Page:Woman of the Century.djvu/708

Rh Chicago agency contained six-thousand names of northern Illinois pensioners on its roll, and the disbursements amounted to over one-million dollars yearly. She made the office independent of politics and appointed women as assistants. In 1877 President Hayes made all Illinois pensions payable in Chicago, and her office disbursed over six-million dollars yearly. She chose her own clerks and trained them for her work. She did so well that, in spite of pressure brought to secure the appointment of a man, she was reappointed in 1878 by President Hayes, and in 1882 by President Arthur. In 1885 the Democratic commissioner of pensions asked her to resign, but she appealed to President Cleveland, and he left her in the office until September, 1885, when she resigned, to take a business position in New York City. In 1886 she visited Europe. Returning to Chicago, she became the literary editor of the Chicago "Tribune." In 1888 she opened a United States claims office in Chicago, and she has done a large business in securing pensions for soldiers or their families. She is now living in Chicago with her brother, he and one sister, who lives in San Francisco, Cal., being the only surviving members of her family. She is interested in all the work of women, a member of the Chicago Woman's Club, and president of the Municipal Order League of Chicago. In October, 1890, she gave the first police ambulance to the city, having raised money among her friends to build and equip it, and thus originated the present system in Chicago of caring for those who are injured or fall ill in public places.

SWENSON, Mrs. Amanda Carlson, soprano singer, was born in Nykiöping, near Stockolm, Sweden. When fourteen years old, her possession of a rare voice was discovered by her friends. Her mother was a widow in moderate circumstances, with seven children to support, and there was little hope of her receiving a musical education The young girl built air-castles and dreamed of a fair future. When she was sixteen, Rev. Mr. Ahlberger, of her native town, determined that she should have a musical education. He secured the cooperation of some ladies and noblemen of the vicinity, and she was sent to the conservatory in Stockholm, where in three years she was graduated with honors, winning two silver medals.

While there, she realized her childhood's dream of singing before the king and queen of Sweden. She remembers, with some pardonable pride, one occasion when she sang with the crown prince, now King Oscar, president of the conservatory. A few years after graduation, at the suggestion of her former teacher, Prof. Gunther, she accepted the position of first soprano in the Swedish Ladies' Quartette, then arranging for its tour. On the eve of departure a farewell concert and banquet, given in her honor, showed the esteem in which she was held by her native town. Giving their first concert with great success in Stockholm, the quartette started on their tour June 7th, 1875. Their route lay through Norway, Nortland and Finland, thence to St. Petersburg, where they remained three months, giving public and private concerts and meeting many European celebrities. They spent two months in Moscow, receiving cordial welcome and entertainment. They visited Germany, Bohemia, Holland and Belgium, spending the summer on the Rhine. At Ems they met some Americans, who persuaded them to visit America. Soon after their arrival, Max Strakosch engaged them for a concert in New York. From that time their success in America was assured. They sang with Theodore Thomas in all the large eastern cities, and in several concerts with Ole Bull in the New England States. Afterwards they made a tour of the United States, receiving welcomes in all the cities. Giving their last concert in San Francisco, Cal., they returned to Chicago, Ill., where they separated. Miss Carlson was persuaded to remain in the United States, and she spent the next two years in Reading, Pa., where she held the position of first soprano in the Episcopal Church. Then she was married, and, her husband's health requiring change of climate, they removed to Kearney, Neb., where, after five years, Mrs. Swenson was left a widow with two daughters. She is a genuine artist and has done much to raise the standard of musical culture in the city which has been her home for twelve years.

SWIFT, Mrs. Frances Laura, church and temperance worker, born Strongsville, Ohio, 6th February, 1837. She is descended from a long line of New England ancestors, the Damons, who settled in Massachusetts two-hundred years ago. Her mother removed to Ohio, after the death of her father. Miss Damon, was educated in the Springfield Female Seminary, and taught, subsequently, New- England-girl fashion, to round off her education. She became the wife of Dr. Eliot E. Swift, of Newcastle, Pa., a young Presbyterian minister. He was called to the assistance of his father, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Allegheny, Pa., whom he succeeded, and where he and his wife labored for twenty-six years. Dr. Swift died on 30th November, 1887. With her husband's encouragement, Mrs. Swift became an efficient worker in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. With his sympathies and aid, she entered into the labors of the crusade. The calm strength of Dr. Swift's example won for the cause of temperance many friends, the cooperation of other ministers, and opened closed doors of opportunity and encouraged all workers. Mrs. Swift was the leader of the first crusade band in Pennsylvania She was for