She located in Chicago in August, and in September was admitted
to the Illinois bar and began practice. A few weeks later she
was, on motion of Miss Hulett, admitted to the U.S. Circuit and
District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois. She was in
partnership with Ellen A. Martin under the name of Perry &
Martin. Her death occured June 3, 1883, and was the result of
pneumonia. Miss Perry was a successful lawyer and combined in an
eminent degree the qualities which distinguish able barristers
and jurists; her mind was broad and catholic, clear, quick,
logical and profound; her information on legal and general
matters was extensive. She was an excellent advocate, a skillful
examiner of witnesses, and understood as few do, save
practitioners who have grown old in experience, the nice
discriminations of common-law pleading and the rules of evidence.
She was engrossed in the study and practice of law, and gained
steadily in efficiency and power year by year. She had the genius
and ability for the highest attainment in all branches of civil
practice, and joined with these the power of close application
and hard work. She belonged to the Strong family which has
furnished a good deal of the legal talent of the United States.
Judge Tuley, a chancery judge of Chicago before whom she often
appeared, said of her at the bar meeting called to take action
upon her death: "I was surprised at the extent of her legal
knowledge and the great legal acumen she displayed." And of her
manner and method of conducting a certain bitterly-contested case
in his court: "I became satisfied that the influence of woman
would be highly beneficial in preserving and sustaining that
high standard of professional courtesy which should always exist
among the members of our profession."----Ellen A. Martin, of
Perry & Martin, Chicago, spent two years in a law-office and two
years in Michigan University law-school, and was graduated and
admitted to practice in Michigan at the same time with Miss
Perry. She was admitted in Illinois in January, 1876, and since
then to the U. S. Circuit Court.----In the summer of 1879, Mrs.
M. B. R. Shay, Streator, graduating from the Bloomington
law-school, was admitted to the bar. She has published a book
entitled, "Students Guide to Common-La