Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-10-10
MISS WILLARD'S BIRTHDAY.
The Noted Temperance Woman Todn
Celebrates Her Fifty Two Years

The Noted Temperance Woman Today
Celebrates Her Fifty Two Years.
CHICAGO, Sept. 2S.--In one of the
prettiest residences of the beautiful
suburb of Evanston, and which bears
the appropriate name OF Rest Cot.
tage," one of Gods own women is to
day quietly celebrating the anniver.
sary of her birth. 1t was on Septem
Der %, 1899, that Frances Elizabeth
Willard first saw the light of day in
the little hamlet of Churchill, in New
York state, and consequently that
eminent reformer philanthropist and
humanitarian has reached her fifty.
| second year. From an early hour this
morning cable dispitche7, kilograms
and letters congratulating her upon
the happy day and wishing her God
speed in her work and many more
years of life, have been pouring in
upon her,while hundreds of her friends
and neighbors have called TO breathe
their congratulations and good wishes.
Nor Is this the only way in which the
birthday of one of the most eminent
women that the United States has ever
given TO the world is being observed.
Some time ago it was decided by the or
ganizations interested that every recur-
ring 2Sth of September should be made
Crusade Membership Day" for all
Women's Christian Temperance Union
women and loyal temperance legions,
and SO in thousands OF towns, villages
and hamlets throughout the world,
the natal day Of Frances Willard is
being devoted to renewed work for the
organization to which she has devoted
her life
The career of Frances Willard has
been notable one Graduating at the
Northwestern Female college at Evan
| ston, when only 20 years of age, she
three years later became professor of
natural sciences in that institution.
This position she surrendered TO be-
come the principal of the Gcnesee Wes-
leyan seminary From 1871 to 1874
she was professor of aesthetics in the
Northwestern university, and Dean of
the Woman's college, aud while occu-
pying the latter position she developed
her system of self-government, and
which has since been adopted 10y many
other educators. In 1874 she left her
chosen profession to identify herself
with the Woman's Christian Temper
ance union, serving as corresponding
secretary of the national organization
until 1879, since which time she has
been it president. AS secretary of the
organization she organized the home
protection movement and originated
bill from nearly 10000 people to the
Legislature of Illinois asking for the
temperance ballot for women. For the
past nineteen years she has been a
member of the executive committec~of
the prohibition party. Five years ago
she accepted the leadership of the
White Cross movement in her own
unions, and she hasobtaIned, throu 9Th
her influence, enactments for the pro-
lection of women in more than dozen
states. In 1883 she was elected presi.
dent of the American branch of the In
ternational council of women, and of
the Worlds Christian Temperance
union, which she had founded five
years ago. She is an indefatigable
worker and in addition to her Ia b ,rs
in the temperance cause and which
frequently take her from home foi
months at time, she has found time
to give to the reading world many val
liable and interesting works.