Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-16
POLITICAL SENSATION.

Not Lecture-The Manuscript of Her
Address Stolen FROM the Nswhail House
Sudden Cancellation OF. Her Engage
ments by Democratic Msnagers-Perry
II. Smith, Alexander Mitchell, A. g.
Parkinson and Others Interested The
Social side OF Remarkable Woman's
Life
milwaukee Chronicle, Nov. 10.
Matte A. Bridge has become well known
throughout the Northwest as lecturer. She
is niece of Alexander Mitchell, daughter of
the late DR.. Noyes and widow of Samuel In
gersoll Bridge, an Odd Fellow of world
wide reputation and high standing. In her
girlhood Mrs. Bridge was a decided favorite
in Milwaukee society. She inherited her
fathers wonderful conversational powers
and was one of the very handsomest young
ladieS ever raised in this city. 1t is under
stood that she married Mr.. Bridge, who
early became devoted lover, to please her
uncle, the railway and bank magnate. A
few years later Mr.. Bridge found it
necessary to go South for the
benefit of his health. HIS death
followed. His good name and an encnmb-
cred estate in Florida were all that he had
to leave his young wife. In his financial
dealings in Florida he had been too trustful
to partner, and through the latter's peridy
he had become almost impoverished. Pride
prevented Mrs. Bridge from folding
her hands and asking her rich relatives to
support her, 50 she went to New York and
Boston and began to labor ct journalism.
no Oh %
Frank Leslie, wrote on miscellaneous topics
for Boston periodicals, and in 1876 did some
of the best descriptive work that was done
by any correspondent at Philadelphia. Next
her New England friends aided her to ap-
pear on the rostrum. Mrs. Bridges adversely
was not pleasant, and she suffered even the
pangs of hunger many day
before she succeeded in get
ting writing and lecture engagements
enough to pay the necessary expenses of her
self and little son. In 1878 she came to
Milwaukee and has since lectured extensive
ly in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, most
ly under the auspices of the Odd Fellows.
Her public work has been against the wishes
of her uncle. Alexander Mitchell, but the
lady has fine voice, handsome face and
figure, and natural power of oratory, and
being Independent in spirit she has gone
forward in her professional career, without
the aid of any but the members of the order
/ to which her husband belonged and the few
personal friends who have been noble
enough to stand by her during her poverty.
| So much for preface.
During the recent campaign Mrs. Bridge,
not having any lecture engagements prior to
| November 2, prepared Democratic address
which she submitted to various we'll known
party managers, all of whom are highly de-
lighted with the ideas expressed, and the
clear and forcible manner of expressing
them. Chairman Parkinson decided to have
the lecture delivered in Milwaukee and at
two or three other points in Wisconsin, for
which Mrs. Bridge was to be paid out of the
regular campaign funds. The novelty of the
thing at first interested politicians, but when
they came to understand the contents of the
lecture they were amazed at the strength
| and originality which the lady displayed
in cause BAG enough at the best and
which had been rendered infinitely worse
by the dishonesty, bigotry, venom, despera-
ton and laundering of those who had as
sumed the management. In few days en-
gagements had been made at Chicago by
Perry q. Smith, at st. Paul by Ignatius
Donnelly, at Madison and Milwaukee By A.
o. Parkinson. and at various other points In
the State by local committees. Naturally
enough this reached the ears of her uncle,
MIR. Mitchell, who TOOK occasion to call upon
Mrs. Bridge, at the Newhall House. The
millionaire had always taken an interest in
his neice, but some private misunderstand-
ing as well as her determination to lecture
had rendered him GOLD and the lady found
his opposition like a stone
she had won honorable distinction by
means of hard brain labor and native ability
it seemed that he was willing to join in Civ
ing encouragement. The scene between
them can better be imagined than described.
The great railway king expressed pleasure as
| well as surprise that she should make such a
stir in the world of politics, or, rather, to
discover that she had the ability to create
such stir. Nevertheless, while full of com
piiments, he urged her to abandon the plat
form. On the other hand, Mrs. Bridge
pointed out with degree of reproach the
hard lines of her life-the desperate strug-
gle that she had had for years, without his
assistance, and she urged that he should DO
longer withhold his approval of her chosen
career. Upon this one point they continued
to disagree; but they conversed in kindly
spirit and parted pleasantly after he
had examined the chief features
of the new lecture. Mrs. Bridge became
convinced from her uncle's conduct that his
opposition to her chosen avocation would be
modified in the future. Her business pros
poets were such that she did not expect to
ever need pecuniary assistance, and the same
self-rsliant spirit that had carried her
through 80 many ordeals in the past, sus-
tanned her. Had she not made successful
strike in new field, where talent was needed
and where money seemed to flow as literally
as water or any other liquid?
AL arrangements were complete for de-
livering the political address, when, one after
| noon, upon returning to her hotel apart
aaents Mrs. Bridge discovered that the
! manuscript Of the lecture was miss
ing. 1t lay in the accustomed
place when she left the room, and its dissp-
pearance was mysterious and exatious. The
dilligent search failed to recover it. The
hotel management and the servants were
called into service in an effort to get bsc K
the paper; but all without avail. It had
| been stolen! Chief-of-Police Beck was con-
suited, but ne was unable to find any trace
of it. Before Mrs. Bridge had fairly made
up her mind that the address was lost for
good she received notice that her lecture en-
gagement in this city would have to be can
celled. There was not suficiency of mon
ey to defray the expenses. This was dis