Dorothea Beale: Principal of the Cheltenham Ladies' College, 1858-1906Shillito, Elizabeth Helen
History
Dorothea Beale: Principal of the Cheltenham Ladies' College, 1858-1906
Shillito, Elizabeth Helen
Beale, Dorothea, 1831-1906; Cheltenham Ladies' College
After this the Council’s request took the form of a resolution. To
this Dorothea Beale replied that she had a very great objection to a
portrait of herself being hung up during her life: that it would use up
funds needed for improvements in the College, and that it would give
people an exaggerated idea of the work that she had been allowed to do
for the College.
Again she suggested that Miss Stirling should make a model in clay,
which could be executed in stone by Mr. Martyn.
The final appeal was made by the Guild meeting of 1902, after which
Dorothea Beale surrendered, and allowed her portrait to be painted by
Mr. J. J. Shannon. In her reply to those who were so desirous of having
a worthy memorial of their revered and loved Principal, she said:--
“The unbiassed artist represents his subject as she is, not as she
seems to be to those who are good enough to overlook her defects and
love her in spite of them.”
Whilst the Principal was sitting for Mr. Shannon, various friends
read aloud to her. “Lorna Doone” was one of the books. It “amused the
painter,” Dorothea Beale said.
The portrait, a very attractive one, was presented by the Duchess of
Bedford on November 8, 1904. In Dorothea’s Beale’s reply, she said that
she looked on the desire for a portrait as one not for a person but for
a Principal, a representative who would live on long after the person
had passed away. The illuminated book containing the names of the
donors she looked upon as a personal gift.
The College Jubilee celebrations were held in May, 1905. Lord
Londonderry opened a large new wing for science teaching, and
well-known people spoke at this gathering, which was the only public
Commemoration the college had had.
CHAPTER X.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS AND IDEAS.
“Universal History ... is at bottom, the History of the Great Men who
have worked here.”--CARLYLE.
Dorothea Beale is one of the few people to whom we can apply the
adjective great. As one reads the story of her life this quality is
very clearly marked. She was great in her thoughts, great in her plans,
great in her deeds. It is impossible to define greatness, but it is a
quality that is easily recognisable by those who have the power to see.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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