Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-29
friends for the land where the Goddess of

Trollope, famous several years afterward.
Then followed visit to France
! where, by virtue of her wealth, family
| and literary reputation she was cordlally
received by The best society. Here she was
distinguished BY the friendship. OF La
Fayette, and received great attention 1rom
ootn eminent Republicans and Royailss''
Her Slow Project in Tennessee.
While in America she had been greatly
surprised and shocked by the fact of negro
slavery existing in a land of boasted free
DOM With the zeal that counts sell,
sacrifice as little compared with the good
end in view, she determined to devote her
means and energies to elevating the slaves,
and to showing their capacity, when
educated, for independence. With this end
to be attained she bought 1000 acres
of land in Tennessee, and established
community of negroes, where for several
years she devoted her time and talents to
aiding and educating the slaves for freedom.
Here she was visited by her friend Mrs.
Trollope, who said afterward that to her
sdesolate was the only word and the only
feeling that presented itself" But she
added II never heard or read of any en-
thusiasm approaching that of Miss Wright
in this enterprise except in few instances
in ages past of religious fanaticisn."
Owing to q breakdown in the health
o. Miss Wright, and other causes, this e1-
pertinent proved a failure, as did that Of
the New England philosophers at Brook
Farm and other practical tests of Fourier's
social theories. When compelled to give
up her hopes, she gave her slaves their
freedom. sent them safely to Hayti, and
furnished each of them with small capital
themselves.
A Woman on the Platform
Robert Owen had established community
at New Harmony, in Indiana With
warm side for the success of this project,
Fanny Wright accepted the invitation of
Owen to take the position of editor of the
New Harmony Gazette. While writing for
this paper she became convinced that the
God-in-the Constitution people and the
clerical party in politics were bent upon
the reunion of church and state, and thus
endanger the liberties of the people. To
the end of arousing public opinion upon
this matter, she courageously decided to do
what no other woman had dared to venture
to go upon the platform as a speaker.
She delivered her first lecture in Cincin-
natl. Away back in 1928 for a woman to
make her appearance upon the platform re-
quired the courage of a hero. Such thing
was shocking, dreadful, utterly incompati-
proper for woman.
As might be supposed, she encountered
bitter opposition. But her earnestness, her
wonderful gift of eloquence, her amazing
power of expression and her splendor of in
teIlect produced an extraordinary effect.
She was opposed and abused by the clergy
and the press, but, as John W. Forney re-
1ates, "she maintained an undaunted front
and persevered to the last" That she was
gifted with great powers of mind was shown
BY the fact that her upholders included
some of the best intellects of the country.
In all of the large cities she lectured upon
against slavery. and its supporters and de-
tenders branded her as an ''infidel, and
left no stone unturned that might be used
to attack her.
In Advance Of Her Time.
familiarly called, who go years ago was
slandered and prosecuted for her radical
views OH slavery, the cruelty of creeds, and
the rights of women by the pulpit, the
press, and the narrow-minded of all condi-
tions is justified in the present. The re-
forms she then advocated have been ac-
cepted. "One of the deepest thinkers of |
all ages"-Giordano Bruno, was burned at I
the stake for his heretical opinions in 1000. |
Now his memory has been vindicated by a |
statue erected in his honor within the very |
walls of Rome. Who knows but that |
Fanny Wright, whose most ardent desire |
was for the good of humanity, may be like |
wise honored as the pioneer of the Woman's !
Rights movement.
Judging by her picture she was beauti- |
full woman. As described by one who saw |
her. she was tall and finely developed. Her |
expression was rather serious. but her smiles |
and sweetness of manners made her charm
ing. Her hair, naturally curly, she wore
short, which was held to be one of her sins.
The magnetism and eloquence of her speak
ing are said to have been thrilling and pow
erful beyond description. For ten years
she was before the public as lecturer Her
views upon slavery, and the right
and duty of women to use their talents
rather than to bury them, endeared her to
The Quakers When she appeared upon the
platform in Philadelphia she was surrounded
BY body guard of sweet Quaker women,
who honored her for her bravery and took
pride in her ability. When not lecturing
her pen was never idle. Tracts, pamphlets,
books, editorials, witty, spicy, to the point,
we're sowing the radical seeds that have
made this latter part of the nineteenth CEN
Jury rich with fruit.
What Might Have Been Expected.
After her sisters death had left Fanny
Wright alone in the world, she married
Frenchman named D'Arusmont. For a
lime it would seem as if they had lived hap
oily together, but, like most marriages with
foreigners, it proved in the end disastrous.
He demanded whole and sole possession of
Ter property under the laws that then made
wife q part of her husbands goods and
.hattel. He had nothing of his own, and
lis soul painted to obtain her wealth to use
rs he saw fit. They separated, and he took
Ter daughter from her, as he was justified
" the law in doing.
The brilliant and gifted woman, whose
asst days were thus clouded in sorrow, died
n 1852, and was buried in the Spring
Irove Cemetery at Cincinnati The visitor
o that beautiful city of the dead will find /
yerv handsome monument to her memory
rected by her daughter. A portrait of
his hero in reform is carved upon this
,eautiful memorial, which also bears the
inscription of her name, her birth and her
cath, with the following extract from her
wn words:
1 have welded the cause Of human I'M
rovement; staked on it my fortune, my
equation and my life. Human
ind is but one family; the education of its
outh should be equal and universal.
BESSIE BRAMBLk