The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-07-02
II Heart BredhinS Experience.


ia givi ne an account Of the national temper
ance meeting in Chicago, June 6, the Inter
Ocean gives the following affecting biography
OF Mrs Molloy, editor of the Elkhart Qnd.)
Daily Observer:
The leading address was delivered by Mrs.
Emma Molloy. This lady ia somewhat new IN
the lecture field, but she is already acknowl-
edged as having few ri walls. With the excep-
ton OF Anna Dickinson, it may be safely said
that she is without peer among those Of her
own sex and, as for the other sex, ii would
perhaps be unwise to institute comparison,
as the result might prove non-complimentary.
Mrs. Molloy is a western woman, born at
South Bend, Ind, of American parentage, with
a slight admixture OF Irish blood. She was
brought up in that city and educated in the
public schools until ii years of age, when she
began the battle Of life as pedagoguess. At
IS she yentured upon the more trying situation
Of matrimonial career. When married about
three weeks, her husband wac brought home
one night intoxicated This was to her a new
phase Of existence something she had never
come in contact with before, and something
she supposed existed mostly in story and in
song. This was followed by the usual contr-
ton and promises of reform, and the ever
ready forgiveness and deeper and more tender
affection of the wife. 1t was also succeeded
by the customary lspses on the part OF the
nebrlate husband, and the steady sinking to
lower depths Of dissipation. In consequence
of his unsteady habits situations were more
and more frequently lost, and less and less
easily obtained. 1t finally became necessary
for her to assume support of the family, and
she obtained clerkship in the government
employ.
When sne had been married about four years
she was alone one night with only poverty.
suffering, and despair, when death came to
their first born. Her husband was Just block
and half away. She knew we'll his haunt, and
with the frenzy of despair she ran to tell him
of their loss. But the wife was driven from
the place by the rumseller, and told to come
there no more. With the strength born of
desperation she refused to heed the assaults
and for the third time made an attempt to in
duce her husband to go home, but without sue
cess. She WAS compelled TO return, crushed
and despairng, to the death-bed OF her child
alone. Az remarked by the lecturer when time
is measured by heart throbs vino can estimate
the length OF that fearful night? Even dav-
break brings light to the heart that is shroud-
ed IN the darkness OF despair. The day and the
night were both alike to her. for restitution
distress, violence we're her only heritage from
either.
Another child was born, and another taken
away and after ten wearisome years Of suffer
ing, the husband died in fit OF delirium tre-
mems. 1t is only when the brighter light Of
day is excluded from our vision that the stars
appear. 1t was not until all that was bright
and beautiful in earth was shut out from her
sight that the spiritual vision was enlightened
and intensified
she is again married. and 80 vivid are the
recollectons OF the past that she says she is
frequently left for a moment to doubt her
identity the transition between the life OF a
drunkard's wife and the heaven-ordained insti-
tuition OF marriage where the rum-i end holds
no sway, is so great. She made her first ap-
pearance LA literature when ten years Of age,
by writing little poem for ch,ld's paper. All
through her sorrowful life she has occasionally
found expression for thought and feeling In
print, until che finally became editor-in-chlef
OF the paper with which she is at present con-
nected Her success in journalism has demon
strated very clearly woman's ability in that de-
partment OF enterprise Fourteen months ago
she made her first appearance unpon the plat
form. Since that time she has delivered 339
public addresses.
As speaker she is fluent, logical, eloouent
and, what Is OF more moment, she il terrby in
earnest. She says that she bore her burden for
years according to that false system OF educa.
ton which teaches woman that an unfortunate
marriage Ii her own personal shame and dis
grace, something that she must hide carefully
from the world, would she save herself from
its reproaches. She has learned now the falsity
OF this abnormal public sentiment, and charges
1t straight home to the depraved Christian and
political sentiment that will permit such bur-
dens to be laid upon woman She saws that
the day Of women's bondage IL past that al
ready their eyes have rested upon Horeb's
mountsin-top, from which place they expect
soon to enter into the promised land that a
drunken husband is not woman's burden To-
fcted by the Almighty, but socetys shame -
and she will thrust back upon society it's own.
She goes to her work confident of the justice
OF her cause, aud strong IN the faith that the
God in whom she trusts requires at her hands
something more than prayers.