabbath-schools throughout the land. Of a studious, quiet nature, a victim to bodily affliction, she early manifested fondness for reading and study. Unable, physically, to take a regular school course, and being ambitious to lose nothing, she planned her own curriculum and made up through home study, by the assistance of her friends, what she failed to get otherwise. During those years she caught the spirit of verse-making. Especially was she aided in her endeavors in self-culture by a tender mother, who granted her all the opportunity possible to make the most of herself. After her father's death she was engaged for some time in teaching country schools in the vicinity of her home. She gradually became associated with her brother, S. W. Straub,