The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-01
MRS. MARGARET VAN C0TT.
HER WONDERFt'L OR.iTORT HCBLED " =.
no SITIN's STRONGHOLD.
The Remarkable widows Newest " eparturs
Photographed In Moment of Inspira-
80, r,,lusiasm Of Large A.semsisee.

-PhOtOCraphed IN - moment of Ensptrn.
IAN rn,lusiasw Of Large A.senabisee.
Tho meeting that was nvcncd yesterday
afternoon, under tho auspices Of the American
Temperance Union. nllcd the large hall Of the
Cooper Union to overnowing, the main card Of
attraction being the announcement that Mrs
Margaret Van Colt. widely known rs the Widow
Van Colt. would be one OF the speakers. The
mco, ing Lad the mingled earnest ana holiday
aspect which has always been distinguishing
feature OF such gatherings Bcing largely COM
posed OF we'll dressed, poasnnt-faced women
and children. who. during the preliminary
stages. kept up a constant rusting with copies
OF the temperance print that had been dstribu-
ted at the door. and who generally wore smil-
ing. expectant air. the gathering might easily
have been tnken for n Sunday school festival;
but ms tho seats on the platform began to MI
with old-tmc temperance speakers, the real
nature OF the meeting would speedily have becn
alpnrcnt without any preparatory Information
Mr.. Mundy announced the object Of tho gnth
ertuE. AMI wns followed 10y the Uni9n's chap
lain with n brief hut energetic. indeed stou-
torian. temperance prayer Then s'mc little
,hldr1n sane to nian9 II iii,oid a siin
cred an l-hshloncd ,pmpcrau"r Grafton.
Thou. alicr soma cN.llcnt singing from Mr..
nnd Mr.. Guernsey Mr. Mnniy said that he,,
tween oclo, on saturday evening and
u'clocl, yesterday morning hc visited lOl bar
| rooms. IN all of which liquor was being unlaw-
| iuily sold. and that they wcr' all found Wiihn
| the boundaries OF one police precinct. H. then
| introduced Mrs Mnrgarc, Van COti. and she
was received with great applause.
The widow had been Occupying conspicuous
| scat In the middle Of the plaiform. leaning
against the central pillar and. hoWing Win dg-
nitv. even grandly. In HcknUWledg mt ui the
greeting accorded her. she stepped forth into the
| open pace allotted to Speakers " ith the conf
| dent micn and sweeping carriage ot prophctess
| giuryng IN nor mission anu conscious q nGr
| power. About sixty years Of age. hut with SUI
| dark hair and unwrinklrd chcoks. She Is Il tall.
| portly woman. OF masculine step. masculine
| gestures. strong masculine voice, und ot ~
| much stern. I'm compromising ior'e oi clnrhc-
| ter indicated IN every line ul her sguarr-laW'u;
square tempted. closc-lippcd, ilruly poised
| fnrc and head as would imurcss n stranscrw. III
| the possibility of her being the EuNcrncsS OF
! vast institution requiring the irun-hpund regu-
| laiion OF powerful Will and mighty ndiNid-
unlity
In speaking. also. her manner is essentially
| masculine and aggressive. S.c sweeps across
! the platform from side e. side with maI' -iic
! JunO-likr tread. makes her telling points with
| u gu-tv. thunler-c clnppy gusto that would arous'
the envy of an old-timc Arkansas stump speak
| times shr efluha -iges them rs ~trnirhbrniug
| herself up and then coming down rigid and
| solid upon hcr heels, with HuuiNrrins cNtcn-
| sion ot her clench'd hands. which enhances
| not a. little her effects.
Even in hgr manncr Of dealing with her
| ii me, the Widow Van Cot Ia strong end orig
| ihai. Entirely describing th" Old oihod-. she
hHs little to say OF the timo-honorcl contrast
| between ihc dtunkurds = home and ilo inmp, r.
| unrr home. of the c1utrntcd aud d-.r'.trnt"l u
wfc Of the coar-hcadcd and rum -mudllcI
| clerk ANA m ''hnnI D. or at any rutr. she rNc~
ihem up with such new 0ui original dressings
ns almost 10 disguise them. lntempcrancc,
| with hnr, Is a STRONGHOLD 20 hc siurmed, nnl.
sr.fiuC ihr n ~: u! lnr religion che ru~hcS into
the hroach with fierce shouts and battle calls,
prepared t. assault and carry All. ordio beneath
| thr walls. In drawing thc picture oi Inc SDr7
aud Stripes haunting Over "a blrroom with ii-
stan stuck ia the buuLhOl" Ot a h""r htrrcl. $40
| SwrllHd With oral lri'il rage ami S.urn. nni
aNoWrd TIM, u could never loo the symbol II plr-
p"rs H. be fp lOng a. alcuhoiic diS'uprhilou
ling rcd on it, precious folds Shc runs through
tho entire f.gturrs of tho ordinary temperance
haranguc-iudiN!d N!dunl. social. domestic, pohti-
cal. and religious hut with stormy. banner.
| bearing carnrstni ~ and sincerity TINT tlrili
her hearers ~ with fresh effects and novel I'M
pro--ious.
Nir- Van Co't began is ayiNg. with q wlthor-
nc .,laii 20 at sninn o. port ~ Wiip occupied ih'
lul. a,~3e hoi 'io tie l,itlnrm ctg", that .ho
had heard liU y irnil tur press. Oh" tIl- -lsiNrr-
| iul press that N.thollrm Yves dyiu. ouI iut i's
| country. Sn" WI-hrd To- E iGi0 su il i't u-s r.
! ten lY = "uuunt hrr DD4 O.. .'it '>i r, i't
| in tle Wet in which -"' fnt pui IS IS % nan
dr,d souls on the roh4 To- heaven ont "i ouo
| thou~l vino w.i' o.. 30. tli i+'r q o.. .n- i'-
| o. Tie Ir.p.r way, ant ti.n. 80 ll So o. ~"
press ami the world lnat thcro is pl' ntN - hi'
! in cll-iasl Toned N'tholisn set, ~h' cal ID up-
aud l'iu hor ip singing:
81 h4t the in0t, ef le.n" name
The entire company arose to th,ir Feet anil
| ppuIcl lDrtl, the v. rl- &c thr obi hNlu. rs
hy vor-o. after she bad road It. $50 th"u grad
uIIiy slipped into her temperance THONG. Nu.'l
T." - sAr nr' q lur q r','N INnf +
from the lrr'oHnly unl rn n'vuNb pinus
tone u;Ht ems eyer 10 l~p'r h.r, nnd li'lo
her hearers d ..pN ihtei' -t"d duN 90 tl.' %, .-c
! when SiIt NI~ -. ri.d With l. .us continued Nu
! u.ause. aul -urruuuded ~ ly "a muil ltud 'oi 4ti
s'Nos wAo q" sired to clrr thcir individual On
1