Morning journal and courier., 1891-10-24

9th of November, continuing in session ten days. On Sunday, the 18th, Lady Somerset will deliver the annual sermon, and present the British signatures to the worlds petition for protection against the
 liquor and opium traffic.
 This petition is to be signed by women only and when completed will be taken around the world to every government. Her section of names includes list of 25O, 900 from England and Ireland, 10000 from Bnrmah, and large number from Sweden, Ceylon, Japan, and the Sandwich Islands.
 This lady is the inheritor of vast estates and splendid position among England's nobility, but she voluntarily relinquishes her luxuries and dignities in favor of hard and absorbing work, sometimes among tbe poor of London, sometimes among the Welsh miners and colliers, always preaching the gospel of temperance, and always eager, earnest, and unsel6sh. She IS considered an exceptionally fine speak CT, having an exquisite voice and a most dignifed and charming presence; her energy also is untiring and she occasion ally addresses large audiences both morn ing and evening, even repeating her speech twice in the same evening to over flow meetings.
 oih oNdIC, says lIhuy OOucfSeo, "that to many our petition may appear a useless expression of opinion with only a sentimental value, so many petitions hay ing been signed and presented that the very names conveys'a sense of weariness, but in the multitude of petitions present. ed there has been none signed by women in every part of the world, of every race and color, signed by hundreds of thou sands and translated into hundreds of languages and dialects, until it is poly glot. Consecrated by prayer and strength ened by hope, it must surely carry with it the weight of solemn conviction, not only to those to whom it is presented, but through the press to nations afar."
 The reason of Lady somerset's active in. terest in temperance work is her belief sibility and in the hands the power of overthrowing the liquor traffic. "When l entered upon my estates" she said 'I naturally wished to raise the position of my tenants and laborers, to alleviate their hardships and introduce into their lives more culture and happiness; in 8 word, to make life mean more in it's possibilities to them than mere existence of work for daily bread. But found could do noth- ing until had first fought the great de- mon which was destroying them body and SOUL. aUCacKeO It, auQ Gne rest 1OllOWeQ. I was able thus to bring purer pleasures into their lives, and influenced them by my own example"
 This, then, is the secret of this weman's power: An example of strictly temperate living, joined to earnest, unselfsh purpose, and consecrated gifts of mind and heart. May she inspire many American women of influence to take up the work with the same undaunted energy. The national sin of America, as of England, is intem- perance, and from it springs all suffering, sorrow, abuses. Of these, woman must bear the larger share, why should they not then bear their part in actively pro- testing and fighting against it?
 Lady Somerset's charities also are nu- merous, among them London orphanage which she has founded. Her recreation is found in work with the pen. pencil and brush, and with her needle she has wrought embroideries that rival the ta- pestries of medieval times
 It will interest those who have found comfort and inspiration in that widely circulated little book, s'The Christians Secret of Happy Life," to know that it's author, Hannah Whitall Smith, accom- panies Lady Somerset as her private sec retary. They intend to remain in this country until December, and the cham pion of temperance is expected to speak in several of the large cities, always upon the one engrossing subject. HILARY.