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THE SALEM PRESS, SALEM, N. Y.. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1925 



MARIA R. AUDUBON 

 An Appreciation 



Four and forty years ago there 

 came to Salem one who was to leave 

 her impress upon the lives of many 

 of the dwellers in this peaceful valley; 

 a gracious lady, who from the begin- 

 ning of her residence here had Salem's 

 best interests at heart and who gave 

 of herself and of her means to ad- 

 vance this material, the intellectual, 

 the moral welfare of the locality she 

 had chosen for her home. 



Born in surroundings given to but 

 few of us to know; accustomed from 

 birth to the best society of her native 

 New York; bearing a name the mere 

 possession of which was an accolade; 

 enjoying the friendship of artists and 

 men of letters; endowed by nature 

 with a splendid mind and vpith the 

 bearing of a princess, it was not to 

 be wondered at that almost immedi- 

 ately upon her coming to Salem she 

 won both the respect and distin- 

 guished regard of all our people. 



Intellectually Miss Audubon was 

 I without a peer in our locality, and un- 

 gi-udgingly all acknowledged her pre- 

 eminence. Her conversation was de- 

 lightfully invigorating and her knowl- 

 edge of books and men and places 

 most extensive. Comparatively few 

 of us knew of her literary labors or 

 of her wide correspondence with- dis- 

 tinguished litterateurs in this country 

 and abroad; both were voluminous. 



The tale of her helpfulness to those 

 in need of encouragement, or in dis- 

 tress, will never be told for it was 

 always unostentatious. Her interest 

 in the village library was unflagging, 

 intelligent and helpful. 



The granddaughter of a bishop of 

 the Church of England, it was but 

 natural that .St. Paul's claimed her in- 

 terest from the beginning, and no 

 parish activity but received her fullest 

 support. A true daughter of the 

 church, she was constant in attend- 

 ance and faithful in all good works. 



One could dwell at length upon the 

 many beauties surrounding Miss Au- 

 dubon's life in Salem — her charming 

 residence, her priceless collections 

 which have already been sent to the 

 Museum of Natural History in New 

 York, her books, her wonderful garden 

 replete with choicest blooms; most im- 

 pressive were her graces of mind and 

 person, but putting these all aside, 

 her love of little children was, to the 

 writer, the emost engaging character- 

 istic of this Great Laay. 



A nephew residing in Australia, 

 who, while- performing heroic service 

 in the World war, suffered most 

 grievous wounds, held high place in 

 Miss Audubon's heart. Her affection 

 for Salem and its people was second 

 only to the love she bore for the de- 

 voted sister who lightened the burden 

 of the closing years of our Great 

 Lady's life. 



'Salem is a better place for Miss 

 Audubon's having resided here. 



May Light Eternal Shine Upon Her. 



— E. 



Card of Thanks. 



Miss Florence Audubon desires to 

 express her grateful appreciation to 

 friends for their expression of sym- 

 pathy m her recent bereavement. For 

 the beautiful flowers, for the helpful 

 services of the rector, organist, and 

 choir of St. Paul's- church; to those 

 who acted as pall bearers, to the guild 

 for the bountiful lunch, to those who 

 gave the use of their cars, and to all 

 who by word or deed have shown her 

 sympathy, she extends most grateful 

 thanks. 



Wentworth G. Field Dies 

 Returning from Europe 



Wentworth G. Field, 242 East Wal- 

 ton place, retired linen merchant, died 

 yesterday on the steamship Providence 

 as it was coming- up Narrag-ansett bay 

 to dock at Providence, R. I. Mr. Field 

 was returning with his -wife to the 

 United States after an extended trip 

 ' abroad. Tlie body will be brought to : 

 j Chicago for burial. Mr. Field was i 

 ( Well known in Chicago. He was a 

 '.member of the Cliff Dwellers. He and 

 'hla wife have traveled in foreig-n coun- ; 

 tries much In the lasf ten years. 



