Women (1)

Topic: Distinguished Women of New York State #1

Beers, Ethel Lynn

(1827-79). An American poet, born at Goshen, N.Y. Her earlier writings appeared under the name of Ethel Lynn, derived from her baptismal name, Ethelinda. By birth an Eliot, descendant of the famous New England Apostle to the Indians, she married William H. Beers, and afterwards used her full name. She is best known for the war lyric, All Quiet Along the Potomac, which appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1861. The authorship of this popular poem was soon claimed for others, especially for a Southerner; but Mrs. Beer's claim to it is indisputable. Her verses were collected just at the time of her death in a volume entitled All Quiet Along the Potomac, and Other Poems (1879).

Bloomer, Amelia Jenks

An American reformer. She was born in Homer, N.Y., and for several years lectured and wrote on the temperance question. She was a prominent advocate of woman's suffrage, but is remembered chiefly for her enthusiastic adoption of the so-called "bloomer" costume, originally devised and introduced by Mrs. Elizabeth Smith.

De Lussan, Zelie

(1863---). An American dramatic soprano, born in New York of French parents. Her mother was a brilliant vocalist, and the daughter early began the study of music, making her first public appearance when nine years old. She sang at Wagner festivals, then joined the Boston Ideal Opera Company and made her operatic debut in 1886 as Arlene in Balfe's Bohemian Girl. In 1889 she went to London, where she was enthusiastically received, and joined the Carl Rosa opera troupe. In 1894 she appeared at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York; in 1895 and 1896 she sang in Spain, Portugal, and France: in 1897 and 1899 she again visited the United States, and in 1902 made a concert tour of that country. Her most successful roles include; Carmen (rendered over 600 times) ; Mignon ; Musette, in La Boheme ; Zerlina, in Don Giovanni; Marie, in La fille du regiment; and marguerite, in Berlioz's Damnation de Faust.

Gould, Helen Miller

(1868---). An American philanthropist, born in New York City, the eldest daughter of Jay Gould. At the commencement of the Spanish-American War she presented $100,000 to the United States Government, and during the war, as a member of the Women's National War Relief Association, was prominently active. She gave $50,000 for necessary supplies for the care of soldiers in hospitals, and at Camp Wyckoff, near Montauk Point, Long Island, did personal work in that connection. Her benefactions to New York University have also been notable, and include the library building of the university, with its well known "Hall of Fame." She has also given largely to Rutgers College, and at a cost of $50,000 built and equipped the Sailors' Young Men's Christian Association Building In Brooklyn. (New York City). (14)

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