The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-01-26
Miss Ann" E. Dickinson.

State journaD, and especially those liv-
| ing in the rural districts.
She is native of the City of Phila-
delphia, Pa, and was 26 years of age
the 2Sth of last October; daughter of
John and Mary Dickinson. Her moth
er's maiden name was EdmundsOn.
She was the youngest child of the five
children of her fathers family; he dy-
ing when she was but two years old.
Her widowed mother was poor. Anna
often swept the streets and employed
herself in other mental labor to aid her
mother, and buy books &c. lowing to
her mothers limited means she was
educated in the free schools of the So
ciety of Friends" Meeting there the
children of wealthy parents-Quakers,
they would laugh at her poverty, and
thoughtlessly ask her "why she wore
such common clothes ?" She would
promptly reply, "my mother is poor,
and we work for all we have"
"Her love for her mother was the
strongest feeling of her nature"
She was born a queen; she digniied
whatever she touched. even the broom
became a sceptre OF royalty in her hand.
"When about thirteen years of age
she visited lawyers office one day, on
her way from school, and asked for
some copying" He, pleased with the
her If she intended to write it herself.
She said, "Yes." He gave her some,
which she did 80 we'll that he interested
himself at once in her behalf How to
get money to buy books was the one
thought, next to helping her mother,
that occupied her mind.
She graduated in high school in her
native village. When fourteen years
old she published an article headed
'.SlaVerY" in the LiberdtOr. She early
determined she would be public
speaker.
ON one occasion she scrubbed a side
walk for twenty-five cents to hear Wen
dell Phillips lecture on 1.-THE Lost Arts"
How many young people are willing TO
labor for money to hear Miss Dickinson
lecture In her fourteenth year she
attended Methodist protracted meet
ing, and was deeply moved on the sub
ject OF religion, was converted and
joined the church. Although brought
up Quaker, she disliked their silent
meetings.
She was pupil and assistant teacher
| in the town of New Brighton, Pa,
where she was employed to teach the
district school. She enquired of her
employers how much she was to have
per month. They informed her they
would pay her about one half what
they had been paying male teacher.
| "Sir, said she, are you fools, or do you
take me to be one7" Though am
TOO poor to-day to buy pair of cotton
gloves, l would rather go in rags, then
work for a set of men who propose to
pay women one half for performing the
same work that men do" land she
shook the dust of that place from her
| feet, and went home to struggle on with
poverty" Let the labOring class OF
women rise up and call her blessed, as
she tolls on and speaks out in defence
| of her dOwn-lrOdden sex. Soon after
her return home she was called upon
TO address large audiences, from time
| to time; which she did most successful
| ly. She soon became so popular as
public speaker, that she was called to
entertain the most distinguished audi
she entered the United States
Mint, to labor for wages; where
she remained until dismissed by
Ex-Governor Pollock, because she de.
nounced General George b. Mcclellan
Il traitor, ut the time of the slaughter at
Balls Bluff, and murder of Col. Baker.
She says "that this was the best service
the Governor could have rendered her,
as it forced her to the decision to labor
no longer with her hands" From this
time she continued speaking, on the
political aspect of the war. AT this time
MIR. Garrison invited her TO speak In
| Theodore ParkGr's pulpit, which she
did, on the "NatiOnal Crisis" The
| highest euCOmium and eulOgies were
passed upon her by the people and pub
| lie presSes-a single specimen sentence
we give:
the New Star-if TO have an au-
dience remain quiet, attentive and sym
pnthlZ!nS during the delivery OF long
lecture is any indication of ability,
tact and success OF the speaker, we
think it may be claimed for Miss Dick
| inson that she ~ At cOmpeer worthy to
be admitted as particular star In the
| large and brilliant constellation OF &c
| n nh tnlnnt AnInAVnFinLy tn d.
rect the country To the goal OF negro
| emancipation"
In 1852, now being in her nineteenth
year, she was employed by the State
Executive Committee TO canvass the
| State of New Hampshire.
In four weeks before the election, she
spoke twenty-five times,-everywhe
to crowded and enthusiastic audiences.
| Her march through The State was sue
cession of triumphs, and ended in
| Republican victory. The member In
the first Congressional District having
no faith that II woman could influence
politics.. sent word to the Secretary,
'Don't send that d-woman down here
| TO defeat my election" She did not go,
he was defeated by large majority
Wherever she went the Republicans
triumphed by signal victories.
| New Hampshire safe, all eyes were
turned to Connecticut. If the Demo-
Gratis carried the State no more troops
would be given to the war. "Republi-
cans were completely disheartened.-
| Anna went into the State and COM
pletely turned the tide OF popular SEN
timent." Even the Democrats, in spite
of some Of thescurrilous attacks on her
by some of their leaders and editors.
received her everywhere with the
warmest welcOme-tore of their party
badges, and shouted 'Hurrah for Anna
Dickinson" Some of the leading men
i'll Connecticut presented her "A gold
watch and chain, as memento for her
valuable services in saving the State
paid her a hundred dollars per day,
and for the last night in Hartford, four
hundred dollars.
To her is accredited in great measure
the saving OF New York and Pennsyl-
vania to the Republican party in 1864.
Time and space forbid us to say more
of this American Joan OF Arc''
She was invited by the leading and
conspicuous men of the nation, headed
by Hon. Hamilton Hamlin, Vice. Presi-
dent ofthe United States, and Schuyler
COlfax and one hundred and two other
Senators and Representatives., to lecture
in the Capitol building of the nation,
which she did, surprising the most
sanguine expectations, for which she
received over one thousand dollars, all
of which she gave to an orphan asylum
Dickinson. Long may she live to bless
her sex and race,-breaking down every
barrier which binders progress and the
elevation OF women to their legitimate
position in the governmental affairs OF
the States and the Nations, where their
voice may be heard IN the Legislative
and all other departments of govern