Smyrna times., 1882-05-17
A Woman's Expe. iencs.


Mrs. Matte A. Bridge, formerly Of
Jacksonville, Florida. the widow Of a
deceased Past Grand Master Of Odd Eel
lows. who has recently come into prOmi-
nence rs lecturer, especially ON account
If hex furciblr preScntment of the princi-
plies Of that benevolent order, is visiting
in Philadelphia. While in Boston 4 few
Years ago in circumstances that led her to
mediate release by suicide from an i'm
poverishment which her pride prevented
ler from disclosing, the discovery was
made by members of the order in that
city that she was an Odd Fellows widow,
md, as means of self-help, she began
occurring under the auspices Of the order.
Ter career up to that time had been a
;heckered one, and although she has SINCE
woven many Of her adventurous expe-
fences into lectures ON various subjects
the interesting narrative of her romantic
ife has never been given at any length.
since the death of her husband, six years
go, her personal history has shown an
ndcmitable perseverance and conquest
,ver difficulties which make her story OF
rial and adventure NEST striking illus
ration of what a courageous woman may
10 by her unaided endeavors.
FROM AFFLUENCE TO POVERTY.
Her father, T. ]. Noyes, came from
New Hampshire and was one of the early
settlers of Wisconsin, where. during life,
le was a noted physician and surgeon,
With lucrative prac ice He died early,
leaving the widow and daughter, who in
herited some of the singularly varied gifts
OF her parents and was allowed to rove in
| the direction of Whatever mplishments
| attracted her, from music and literature
and painting to etching and clay modelling
and carving. She was but girl of six
teen. beautiful and accomplished, when
she married Samuel IngersOll Bridge, OF
| Beverly, Massachusetts, and went with
| him to live in Florida Their life was ex-
travagant, and upon his death she found
herself and son, eight years of age, abso-
lutely penniless.
Mrs. Bridge then came TO Philadelphia
borrowing the money to pay her necessary
expenses, and earned her first few dollars
as correspondent for Southern papers AT
the Centennial. She not only wrote but
drew, and at the suggestion eff Mr.. Lippin-
colt, the publisher, to whom she showed
some of her sketches, she went to New
| York to study woOd-etching. While en-.
deavoring to perfect herself in this accom-
3hment she derived a precariOus support
by giving lessons in music.
BATTLING WITH THE WORLD
Then came months of "hard, crue
| work." to quote the lady's own words
Experiences of walking through cold anG
snow and rain, climbing stairs, quiverine
Under insult and snecrs; then lack O
work, an attic room, days without fire OIL
,Ven a candle and when the end seemed
lear succor at last" Frank Leslie gave
the lady rowing commission to travel a.
lrtist and correspondent through the
lagoOns of Florida, having as q specia
| destination the tribes Of Seminole Indian!
still remaining in the lower peninsula, il
order to study and illustrate their modes
1f life, dances and religious rites.
The trip was intended to cover th'
Everglades, Lake OkeechObee and th
surrounding region, much of which ordi
4ary tourists and correspondents Otter
pass hurriedly over or never penetrate
Eighteen months after her husband
leath, accompanied by her son, she lei
New York for the South. Her cOurag
was put to the severest test when, upo
reaching Titusville, at the head of tn
lagoOns, the only boat which was goin
the entire distance of five hundred mile
she desired to penetrate was burned t
the waters edge. She solved the difficult
by securing a small vessel, with negr
bOatman for companion, and provide
with a tent and provisions for five week
she started for the broad and treacherou
lagoons, feeling that, regardless of peril
she must do the work that had come
hands.
IN A PERILoUs POSITION.
In the glimpses of that remarkable tri
- as given by the lady, there was much
almost dramatic interest. On one occasiC
the boatman was obliged to carry the be
for safety on his shoulders through thr
feet of water to the shore, distance
three-ouarters of q mile. Meantime Il