Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-25
Miss Wizards Southern Trip.

1t is Joy TO learn of Miss Wizards more
than cordial reception in her southern tenn
perance work. The following from the pen
of Mrs. ). T. Chaplin, of Charleston, South
Carolina, published in Our Union, thus speaks
Of her visit to that city: :" A woman speak
ing in public, except on the STAGE was a
new departure in this old conservative city
Of ours. We are strangely inconsistent, for
the very persons who go in raptures over
woman's acting, singing, or dancing, with
head, neck and arms uncovered and exposed,
under the blazing gas light, to the public
gaze, will shudder at the indelicacy of
modest and refined Christian lady, pleading
as only woman can plead, for the protec-
ton of her home and her dear ones. knew
that Miss Wizards reputation would COM
mand for her in the land of Huguenot and
Cavalier all the attention and respect that
could be paid, but was hardly prepared for
the immense audience that filed to overflow
ing, Trinity the largest church in the city,
or the number of distinguished ministers,
who to do honor to the gifted stranger, oc-
cupied the chancel. Every denomination
was represented by its best, and Miss Will
lard walked in with, and was introduced to
the audience by, an Episcopal bishop, ma
tive of the city. minister, who came in
rather late, said, Il expected to find a
cropped-haired, notwithstanding, individ-
ual, with hands in pocket, and voice keyed
up to high G, and could scarcely believe my
eyes, when | saw a graceful, beautiful wo-
man, simply and yet Hastily dressed, stand
ing modestly in front of the pulpit, and in
soft, sweet tones, pleading for those who
could not plead for themselves. | had not
listened two minutes before / surrendered,
and could no more doubt her call to the
work she is engaged in than could question
my own call to the ministry The first ut
terances that fell from her lips enchanted
our attention and made us conscious that a
mind of the very highest order was claiming
our consideration. She was listened to not
only with respect, but with reverence"
The following is from one of Miss viii
lard's Pencil letters under date of April
I'd: "My southern trip is delight. The
people are like band of brothers and sis.
ters. The officer whose company first fired
on Fort Sumpter gave me my earliest intro
duction to southern audience. At the
capital of the Palmetto state, spoke in the
Baptist church, where the first secession
convention was held. Our gifted Mrs Nc
Leod, whose son lost his right arm in the
confederate service, is my associate, and
Mrs. Sallie f. Chaplin, the friend of Lee,
author of Fitz Hugh st. Clair has been
my kind and genial hostess. Unlike the
quarreling senate of the United States, we
have no time for mutual recrimnation. 1t
takes every breath of our waking hours, to
plan for the overthrow of an enemy, hated
alike by north and south, and to plan for
the defense of homes equally endangered on
both sides of Mason and Dixon's line. God
speed the day of living issues and reunited
hearts y
Miss Wizards father was an intense
thorough-going abolitionist and Unionist
and, as one of the Legislators of Wisconsin
exerted all his influence against slavery and
secession, as well as against the rum traffic