The New York herald., 1865-02-16
Miss Anna Dickinson, the Modern Py-

In ancient times poor, lonely women used to
sit on tripods, inhale gas and utter oracles. The
wicked priests stood behind these women,
instructed them what to say, and reaped the
benefits OF their utterances. This sort Of thing
has recently been revived, without any very
great success, by the abolition priesthood, and
Miss Anna Dickinson is their pythoness. We
are really sorry TO see one Of u sex which we
equally admire and respect condemned to such
obnoxious offices. In this enlightened age such
mummeries ought to be obsolete. But the abo-
lition priests, careful only Of their own aggran-
dizement, and careless of the injuries they inHict
upon the ptiable victim Of their arts, place
Miss Dickinson upon that modern tripod, the
stump: inspire her with the proper amount Of
gaseous matter; instruct her as to what oracles
she is to deliver, and then stand behind the
scenes and reap all the political profit of her
performances. They make her say what they
are too cowardly to say themselves Through
her they breathe forth threatenings and slaugh-
ter. She suffers in public estimation-poor
thing but they get the glory and keep up the
entertainment.
Miss Dickinson's last appearance was at the
Cooper Institute, on Tuesday evening. She
was introduced by Mr.. Oliver Johnson, Of
the AntiSlave,y Standard, one Of her
managers anG wirepullers. She began her
pythonic address by declaring that she
''wanted war--biiter, terrible, unrelenting
weak pardons." She wanted "to whip our
enemies until they cannot stand and cannot
sit, and cannot do anything but lie down in the
dust under our feet" Such language from
masculine lips would be dreadful enough; but
coming from q woman's lips, formed only for
kisses, smiles and sweet sympathizing speech,
they strike us with nameless horror. In The
silent watches Of the night we think OF them
and shudder. This war has produced many
revolutions; but we had no idea that II could so
revolutionize u woman's holy nature. Then,
after this terrific advertisement Of war wanted,
the modern pythoness went ON TO cuiogizc that
retired and retiring genius Of war, the cole
brated Bethel Fisher Butler. Upon him she
seemed to lavish her choicest praises. He is
In her opinion, "the greatest, grandest, most
majestic" fellow yet brought out by this "sub-
lime time" Besides plying the pythoness, we
also pity Butler. Defended by Ben Wood,
glorifed by Miss Dickinson, and with a SUBJ
scription already started to purchase his tomb
stone, he has, indeed, fallen lower than his
bitterest enemy could have desired. Better for
him had some friendly rebel bullet struck him
in that part Of his anatomy which the heart is
usually understood 70 occupy. Better for him
had his interview with the Lowell brick
layer proved fatal Better for him had
he sacrificed himself, AZ he did his troops,
at Big Bethel Better anything than this de-
fender and this eulogist, whose good words stab
him SO mortally, alasl
Then, having finished Ben Butler, onr pytho-
ness proceeded 70 revile the President She
|, spoke Of him as "this mani" she characterized
his terms Of peace ~ "a lie;" she said to the
South, "you shall be destroyed by the sword;"
she contemned the peace conference and
'scorned the "Holy Spirit, Heavenly dove" Of
reconciliation. This Language Of hers would
at once astonish and alarm M could we believe
that she really expresses her own sentiments.
But no; Wendell Phillips, twaddllng Tilton,
the irreverend DR.. Cheevcr and tho other priests
Of aboHtionism speak through her 90 through
. trumpet No woman could think such
tNoyghts and have such blood-thirsty desires.
II Is the managers who are eager for carnage,
rot the poor oracle, who only raves and
| tears herself No woman's heart could be 90
! hardened-no woman's voice so loud for war.
Miss Dickinson is really much more TO be pitied
than blamed. But, on the oth,r m j, how cul-
pablc are those contemplate eows1s The
hide behind her petticosts md Gid !icr r.ir'
the black and blooLy -cptsaces vhici taeis