Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1889-08-31
Mrs, Lille Devereux Blake.


South than that of Mrs. Lille Devereux Blake,
President of the New York State Woman Suffrage
Association. There is always pardonable curiosity
in the wish to learn more and more OF the life
work Of person SO widely known as Mrs Blake,
and still more particularly does she call forth our
admiration, as one of the noble few who dared
to step forth and declare themselves upon the side
of the weak and oppressed-that half OF humanity
who, since the beginning, has been almost totally
ignored in all matters concerning the general
welfare, in which she has ever held one-half share.
. Lille Deyereux Blake was born in Raleigh, N. G.
Her father, George P. Devereux, was wealthy
Southern gentlemen of Irish descent. Her mother,
Sarah Elizabeth Johnson, was OF an old New York
and New England family her great grandfather,
Hon. William Samuel Johnson, having been one of
the first two senators from Connecticut, and LATER
president of Columbia College, New York. Both
Mr. and Mrs Devereux were descended from
Jonathan Edwards. Mr.. Devereux died in the early
prime of life, and his widow removed to New
Haven, Conn, where her daughter Lille, received
every advantage of education, and was, for the
few years of her brief young lady life, reigning
belle. In 1856 she married Frank G. c. Umsted
lawyer of Philadelphia who died in 1859, leav-
tune she had inherited was much impaired, and
she at once entered upon literary career which
brought her an honorable independence.
In 1866 she married Grenill Blake, of New
York, and made that city her home In 1869 she
became deeply interested in the movement for the
reimbursement of women, to which she has since
so largely devoted her life In addition to con-
tributing to Harper's, the Atlantic, Frank Lesie's
the North American Review, the Forum, and many
other leading periodicals, Mrs. Blake has published
several novels, of which the best known is 'Fet-
tered for Life" story designed to illustrate the
subject condition of women. In 1883 she deliv-
cred series of lectures in reply to the Lenten
discourses-on women by the Rev. Morgan Dix, -
DID. These Lectures were the sensation Of the
day; printed under the title of ''Woman's Place
To- day." they have had large sale.
Mrs. Blake has been active in all legislation fa-
vorable to her sex in New York. She was instru-
mental in securing the passage of the School Suf-
frage bill. She has agitated the question of police
matrons, and was the first person to demand the
opening of Columbia College to young women
She has conducted many legislative campaigns, has
addressed committees of both houses of Congress,
as well as the New York and Connecticut legisa-
litical campaigns, and has addressed large au-
diences in all the States from the Pacific to the
Atlantic. In all her public work, Mrs Blake has
been generous almost to fault, ever willing to
speak for reform for merely nominal sum, or to
aid struggling society by addressing it without
compensation.
Mrs. Blake is described as remarkably hand
some woman, possessing rich-toned and well
modulated voice. She is an interesting and forc-
bic speaker, presenting her arguments in bright
ana attractive form, while her lectures abound in
witty remarks and amusing anecdotes.
He (before the wedding)-'You are sure YOU
won't be nervous at the altar"
She (four times widow)-"I have never been
yet"
MRS. stebbins-"I don't see why London
shouldn't have beauty show for men nc well 40