The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-06-20
From the N. Y. independently
A Woman's Letter from Washington
BY MARY CLEMMER.

On one or the 1alreSt or May Sabbath
mornngs-a jewel of sunshine and azure
set between days of shadow and storm
the concourse that entered the Metro
politan Church was noticeable, even in
this church-going city. 1t was announc-
ed in its pulpit the Sabbath before that
the morning of this day would be set
apart for memorial services in memory of
Cornelia Chisolm, and of her father and
brother. She, being the especial lamb of
heroic sacrifice, seemed now the supreme
saint in this trinity of martyrs.
This announcement brought together
a remarkable congregation of the Metro
politan Church. which is large and in
telligent one. Then goodly company
of men and women who have tender eyes
and tenderer hearts; the fathers and
mothers of daughters whom they love
better than they love themselves; men
who honor womanhood even more than
they love it; women who bear heart
for all women in their breasts, to whom
an injury done to the lowliest woman
who breathes is their own. Anid this
rare company | counted the rarely good
face of Geo. w. McCrary, the Secretary
of War; of Senator and Mrs. Rollins, of
New Hampshire; of Senator and Mrs.
Window, of Minnesota; of Mrs. John P.
Hale, of New Hampshire; and of many
another less widely known to the world
In addition to these were men and
women known for their public opposition
to the administration of Hayes. In a
seat near the front sat Mrs Chisolm,
between her two fatherlcss boys. She
was dressed in deepest mourning; and
beside her sat woman, wearing the
same attire, whose unutterably sad yet
sweet face no one who looked upon it
could fail to observe. She was Mrs Gil
mer, less widely known, yet scarcely less
victim to Southern barbarism than Mrs
Chisolm. Her husband, whose only
crime seemed to be his adherence to
Judge Chisolm while his friend was lying
in Jail, was, while on his way thither,
shot dead by the way by the ruffians of
Kemper. 1t was to this sad, sweet-faced
woman that this husband said, as he
turned to go to deliver himself up: "Effie,
if l were to die suddenly, you would not
dead Would your She replied
No" Then, holding her little child in
her arms, she went up to her husband,
and with tears begged him not to 90 to
DeKalb; or, if he would go, to take her
with him. AS he had no conveyance, he
could not grant her request, SO started
forth on his lonely way He met the
deputy sheriff, coming to arrest him.
They were almost Immediately closed in
by armed men, one of whom, without
parley emptied charge of buck shot
into Gilmer's back.
80 Lord! Don't shoot any more
gave myself up, and you promised to pro-
tect me-" He was shot down, and alter
he fell his PROSTATE body riddled with
bullets
In this way is justice administered in
Mississippi A little later his dead body
was laid at the feet of "Effie," whom he
had begged not to bury him alive; and
here she sat by Mrs. Chisolm, in her
widows weeds, white as marble and tear
less as a statue.
Mrs. Chisolm's grief was of the same
sort only she mourned, far more-the
brave, strong true, loving husband who
had proved her never-failing staff; the
beautiful boy, tender as a girl, brave as
man; and the still more beautiful daugh-
ter, who, with the dew of her virgin
youth upon her, was strong enough and
brave enough to die for man. and that
man her father She carried powder,
bullets, and wadding, besides provisions,
secreted on her person, to her father in
Jail She stood gazing through the CRATES
of his cell upon the CHASTITY mob without,
sure of what his fate was to be. When
she saw it advancing, she fell upon her
knees and cried:
"Ohl why do you treat my papa so
bad? He never has harmed any one in
his life, much less any of you, so many of
whom have taken food from his hands
All the same, with loud and angry
shouts and oaths, they chopped the cell
door in with axes. Guns were thrust
through the CRATES, and fired within at
random. Seeing that the door must
soon give way, Cornelia took up an arm
full of guns, left by the guard, and car
ried them to her father. She was Just
in time to receive the contents of load,
which struck the iron grating then filled
her face with bleeding wounds
Cornelia and Johnny, with q courage
scarcely ever before recorded in the an
nails of great and chivalric deeds, endeav-
ored to hold the door back against the
fearful odds. 1t gave way, and Rosser's
gun shot off Johnny's right arm. So
close was the muzzle his clothes were set
on fire He screamed with fright His
brother Clay seized him, to bear him
away. He wrested himself from his
brother, and, rushing back, set his un-
wounded little shoulder again against
the door. In vain. The door few open;
when Johnny rushed to his fathers
arms, crying: Don't shoot my father!"