The Portland daily press., 1890-10-31
EREESTINE L. ROSE.
A "Reminiscences from Lille Deve-
Yeux Blake.

CORRESPONDENCE OF the freSS.l
NEW YORK, Oct. 29.-Probably the most
fiery orator that the early days of the
woman's suffrage cause produced, the
Patrick Henry of the movement, was
Ernestine l.. Rose. She was born in
1910, and her active years were over be-
those who knew her in her prime have
heard much of the romantic story Of her
life. Her early home was at Pyeterkow
Poland. She was the daughter Of jew
ish rabbi, so strict in his asceticism that
he practiced long fasts to the injury of
his health and temper. The earnest
child, seeing her fathers wasted looks,
once asked him why he inflicted upon
himself such austerities. His reply ''to
please God" startled her questioning
thoughts, and some time later she re-
nounced the faith of her forefathers, to
the distress Of her family and the horror
of her friends.
Her home was no longer happy, and
after a dispute about the settlement Of
her mothers estate, in which, though
she was then only girl of 16, she plead
her own cause in court and gained her
suit, she took the small property to which
she felt herself entitled and travelled
through Europe. In England she met
the early anti-slavery leaders, and gave
herself heart and soul to the cause Of
human freedom in all its aspects. While
there she married William l.. Rose and
came with him to this country.
uo,. Gre+ ,o,,I1io o,,1aoronoa ba,a 40
cited at the time great comment At a
mass meeting in the old Broadway tab
ernacle, held to discuss the question Of
free schools, one Of the speakers devia-
ted from his theme to denounce what be
called "infdels." Mrs. Rose stood up in
her place in the front of the gallery and
called him to order. A wild scene of
excitement followed. There were cries
of "Throw her DOWN. "Drag her out!"
and SO on, but she stood her ground, her
clear, sweet voice rising above the tu-
multi, her Impressive personality COM
manding respect. In few moments
silence fell on the crowd, and her elo-
quent protest against such an attack
was listened to with respect and at her
close applauded.
She was then only 26 years old, tall
and dignifed in figure, with keen dark
eyes, curling black hair and brilliant
complexion. Speaking of her as she was
in her prime The Boston Investigator
says: "She was an excellent lecturer,
liberal, eloquent, witty, and, we must
add, decidedly handsome - the Rose
that all were praising'" From this
period she became a leading orator Of
the anti-slavery cause and later of the
woman suffrage agitation. never heard
her speak but once, and she was then an
old lady and in frail health, but she
thrilled the audience by the electric
force of her words, and her dark eyes
flashed as her voice rose in the fiery
earnestness of her eloquence.
During the years of her prime she
Travelled and spoke extensively. Her la
bors were persistent in New York state
She addressed the legislature many
times, and it was largely owing to her
efforts that the state laws were passed
that secure to married women in New
York the right to their earnings and
their property. Before that time the
money due woman for washing, for
school teaching or for literary work be-
longed to her husband, and he could
draw her wages and spend them without
her consent, nor could wife hold or
inherit property-everything belonged to
her husband. The liberal laws which
we now live under are due to the tireless
eXertions of this gifted woman, and
never ought the women of New York to
forget the debt of gratitude they owe to
Ernestine l., Rose.
| l.. ID. Il,