The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-04-15
Anna Dickinson.

While seated III the dining room OF
the Continental Hotel, Philadelphia,
March Is, in the evening, l glanced up
and saw a familiar face and figure COM
ing through the open doorway the res
olute countenance and brisk, well-polsed
step were those OF Anna Dickinson,
who is cat home in the Quaker City,
where she began her great and eventful
career. AS usual, she was attired III
dark colors, made III style OF elegant
simplicity, but her hair was rather moro
elaboratelv dressed than has been her
won't, and fell down her back III quite
cascade of curls. | thought at fist that
Miss Dickinson must be in poor health,
but it subsequently appeared that she
was only hungry her face is thinner
than it was, however, and she told me
afterwards that 81 has never been so
thin before in her lie. There is the old
time brightness in her looks, however,
and "clear grit" is as plainly inscribed
upon her forehead as it was in those
days that tried mems souls when the
Quaker girl took up her work in life
and made herself name. How we'll l
remember the light when, child IN
small New York city, was taken TO
hear Miss Anna Dickinson, of Phila-
deiphia," discourse on one OF the live
issues her enthusiasm fired even my
youthful Imagination, and had l been
old enough and big enough l certainly
should have listed on the spot. l can
see her yet in her modest black and
white checkered silk and pink ribbons
as she pushes the short hair back from
her forehead with quick, impetuous
gesture, and PAGES the platform, her
hands behind her. The next time l saw
Anna Dickinson she was acting at the
Standard Theatre in her own beautiful
play of "Twixt Axe and Crown" and l
we'll remember the night when she ar
raigned the critics in speech as power
full as her eloquence could make it. The
intellectual traits of Miss Dickinson in
the role of the heroine of the play,
which she has steadily refused to part
with, gained her the respect OF those
who saw her, even if they felt that she
did not attain that same status as an
actress which she lad rejoiced in as an
orator. but | am of those who believe
that in some part altogether suited to
to her it would be possible for her yet
to make distinguished success. Brains
will tell-even as blood doss--in the
long run. Miss Dickinson has drama
called "Aurelian," originally written for
John Mccullough. in which there is
character termed Zenobia, and in this
she may yet be judged. Her present
intention is, however, to give readings
from this work which she has arranged
in the West at Steubenvilie, Ohio or
Easter Monday, the 22d inst. Miss
Dickinson has been stopping in this
house for some weeks she is engaged
in writing, and says that she does not
consider that she has done her work
properly unless her fingers bear some
ink stains at the conclusion of her efforts,
pen in hand. She steadily refuses an
interview" so am not at liberty to
report her views as to certain matters,
but can at least say that she has SEEM
ingly lost none of her interest in public
events, and that her conversation is as
pungent, original and analytical as she
can make it. TO use bit of contem-
poraneous slang, she is Enthusiastically
"level headed"