Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-03-21

lustrous when she speaks, but ii is in fact
gray. Her face is attractive, and while de-
noting strong character, is lighted up by Il
very concilitory smile, which seems to ripple
about the eyes rather than the lips She
dresses in black, and with becoming seve-
rity of style. About the neck she wears
white cause kerchief, crossed in front and
fastened with gold cross. On her fingers
are variety of odd rings, none very valu-
able except the one with the brilliant pearl.
They all look like souvenirs of the past, are
evidently presents, and worn with some
| pleasant association connected with her
benevolent mission. There is witching
pursuasiveness in her voice, ami clear. con-
tident precision in her accents which have
the most convincing effect on the listener.
Any one who hears her speak can under
| stand why her tones are so quieting and i'm
perative to the insane, whose widest rawlings
| she has often controlled by the magic tails
man OF her voice, and the perfect composure
of her manner.
So appears Miss Dorotbea L. Dix, as she
sits at an alcove of the State Library in AL
bany, answering her numerous letters, which
she does in a bold. masculine hand, and with
much celebrity. She is only fl und here for
few days or weeks during the session of the
Legislature. and Senator'S and Men bers of
Assembly are irequrnrly urUpping in to con-
suit her about the new asylum.
Sine has no home but her country. SIZE
travels alone, stops al hotels, and declines
The numerous tenders of private hospitality,
Invitations 10 dine and tea, which would mo-
nopolize the time which she had d, voted 10
the one grand purpose of her life. To all
applications TO take part in fairs ind testi-
walls, or to be present at public dtmoi slr4-
ions, she uniformly says, No. Her letters
are usually addressed to Trenton, N. j.,
where she has room in the insane hospital
which she aided in fuur ding; lut size only
stays there few weeks during the Whole
year. Miss Dix is literally cusmoI oiian
and her only home is where she hal ems to
he lal'oring in her phlanthrolic IN ssiOn.
rs she ntver asks or receives any dOi .iions
for her own use, il may be presumed d that
she receives AN annual income from her liri-
waite investments which ll' ces b,r hey old
any anxiety about her own suppori. In her
habits, size is very methOdic and regular
rising at 5 o'clock in the morning and ie;Ir
ing at ten III night
With all her intense devotion 10 her main
work, she has INDUCED in some little cpi-
sodes OF cliar able labr. Size Ind II de-
rided taste for literature III d in ls29 tn g
appeared IN Boston, aI,n, muusl, e"G;r-
land of Flora, Ofwbch She was ilI' ,u.n.r.
ilcr favoriie studies in girllr OIL wie ge-
ogy and botany, and sine stld,n, returns
rom summer walk without IA lunch of
overs, or Il brief extract fIOm the great
siore-buUk of nature. Lut her pen soon
'ook "A practical and refuImatory iuin, and
she subst qucnily published several laks
for the instruction of children. among
which We're Conversations about c, n.mon
Things, Alice and Ruth" and .EvtniDg
Hours. She also has written II variety Of
tracts for the benefit of prisoners and con-
vics.
Having once witnessed slipwreck at Au
Sable Island, n little dot Of land off the
stormy coast Of Nova Scotia, where only a
few rough sailors can live, the Incident ut
once suggested another humane idea to her
mind. She came home, and in two or three
Of our principal cities raised the means, and
sent five modern lie-boats to the island for
the rescue Of those who every year are, near
this point, left at the mercy Of The winds and
waves.
She nursed the Massachusetts volunteers
who were wounded in the streets of Balti-
more, and who shed the first blood in defense
| OF the nation. She made .the frst hospital
clothing, distributed the firS Eine matter,
and was the pioneer of thathg35fious sister
hood of American women whose deeds
shoot up like bright, exotic flowers along
| the scared and blackened path of war. She
had almost plenary power conferred upon
her in the administration of the hospitals,
removed and appointed nurses at will, ard
had general supervision of this department
of the service. Her immense labois in this
| field absorbed her whole time and energy
| for four years and half, and form an essen
lial feature of this dark, fearful period of
our national history.
Some two years ago few brave generous
Union officers conceived the idea of erecting
soldiers monument at Fortress Monroe
soon after the effort started il dropped, like
most other projects which RELY upon popular
gratitude. Miss Dix was besought 10 take
charge Of tile enterprise and carry ii on to
completion. She at first declined, cunsd-
| cred, and consented. She promised the
committee one thousand dollars, if size had
10 pay il herself. Stewart, the merchant
prince, gave her two hundred dollars for
Ibis purpose, and Jay Cooke, the celebrated
'anker, five hundeid dollars more, The
und is nearly raistd