Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1880-01-22
Anna Dickinson.

From the New YORK Times,
A lecture agent, who knows Anna Dick
inson intimately, has been unfolding her
life to San Francisco reporter. She is a
Philadelphian, and 81 years old. Her
father was Pennsylvania merchant OF
intleXible will and strong anti.slavery con-
vlctlOns; her mother member OF IN Cx-
cellent Delaware family; both were
Quakers, and reared their children in that
sect. A cross, willtul child, she could
never be taught to obey. Her father who
was accounted one of the best abolition
speakers in Philadelphia, failed in business,
and died when Anna was 10, and left his
family poor. Educated at a Quaker free
school and boarding school, she was very
bright pupil, though prone to be rcfrac.
tory. At n she wrote her "Garrison' s
lhbcrator," also verses for the minor
magazines, which she has never acknOwl-
edged. She left school at II and sought
employment. She taught, copied legal
documents, and worked in the mint.
When Wendell Phillips lpctured in Phila-
llelphlI on Il certain occasion, she scrubbed
a sidewalk for quarter to buy ticket to
hear him. Aiterward, the manager who
then had charge Of Phillips gave her 300 a
night for her fee more than twice as much
us the silver tongued Yankee has ever
received. She yearned for expression, and
found the occasion, Unexpectedly, at Il
meeting Of the Progressive Friends inter.
cSted in wOmen's rights. She used to 20
to the meetings secretly, butncver dream.
ed OF speaking publicly until Il Friend
made, one evening, violent and brutal
assault on her sex. His words filled hcr
with fiery wrath. As soon as he had sat
down, she leaped up, and without mo-
mcnta reelection, poured upon his
head torrent OF myective, ad-
ydncin- toward, and pointing her finger at
him, as she hurled burning reproaches in
his teeth. The audience was astounded
~ the fiery cloQuoncc OF the girl in short
,;iuts she was amazed at her own power
and audacity. especially when the offend
or slunk out of the hall without attempt
Ing reply. That determined her calling
and her future. Her kindred were shock.
cd when they had heard what she had
done; but her friends urged her to
continue what was so plainly her
vocation. She spoke again and again
and soon acquired a reputation fororatory
which grew rapidly. The press praised
her; Garrison invited her 20 Boston; but
she remained at the mint until, having
defended Baker and Stone, and denounced
Mcclellan in a speech after Balls Bluff,
she was discharged for political reasons.
During the second year OF the war, She
was induced to take part IN the political
campaign, and she has been credited with
carrying Connecticut and New lIamp-
shire for the Republicans. Once, when
addressing an audience in the mining re-
sjons Of Pennsylvania, a Molly Mcguire
snapped Il pistol at her head She saw
him take aim, and though in the middle
ora sentence, she finished it by an effort
of viii, She has earned great deal Of
money, it is said, but she has supported
all her relatives, who were needy, and
has been so generous on every hand that
She hls very little left. The lecture agent
confdes TO the reporter tnat she has had
any number of matrimonial offers, and
adds that the probable reason of he cclib-
acy is her ardent loy" OF freedom. Her
layoritc ring bears the motto, "Aboye all
things, liberty"