The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-04-15
MISS wILLARD'S VIEWS.
Tho Warmest Affection Always Exissed BE.
tween the Sisters.

tween the Sisters.
CHICAGO, April l0.-'I really do not
know what to make of this report in re-
gard to the unjust incarceration of Anna
Dickinson" said Miss Frances i. Willard,
president of the Worlds womap's Chris
tian temperance union, today. II have no
authoritative information on which to
base a hypothesis" continued Miss
Willard, land l was never in my life more
astonished than when l read the state
ment. What l do know is that have
been acquainted with Susan E. Dickinson,
Annals sister, for the last fifteen years,
and that to my knowledge, she has been a
most generous, faithful and beloved sister
There was the most cordial and loving
relations between the two sisters,
and | have, times without number,
heard Anna speak in the most affectionate
way of Susan. Indeed, have always re-
garded Susan as the mainstay OF the fam
lily. Anna was always erratic, but Susan
went on in the even tenor Of her way, and
was always to be depended upon. Susan
has always belonged to the society of
AAASAAOC Al ACAlAc, duh Alslo DCCAA ACkdluCh 40
a most conscientious, high-minded Chris
tan woman by all who knew her. l
could not believe Susan Dickinson capable
of the base conduct alleged to her under
any circumstances, but, really, do not
see what she could hope to gain by such a
course. The plan for the fund which We
hoped to raise is that it shall he placed in
the hands of the trustees and that only the
interest shall be paid to Anna Dickinson,
and that it shall be kept as a permanent
fund for the purpose OF aiding any woman
who has given her life to the public and is
no longer able to care for herself.
Here are two letters from Susan Dick
inson which l received recently" said
Miss Willard. "In the one, dated April 3,
che tells me OF Annals removal and says:
Il could not 60 with her, because. as is so
usual In such cases, she turned suddenly
aud violently against me, and until have
the assurance that it is better instead of
worse for her to see me, / shall wait In
the same letter she speaks with confidence
Of what she hopes Will be the result of
her being under DIR. Frederick w. Seward s
care, and tells of lady who was similarly
affected and perfectly cured by his treat
ment"
Miss Susan closed this letter of April 3
to Miss Willard with: GLOW earnestly /
thank you for all you are doing and for all
your tributes to Anna in what you write,
have no adequate words to say. But |
pray God to bless you, and look forward
to the day when you and Anna shall take
loving counsel together"
In the letter to Miss Willard, bearing
date April 6, Susan Dickinson speaks of
Louise Mcdonald, who was Anna Dickin-
sons maid when she was travelling and is
devoted to her, and who is now a widow,
as going with her to DIR. Stewards from the
Danville asylum. This was because of
the sudden dislike Anna had conceived
for herself. She says: "At first Anna
would have nothing to do with her, but
later was persuaded TO make friends
with her. You see from the first Anna
has been intensely, bitterly suspicious and
set against all who have been nearest
and dearest to her"
Miss Willard expressed it as her opin-
ion that the hardships and overwork to
which Anna Dickinson subjected herself
for many years and her resultant i'll health
for some time past would very naturally
result in condition that would produce
| all sorts of Authorizations. And that
without knowing anything about it. Miss
Willard thought Anna Dickinson, while
appearing quite sane, was the victim oil
utterly baseless delusion.