The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-03-07

Anecdotes of His Early and Later Life, by
Mrs. Mary A. Livermore. "He Owed His
Success to His Wife"

Mrs. Mary A. Livermore. HE Owed His
Success to His Wife"
Mrs. Mary A. Livermore was an old
friend of the late Wendell Phillips. "He
was always on the side Of the weak or
the helpless or the fallen in any ques-
ton" said Mrs. Livermore, as she seat
ed herself beside her husband. "He
was a rich, a natural born aristocrat, re-
fined in his tastes, the idol of society,
handsome as Apollo, with splendid an
cestry-there was nothing which that
man could not have reasonably expect
ed. That such a man, who had held
himself aloof from the masses, should
take common cause with them was O
surprise to his fellow students at Yale.
Z have a distinct remembrance of the
stirring events in which Phillips figured
In the abolition movement. / have been
at public meetings when rotten eggs
came crashing on the stage about Mr..
Phillips. | never saw him finch or
manifest any excitement. He once
told me that he owed his success
to his wife, that she had led the way
and he chung to the hem of her gar
ments. Those who know the wonderful
woman best understand that he did not
over-estimate her. She was an inva-
lid, afflicted with spinal disease, when
he married her. The disease has pro-
crossed until when she stands as nearly
erect rs possible her head and knees are
only a few inches apart. She has been
a great reader, and Mr.. Phillips always
counseled with her on the most trivial
matters. His tender care for her was
a beautiful example of domestic affec-
ton. To show you of what sort of stuff
she was made, / saw Mr.. Phillips On the
rostrum one night when the feeling
against him was most bitter. The May
or of Boston-cultured Boston-had
told Mr.. Phillips that if he persisted in
speaking he would not be responsible
for his safety. They were trying times,
and many a woman would have urged
her husband to come home. As Mr..
Phillips vas speaking, a messenger
handed him a note. 1t was from his
wife, and contained these words: No
shilly- shallying, Wendell, in the face of
this outrage She had heard of the
conduct of the mob, and there was her
m essage.
NO wonder that Mr.. Phillips was
devoted to his wife. She was an heiress,
and he inherited q large property, but
they lived q simple life. The people IN
an adjoining house were inclined to be
noisy, to the annoyance Of Mrs. Phil
| lips, and Mr.. Phillips rented the house
and keptit closed in order that she
might not be disturbed. He would
never make out a lecture tour longer
than a month ahead, and if, as he was
entering the hall, he received a tele-
gram that his wife was worse, he would
take the first train for home, and his
audience would call for him In vain, for
nothing could detain him. Mrs. Phil
lips is one of the best posted women on
the question of republican government
In this country.
s'The last public address that Mr..
Phillips delivered was at the unwilling
Of the statue to Harriet Martineau, on
hidden to come by his physician, who
had warned him that he was liable at
any time to die of heart anguish, the
disease which had taken off all the 9TH
er members Of the family, of which he
was the last. We had not dared an
nounce him. When he came in he was
evidently pleased with the ovation ten
dered him. He said then, Il presume
this is the last speech / will ever make
II said to him "You must not die,
Mr.. Phillips. What would your wife
do without voug He rpnliad Have r