The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-06
from the Galaxy, March Is.
MISS DOROTHEA L. DIX.

Dol of philanthphy, Of unselfish, heroic
devotion in alleviating the sufferings OF
humanity. Yet how little does the
public know Of her personality, her hab;
its, where she was born, or where she
resides. Like Shakespeare, she has lost
her individuality in the greatness of her
work. Her presence is felt but not per
ceived, just as single grain of subtle
perfume fills whole room, but is itself
unseen. Still, Miss Dix is no myth, but
only flesh and blood marvel When
her achievements are stated III the ag.
gregate they suggest miraculous power,
but are, in fact, practical illustration
of whist one woman can do in thirty
years when inspired by noble purpose,
and working increasingly for the good
of the race.
She has been instrumental in estab-
fishing thirty two public hospitals for
the insane-ons in Rome, one in Dal-
malta, another one on the Isle of Jersey,
one in Nova Scotia, one in Newfound-
land and the remainder chiefly in our
own country. With the episode of four
years and half of service in the mill
tary hospitals during the rebellion, this
stupendous labor constitutes the story
of her life. Her career as a philapthro-
pist is all that the world has any right
to know, and yet, apart from any vul-
gar curiosity, it feels a natural desire
to learn something of the personnel of
this angel ofmcrcy. Her curte de cisite
is seen in none of the shops, few people
seem to have met her, and the sketch
ofl hon h. ,,o,i,o,,
dia is very incorrect, was written 10y
one who never saw her, and even mis-,
states the place other birth.
Boston is the city of her nativity
Her grandfather was physician, but
her father, owing to delicate health,
never adopted a profession. Gen. John
A. Dix is not, as is often stated in the
papers, her brother, but is near blood
relative
Miss Dorothea L. Dix was once a
young lady of the American Athens, in
aff1uent circumstances, and, like a thou
sand others, in a situation to lead life
of aimless ease. Like John Howard,
she had, when young, \ very frail and
impaired constitution. She WAS sent
to England, and on several voyages to
warmer climates, to recover her health.
When she first arrived in Liverpool she
WAS FRUSTRATED with illness, and it was
eighteen months before she was able, to
be borne in the arms of her nurses to
the home bound ship. 1t is probable
that she rescued herself from chronic
invalidism by her srong will and the
inspiration ofthe philanthropic labors
(which chn hn~.n bofo., bn, i
was ended.
One Sabbath, as she was coming out
of DR.. Lowell's church in Boston, the
steps were crowded in front, and she
overheard two benevolent gentlemen
talking about the horrible condition of
the Jail in East Cambridge, where there
were number of young prisoners
awaiting trial. Early that week, al
though under the care of a physician,
she visited this institution, and there
found in addition to the other inmates,
thirty insane persons, in the most
wretched state of filth and rags, breath
ing pestilential air, shut up in dark,
damp cells, and receiving no treatment
whatever.
The surroundings of the others con-
fined there were not much better. She
began her task by conducting religious
services in the Jail on the Sabbath,
which had been wholly neglected. Soon
after, she act about relieving the physi-
cal sufferings of these unfortunate out
casts of society.
AS the accommodations for the insane
were insufficient in her own State, she
applied to it's legislature, and on the
facts being brought to their knowledge,
an appropriation was made for enlarg-
ing their asylums. In her younger
days Miss Dix was very intimate in the
family Of William Ellery Charming, the
celebrated Unitarian divine, but it does
not appear that he gave direction to
her philanthropic enterprises, for while
sympathizing fully with their purpose,
he rather opposed her exhaustive exer-
tons on the ground that she would de-
stroy her health. But she had receiv-
ed thorough education, which had
taught her to rely on her powers, and
when her resolve had been deliberately
formed, opposition only increased its
strength.
After her success in Massachusetts,
she went on visit to Washington, and
while there examined into the condition
OF the insane, and found sad need of re
formation. She called on John Quincy
Adams, then representative in Con-
gress,. after having held the highest
office in the gift of the nation, and the
sympathies of the old man eloquent"
were at onss excited. He secured, at
her suggestion, the passage of a bill
making very adequate appropriation
for the cure of the insane in the District
of Columbia.
Her life work was now fairly begun.
She comprehended it's scope and mag
nitude; she prosecuted it with system,
practical method, and indomitable ener-
gy. With a quiet persistency that ex-
cited no opposition, and a persuasive
earRestness which won the support of
those whose aid she required, she gave
up her home, her friends, quiet renounc-
led the literary leisure for which she had
a decided taste, the joys of domestic
life, the fascinating pleasure of society
she consecrated everything which
had in it any element of selfshness to
y<ba saruioa of humanity