The Portland daily press., 1883-01-26
Miss REBEccA WRIGHT.
Winohastar va

Miss REBEccA WRIGHT,
Winchester, Va.
The watch bears this inscription: Presented
to Rebecca l.. Wright of Winchester, ". bv
General Phil H. Sheridan; memento OF Sep
TENDER 10, 1861
The pin to which the chain is attached is
horseshoe encircling hand epcased in
gauntlet, which is clasped about a stirrup. in
which the chain is suspended. Attached are
tiny sword, the sheath of which is set with
precious stones; tiny fan, a seal and hand
some key
One might think The admiration which
southrons profess to entertain for courage
would have caused them 10 appreciate lie
qusllty as manifested by the little Quaker
girl, but such was not the case. On hearing of
the watch and the occasion of its presentation
the dictionary was rahsacked for language
strong enonghin which to express their detes-
tation of Miss Wright and her act
Among othel things the Winchester Times
said editorialy:
1.-THE watch was given for an act which for
the honor OF Virginia women, shall be name
less.'
Scorn, contempt, hatred met her on every
hand, and only the overawing presence of
United States troops saved her from personal
violence.
Ia 1868 she succeeded in obtaining employ
ment in the division of issues of the treasury
1t was not place affording any opportunity
for advancement, but an eternal count count
count of currency-a work in which fingers
and brain are almost transformed into ma
chimes.
Miss Wright was lady of education, refine
ment and culture, fitted TO serve in any place
given to woman in any department; fitted to
grace the best society that this proud city can
boast of. But with grand courage she put
her hopes, her aspirations aside and entered
upon the work determined to save her aged
mother from feeling the great changes brouoht
them by the war.
When she became Mrs. Bonsall she left the
department., but misfortune Overtaking her
husband she again bravely took up her work
At one time when reduction of the force
was made she was dropped, but the efforts of
fr ends 81 cured speedy reinstatement Whsth
er Low, in the changing condition of affairs,
she is any more secure in her position than is
another woman from Winchester who is en-
ployed in the government printing office here,
would be hard to saw; woman who as late as
1867 SO, would go into the muddy streets to
| escape passing under the despised stars and
stripes which foated at the headquarters Of
| the federal troops
1t is excellent to forgive-when pardon is
| craved it may not be bad thing to forget
sometimes, but it is hard thing to do, when
ringing in the ears is the appeal of the daugh-
ter OF as loyal man as ever lived, himself
| citf.an OF Winchester, man who sacrificed
his honor and his fortune to maintain his feel
ity to his country. He has crossed the liver
| and is resting beneath the trees on the other
side" This daughter is the only suppon of his
aged WldoW, ana alter long struggle secured
position in that government printing office,
but at reduction of the force shs wasedis-
charged, and the one who preferred to encoun-
ter sea of mud rather than let so much as a
shadow of the old flag rest upon her, was re
tanned.
Verify, times are changing when the oppor-
tunity to earn living is refused the daughter
of man who would have died willingly that
the Union might be preserved and given to
the child of one who would as willingly have
died to destroy that Union. Until there is
bread enough, and to spare, it would seem as
II the whole slices belong TO the children of the
household, permitting those who have only
lately acknowledged their membership in the
family 10 manage on the crumbs. We may
consent to pay price for Arlington, but ws
are not yet approaching that condition of nm
concern in which we can forget that thousands
OF our brave men are encamped there, resting
through night whose ending will usher in the
dawn of the resurrection morn.
The heroine of the battle of the 10Th of Sem
TENDER, 1864, deserves recognition of her SER
vices by the government; the best it has to be-
stow is none too good; the least it can do is to
insure her place in which to earn living "a
long as she has need of it.