Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-10-20

Mrs Lucy Stone Black clO was born a
few miles from West Brookfield, Mass.
Aug 13, 1878 She was the second Young
est in family OF nine children and her
father was a prosperous farmer. That
she came from family noted for its
fighting blood is evidenced by the fact
that her great grandfather was killed in
the French and Indian war, and her grand
father served in the war of the revolution
and was afterward captain of the 400 men
in Shay's rebellion.
,,irs stones father ruled his family
with strong hand. 1t is perhaps due to
this fact that Mrs. Stone became the great
champion of woman's rights that she
afterwards dill. Under her fathers re-
straining influence little Lucy grew up
fearless, hardy child-strong truthful,
resolute, good student in school, hard
worker in her home and on the farm. and
filed with secret rebellion against the
way in which she saw woman treated all
around her
Reading the Bible while yet young she
came across the passage which reads.
THY desire shall he to thy husband, and he
shall rule over thee Tt had never be
fore occurred to her that subsection Of
woman was divinely ordained, and she
went to her mother almost speechless with
distress. Her query was pitiful and
showed a character that afterward was to
make the worll stir. She asked her
mother. as there no way to put an end
to mes'
Her mother attempted to console her
and persuade her that it was womans
duty TO submit, hut OF that Lucy refused
to be convinced. Later she wished to learn
Hebrew and Greek. that she might be en-
abled TO read the Bible in the original,
and satisfy herself as to the correctness
Of the translation Of these texts.
Carried Ont Her Designs.
She was obliged to earn her own way
through college, and Eobly she set about
accom- plishing the plan that was nearest
and dearest her heart She had at
tanned the age Of Is before she had pro-
cured the means to take her to the goal
of her aspirations and hopes, Oberlin col
lege This was the only college at the
time that admitted women. She earned
her way through college by teaching dur
ing the vacations in the departments
and by doing homework at J cents an
hour. In 1S47 she graduated with great
honor.
one carried out hef plan OF studying
Greek and Hebrew, and has ever since be-
iieved that when Passages in the Bible
were properly translated they were on the
side of equal rights for women. In the
same year of her graduation at OberIin
she delivered her first lecture on women's
rights In her brothers church at Gardner.
Mass. In the following year, Is4s. she be-
came lecturer Tor the Massachusetts, Anti
Slavery society. and Travelled extensively
in New England, the west and in Canada.
While lectcting In behalf of anti-slavery
interests, she saw Powers statue of the
Greek Save, exhibited i'll Boston. The
sight so moved her that her next lecture
was wholly confined to the discussion of
womsn's rights. At the conclusion Of the
lecture Rev Samuel May. agent for the
Anti-siayery society. in whose behalfIMrs.
Stone was recurring, said to her that the
lecture would never do on an anti-slaverv
platform Mrs. Stone replied, II know
It, but was a woman before / was an
abolitionist. and / must speak for the
women"
Remarkable Bravery
During her iscturing tour she was often
Obliged TO undergo severe trials In various
ways, at Ole period being obliged to put
up at boarding house on Hanover street,