The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-01-18


Dear sprlte! my souls tormented mood
Has yet hope thou canst not kill.
Sterling
l have recently had an interview with
Dorohea L. Dix the American Mrs
Fry, the God-appointed missionary to oul
prisons and aims. houses. This short in
lerview has so refreshed my soul, that
am moved TO impart some of lis influence
10 you and your readers. Perhaps you
need such encouragement less than [ do
For myself, | must confess, that even
while speak words of hope and progress
TO others, my own spirit u.s. at times, al
most crashed under the mass of misery
and wrong forced upon my observation.
When in these responding moods, l often
think Of Carlni, the comedian, whose in
exhaustibe stock of fun enabled all classes
of people 10 forget their sorrows and anx-
ielies, under lis merry influence. While
his popularity was at its height, stran-
ger applied to phi yscian in the city re-
sounding with echoes of Carlni's mirth,
TO know what could be done TO cure the
Intense depression of his spirit. $50 and
hear CarIlni," replied the doctor; "he
will chase away your gloom in spite of
yourself" ALAS" rejoned the patient,
81 am Carini"
Is it not SO sometimes with all prophets
Of the Future, who dwell amid the social
malaria of ciies2 Is not the bravest
spirit sometimes compelled to cry out in
agony, Can this frightful disorder ever
be brought Into harmony2 Yet even
from the dismal depths of such states, |
DiN utter the propecy OF faith and hope;
for a Divine voice speaks through the
clouds, assuring me that my despairiug
feelings are wrong, and my cheerful ut
lerance is right.
Yet thankful am l for every visible
proof that faith in the power of Love is
slowly gaining ascendency over habitual
reliance on the law OF Force. Miss D.x's
experience is fu1 olthis blessed encourage
ment. Those who know her, as | have
done, are aware that her life has been one
continued exerlon and sef-sacr6ce for
the good of others. 10 those who do not
know her, she would, in unaffected hu-
mility, shrink from having it told.
Ii Is little more than two years since
her attention was arrested by the condi-
ton of prisoners, particularly ofthose who
were insane. Years of unremilting in.
dusry as teacher, and legacy from a
deceased relative, had given her a compe-
lence sufficient for her simple mode of life.
She might have rested, after her Iong-coE.
tnued toll, and carried with her, into hon.
ored retirement, the consciousness OF in
Vulnerable acts of kindness bestowed and
duties faithfully performed. But | fel,'
says she, that | had no right to live for
myself alone; that there was much work
10 be done in the world, and there must
be something for me to do. While | ca
gery asked of myself, what is my ap-
pointed misson2 was led into the
prisou-houses oflhe land, and soon saw
that my work was there
And bravely is she performing her
heavenly mission Travelling alone in
cold and storm; expanding her income,
her energies, and her health; Witnessing
scenes of degradation and filth, exceed
ing y revolving TO the fastidious deicacy
of her character and continually brought
into contact with mental and physical sui
ferng, agonizing to her compassionate
heart.
Through her benevolent influence on
seIect-men, county commissioners, and
State legislators, extensive and beneicent
changes have already taken place In
I Massachusetts, though much remains 10
be done. She has recently returned from
similar tour of duty in Canada, and is
now travelling through New York. Ia
some respects, she thinks the prisons in
this State arc in better condition than those
of Massachusetts; particularly as the in
sane are rarely found within their walls.
But she says. if the civilized world affords
"a spectacle more painful than the institu-
tons provided in Albany for the poor and
vicious, she trusts it will never be her lot
to witness it.
euquired whether the amount of good
accomplished had, so far, equaled her ex-
pectations. She said ii had; and that her
faith in the power Of kindness, over the
insane and vicious, had been more than
confirmed. Among the hundreds Of era
zy people with whom her sacred mission
has brought her into comprehensive she
has not found one individual, however
fierce and turbulent that could not be
} Gained by Scripture and prayer, uttered
in low and gentle tones. The power of
the religious sentiment over these shatter.
ed souls seems perfectly Miraculous
The worship of quiet, loving heart at.
fecs them like a voice from heaven
Tearing and rending, yelling and stamp
: ing, singing and groaning, subsde into
: silence, and they fall on their knees, or
| gaze upward with cLasoed hands, as il