River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-04-30
SHOWED HER TEMPER.
Anna Dickinson Makes Painful Exhibit
tiOn During a Lecture In New York-A
Violent and Incoherent Attack on Many
Prominent Men.

Anna Dickinson Makes Painful Exhibit
tion During Lecture In New York-A
Violent and Incoherent Attack on Many
Prominent Men.
New YORK, April 27.-At the Broad
way theater Sunday night Anna Dick
inson delivered lecture upon "Per-
sonal Liberty" II was Miss Dickin-
son first public appearance since her
confinement in an insane asylum and
her deliverance therefrom. When she
walked forth upon the stage there was
not large audience awaiting her, but
those present welcomed the gifted
woman with applause
She opened her address upon per
sonal Liberty" with a violent attack
upon the republican party and with
bitter words against various persons
prominent in public life. The
personal Characterization were
in many instances repugnant to
decency, and ladies who oc-
cupied orchestra chairs arose and
with their escorts left the theater.
Miss Dickinson paid little or no atten-
ton to these reflections. She frequent
ly punctuated her utteran ,es by APP
pealing to her hearers with this ques-
ton: well, folks, do you think me in
sane?"
She spoke of the postmaster general
as "Merciful Heaven" Wanamaker
This queer remark was received with
Kisses. She dwelt at great length
upon what she termed the pri-
vate character of Mr.. Wanamaker
and J. $. Clarkson. Her inn
prisonment at the Danville insane
asylum was her chief theme. She de-
clared it was due to a conspiracy of j.
). Garrison, Col. w. w. Dudley and
Senator Quay. They wanted her,
she said, to stump the country
for them in the campaign of
1855 and she was given a blank check
to fill in whatever compensation
she wished. The provision, however,
she declared, was that she should not
speak at all about the black man. Il
was Door" she continued, but, as
heav, is my witness, | did not want
their money because they wanted my
voice TO be silent on the slave ques-
ton"
She vowed that she was promised
Et- tbV Ati NNNAg SINNSAi wv iAitAet1 III ipnc
and 1000 each if her candidate was
successful. After bitterly referring to
various party leaders, she turned her
attention toward General Butler, and
these are some of her words:
The papers have said that there has
been conspiracy between us. Yes
Mr.. Butler has written me letters aud
they were addressed to Lizzie. He is
the only man who has ever addressed
me by my middle name. He knew
what he was doing, but he will answer
for It all in court of law. | have had
unnumbered sorrows and / do not
place a mask or veil over any of them. a"
Speaking of her theatrical expert
ence, she declared in vehement terms
that the press of the country had
wronged her. She never lost money by
the venture. Her income from long
ago, she said. had been $40, 900 annual
ly. She had lost $50, 600 in speculation
bond speculation.
Passing from her stage experiences,
she gave what she declared were the
reasons of her being confined in the
asylum. She made the statement
that she had been opposed to the
republican party, and she said
she charged that party with placing
her in the Danville asylum. She
gleefully declared in the next breath
that the defeat of Mr.. Cleveland in 1855
was due to the fact that sic had been
in tlie ranks against him. Then the
speaker rambled again toward British
politics. She spoke of dining with Par
nell and thinking him "a little tin god
on wheels"
Then she Landed the democratic party
and resOrted again to such personalities
that her utterances were Kissed and
more of her audience left. As the few
who remained to the close of the
harangue were leaving the theater eX-
pressions were heard on every hand of
pity for Miss Dickinson and also asser-
tions that her once brilliant mind had
unquestionably given way.