The New York herald., 1877-02-12
WIDOW VAN COTT.

A CRUSH AT THE COOPER lNsTlTurE-AN ELo-
QUENr TEMPERANCE DISCOURSE BY THE FA-
NOUS FEMALE REvIvALIsT.
Tho hall at the Cooper Institute crowded ycster
day afternoon tho occasion Of the exercises Of the
American Temperance Union. The great card which
attracted such IA largo attendance was announce
ment that tho Widow Van Colt would make her mp.
pearancc upon tho platform and cdiiy Tho audience
with nc OF her sensational rcvvas. discourses One
hall OF tbc asemblage composed OF ladies. When
tho fair and pobdcrUus widow made her appearance,
leaning upon the arm OF President Gibbs, there
loud clappins oi dainty hands and stamping OF male
ieet. The ''orutres>" cnvciopcd "A capac'ous
fur cloak which, upon taxing seat on The platform
she threw gracefully back from her well rounded
shoulders The lady attrcd quito simply in black
without ornaments OF any description.
THE DISCOURSE.
When prayer had been offered up by Rev. Mess-s
Osrandcr and Corey, aud short address delivered by
Mr.. Gibbs, the Widow Van Cott 10 The front Of
the stage. She by asking the audience TO
sing two verses OF tho hymn commencing A hail
the power OF Jesus name" When this request had
been complied with the lazy at once entered into the
very spirit OF her temperance discourse AS spec'-
men OF female oraiory certainly lar exceeded
any effort hitherto made Dy the celebrated
women Ot tnc who have hitherto rcapcd
Iaurcs on tho American platform. She o,nmn need
BY asserting that the Christian home the great
barrier against intcmperance. GIVE me-" she
sad, "a home where Lnri.t reisns, aud will givc
home where the intoxica'ihg cup Is unknown" All
the trouble to iutcmIerancc lay on tue shoulders
and AT the door ni Proics-cd Christians. Sho would
like every chutcn member turning the wine out
OF their cellar, aud III, reform might |,
our fashionable VINE tibbcrs tlat were sending down
6U souls he'll every year. Their influence had
lar more damag ng effect tho freaks tho lowiy
and bcsoticd inebriatcs The eloquent WIDOW handled
tho ru.nscllers w.hous gloves. % she east, cast,
which admittcd them to their par.ors SIMPLY
bcause they. were rich. III you look at
these f,cnss,' she remarked, win telling emphnsis,
striking the desk front OF her 'you viii lind then,
rcckiug with bioou They bcdewed with tho tears
OF tue we and the daughters they wiring sorrow from
tue hearts Of tho mother loaf their business
lOuthc the siimy setpcnts There Is no manhood
among them. pity sucn specimens OF humanity"
Mrs Van Colt described Visits 10 New Orleans
anu the success OF her missionary cnor,sein that
locality Her picture OF ten'lcrancc gatherings and
tho terrible Witnessed III the Crescent CITY IN
connection with these rcv'vais moved nuny OF her
audience tears she ctimaied that 90 0C0 persons
temperance; they were damned and down
eternal night. Tho 81 caker then took hold OF tho
American ag which hung III front OF the platform and
cricd:-
DER the land Of and the homo of the brave
She wanted tho tImc whom these lines could
be quoted with truth. There was no freedom in tho
country while II was ruled, to considerable extent
by the influence OF wbiskcy Shc hoped therefore, to
sec the time whei,, ruth, this country might DO
called 'sthc land of tho free" She exhOrtcd every
ans of The audience 10 buckle on their arm0r In order
To berac thousands oi their fellow from the
slavery Of rum Let them work until there came
along tho lines tho cry OF victory from all scctlous
OF the land. We have 400 miles Of rum shops in the
country and possibly 4.OO00OO OF drunkards. j.
would probably take ninety days Tor hs vas, army to
| pass gwen point Sho begged oi her hearers 10
srisc in the strength Of God, and do all they could TO
d. away with the great evil Mrs. Van Cot alec de-
nounccd the practice ot ministers in giving VINE TO
church members through the sacraincntal cup. She
called this 1.-The cup OF the devil" Had It not been
Tor police force OF this city would be
ample ut 500 members LoS 1t took 200D 10 keep the
peace.
Interesting anecdotes, causing frequent application O
to the eyes anon. the lides. The tai
| cptcd widow concluded by giving the pledge OF TEN
pcrancc to at least thirds OF the audience, who
stood up IN tho nall right hands ifted over theu
heads, The scene at tn Is time was dramatic