The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-02-03
Wednesday Morning, February 3. 1864
Miss Dickinson in Philadelphia.

Some idea can be obtained of the populari-
ty of Miss Anna E. Dickinson, by the recep-
tion she received by an audience in the city
where she was best known. She was invited
by the Corn Exchange Association, to lecture
before them, which she did one evening last
week. The Philadelphia Press says, the Acad-
emy of Music presented brilliant scene on
the occasion. The audience comprised the
wealth and fashion of the city and crowded
every available seat in the entire house. The
platform was likewise filed, and even the pri-
vate boxes were not without their full COM
plement of occupants. The eminent lecturer
was received with an enthusiasm equal only
to that with which our best orators are greet
ed from the same platform. She was intro
duced to her auditors by A. G.. Gattell, ESQ.,,
president Of the Corn Exchange Association,
in the following complimentary terms:
The distinguished lady, your own gifted
townswoman, who is to address you tonight,
needs l am sure, no formal introduction 10
you. The gushing words of passionate elo-
quence which well up from her patriotic heart,
have been heard in this hall, and the presence
tonight OF this large aud graceful audience,
is speaking evidence of your appreciation
OF her work and power, and OF your sympathy
with the cause she SO noby advocates-the
cause of our common Country, aud the Flag,
which is the emblem of its dignity and power.
She comes tonight by invitation OF many
citizens, TO repeat in this, her own city, and
before you, her friends and neighbors, almost
within shadow of that hall wherein the nation
had its birth, the eloquent address delivered
recently at the National Capital, in the hall OF
the House OF Representatives, crowded to its
uturdkt capacity. The honored President, the
Vice President and members of the Cabinet
and OF Congress were among her auditors.
And here the agreeable duty delegated TO me
should end. But the circumstances of this
occasion-the simple fact that it is lady who
Is TO speak to US tonight, should awaken
deeper sense Of our obligation TO the loyal
women Of the North for their steadfast patri-
otism in this hour of our country's peril.
True, they have no call to the tented field
1t Is neither fitting nor needful they should be
there. There are enough of Just such brave
boys as grace this amphitheatre to crowd into
that mythical last ditch all the boasted chival-
ry Of rebeldom.
But their undying sympathy for the soldier,
their ceaseless, untiring efforts to promote
his comfort aud his welfare, the ten thousand
words OF love and kindness which are daily
emanating from their hands and hearts, make
up the silver lining to the dark cloud of war
that overhangs our land. They bear this
great army on their loving hearts, and follow
the soldier, with their generous contributions
for his comfort and their personal deeds of
Kindness, to the camp, the field, and even to
the prison-house. How surprisingly beauti-
ful are their kind and gentle ministrations TO
the wounded, or the sick and suffering heroes.
Their feet press the wards of our Govern
ment hospitals, where many gallant hero
lies upon bed OF pain aud anguish, far, per-
haps, from home and Kindred. They bind up
his wounds, lave his throbbing temples. an
ticipate his every want, and cheer him with
words OF kindness and sympathy And when
the fiickering pulse and iilmy eye tell too
plainly that the soldiers last conflict is well
nigh over, they whisper in his ear the conso-
lation OF our holy religion, and watch by his
couch till they see in death his eye-lids close
calmly as to a nights repose like flowers at
set Of sun. God bless the loyal women of our
country, and may he reward them abundant
ly 10 this life, and still more abundantly in
the life which is to come!
1t only remains for me to say, when this
roll of honor shall be written up, composed oil
those who have made their names forever H.
lustrious by their prominence in these works
OF love and mercy, high upon that immortal
scroll shall be found names known and hon
ored, and loved, in our own goodly city, and
conspicous among these the name of her who
is TO address you tonight