The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-04-27
Another Smart Woman.

A young lady orator has recently made
her appearance in the East, and her
beauty and eloquence is said to be some
thing almost superhuman. Her name
is Dickinson, and she is from Philadel-
phia The Hartford Press thus de-
scribes her, and her style of speaking:
Hartford for once has been aston
ished. With some curiosity to hear
what a woman could say about politics,
people went last night to Touro Hail.
The speaker, Miss Anna E. Dickinson,
of Philadelphia, was almost unknown to
most who went, except by vague rumor;
unheralded, except that just at night her
Press. Yet the hall, which was com
fortably filed at the beginning of the
address, was packed as we never saw it
as the evening went on. And the audi
ence, which began TO listen in quiet,
half critical manner, soon lost control of
itself under the witchery of such spell
as Hartford audience was never under
before
"The person who produced this une-
qualled effect is young woman hardly
turned twenty; who advanced upon the
platform in quiet manner, figure
slight, yet compact, with the brow and
eye of Evangeline, if to the sad fore
thought we add the fire and courage of
genius, and manner singularly grace
full and still commanding. She began
calmly to speak, with the perfect self
possession of one sure of her foothold,
in voice of great clearness and melody,
with an enunciation perfectly distinct,
and a pronunciation of the test vowels
which marks the highest refinement of
cultivation.
"She spoke rapidly, her ideas evident
ly outrunning even her lightning-like ut
terance, memory and imagination both
crowding her. We shall attempt no hint
even of her lecture. 1t was at once q
rapid, mastery sketch of the war in its
inception, continuance and prospective
and, exhibiting knowledge and careful
estimate of men and measures which
constantly sstonished her listeners. And
as she went on mingling argument, in
vective, pathos, sarcasm, irresistible ap-
peal we felt that she had the passion of
the South and the brain of the North on
fire with inspiration. 1t was Portia
making a statement, it was Pythia
prophesying, it was better than either,
an American woman, cultivated, trained,
endowed, devoted to the nohlest cause
since the Christian era began.
"Do we exaggerate? Every one who
heard her will say that what we have
written above is cold and inadequate.
In certain powers as speaker we have
never heard her excelled. Only one
man whom -zra-- -haard--Heoraa
Thompson-at all squalls her in the abil-
ity to carry a climax successfully to the
dizzy heights where born orators alone
walk with firm step and serene eye. Her
peroration we have-never heard equal
led. With figure dilating, face impas-
stoned, eye flashing, she poured forth
that wonderful illustration and appeal,
and the audience, breathless, almost
translated, hung upon her words, and,
when her voice ceased, but slowly re-
gained their self Possession, and broke
forth into cheering and the most extrav-
agant demonstrations of delight, which
continued several minutes. Then the
stage was speedily crowded with those
who sought to express their gratitude
and pleasure, and she suffered perfect
ovation of congratulations"