St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-03-08
THE ST. JOHNsBURY CALIFORNIAN MARCH 8, 1896

AN Say NONo lhobNd q lOOh W a.
most rueful mirth II should say
had" she said. There were so
many estimates we wished to make.
For instance, over thousand
churches are represented among the
'attestations; ! so many just signed
the Petition pastor and people.
There are eighty thousand in rising
votes The Salvation Army has put
itself on record-6ve hundred thous.
and as with US, and the United So.
ciety of Christian Endeavor have
swelled the list by two million"
Mrs. Shuman, as you have work
ed these four years, how have you
felt regarding this great Petition
this silent cry for millions?"
There was slight pause, and then
in lowered tones this Jealous white.
ribboner said IL can hardly tell you
how it impressed me. The mighty
document, signed in fifty different
languages, by representatives of all
nations OF the earth asking for pro-
lection against the liquor and opium
trades, seems to me vast power en-
circling the earth and Embracing the
islands of the sea. 1t has seemed to
me from the first, as / have woven
into this great stretch of canvas
thousands upon thousands of sigma
lures from all lands and nations,
that was weaving together the
groans of the dying and the tears Of
the saints"
Another thing that moves me
deeply" continued Mrs. Shuman, lis
that among the names there written
there are many whose owners have
gone home. Their voices are hushed
on earth, but by those written words
they, being dead, yet speak in plead.
ing for the cause of righteousness"
Have you noted any remarks that
have accompanied the petitions sent
in?'
lust few, such as these are re-
peated countless times Homeless
through drink Ny home broken up
and children scattered by the curse
of drink, We beseech you in
Gods name God grant this prayer
God speed the work One was
signed Mother of six prohibition
voters, and on petition from Tex
as was scrawled this sentiment:
What is done in this line mus be
done by woman-man is failour-
commence at the cradel
"By whom has the Petition been
circulated? II"
THE Petition has been circulated
by young and old, rich and poor,
strong and feeble, by the sick and
the blind. Sometimes an invalid
would write, 4 cannot 60 out but
l have kept the Petition beside my
bed and asked all whom l saw to
sign it. Some who were blind yet
raised their voices in this way for
God and Home and Humanity. 1t
is at once solemn and pathetic
thing. 1t surely will not all be lost
The oldest signer was aged ninety
three and the youngest (by special
permission) little boy of seven.
Our conversation was interrupted
by Mrs. Shuman springing up with
the words, There are the boxes.
An express wagon bearing some com
pact looking boxes stopped at the
; door and soon they were deposited
. in the entrance hall for this last con
signment of the Great Petition. The
boxes were very strongly made, their
| dimensions, two feet by two and &
/ half. The five great rolls were pack
! ed securely away, the lids dropped
! the patent locks snapped, l." the keys
t laid in Mrs. Shuman's hand and tn,
! boxes borne out on sturdy shoulders
G Eight boxes had already been ship
ped from the vault in Willard Hall
S Chicago, in charge of Mrs. M. B
s Corse, the special custodian of thu
Petition.
4 The scene was a solemn one, TO
: one could not thrust away tn
+; thought that there was more thar
$ miles OF muslin and braid, paper ant
n ink, silent and motionless. AS DO.
after box was fastened it seemed a
if million voices were raised in ap
If peal and a million pitiful hand
j. raised for mercy, that the gallinl
chains be stricken off and they be Sc
= free, and we fervently echoed tn
prayer, ave beseech you in God
l. name
It Thus was the Great Petition fairl.
IS started on its unique mission-th
:, greatest petition in length that ha
5, ever been circulated. that OF tn
: Chartists for the repeal of the Cor
h Laws having held first place unit
y now.-[Union Signal.
h NTo...