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[Nov. 20, 



that a bitter spring could bring forth sweet waters. It was the same with 

 her innocent pure mind in all art," said this same discerning friend. 

 " She could walk about a room full of nude figures with real enjoyment of 

 the exquisite outlines, but let her see a fully veiled figure whose attitude 

 or expression denoted meanness or low tastes and a shudder went through 

 her." 



I had not a close intimacy with Mrs. Seiler ; she was too much occupied 

 for me to have been willing to take up much of her time ; but those who 

 knew her better can easily fill out and correct the only portrait of her that 

 my warm personal friendship allows. She came at intervals an uninvited 

 but most welcome guest to take tea and pass the evening with us ; those 

 evenings will never be forgotten. 



Her conversation had a rare charm, and was by no means confined to 

 those subjects she would have been supposed to be most interested in. 

 She had an appreciative interest in what each friend had most at heart. 

 The young artist in painting was surprised to encounter in her such 

 sympathy with the humblest efforts, and was charmed with her accounts 

 of the various schools of art in the Old World, and her stories of wonder- 

 ful paintings and their effects. The scholar and the student found 

 her a delighted and receptive listener to his researches in Archaeology or 

 Egyptology ; and her personal stories of distinguished scholars whom she 

 had known intimately in Europe lighted up the moments she gave them. 

 Often most amusing in its dramatic characterization of persons and events 

 her conversation was always kindly and could not wound. I must make 

 one exception. There were occasions where she was carried out of 

 herself by her indignation at what she knew or believed to be wicked- 

 ness. But these occasions were rare. She had in the main a sweet 

 and patient temper as surely as she had a warm and loving heart and a 

 sunny spirit. One remembers far oftener the delicious humor, the inno- 

 cent childlike mirthfulness with which she would tell of her own adven- 

 tures and escapades. I recall how, after her first visit to Europe, after 

 she had made a home among us, she came to spend an evening with us, 

 and the glee with which she told us one little incident of her travels. 

 She was in Italy, and I think on the train between Rome and Naples, 

 when some ladies who were attracted by something she said about music 

 to her companion joined in the conversation. In the course of it they 

 mentioned that the Italian government had directed that the works of 

 Mrs. Emma Seiler on the "Voice" (an American lady they called her) 

 should be introduced into all the schools. Do you know her, they 

 asked? She looked reflective. "Yes, I do know that woman quite well 

 indeed," said Mrs. Seiler; "she is a good woman and she knows quite 

 well about the voice ; she has studied it long. Ladies, your gouvairn- 

 ment [so she pronounced it] has done a very good thing indeed to direct 

 that the books of Mrs. Seiler shall be taught in the schools. I will myself 

 tell her just so soon as I return to America." And she bade them fare- 

 well without disclosing her identity. 



