The Press., 1895-03-14
WIG. T. U. DEPARTMENT.
Mrs. MAryiHs, Hunt. BY MRS. JOSEPH COOK.

BY MRS. JOSEPH COOK.
 The American woman as a social pow CT, as an intellectual leader, as a philan- thropic enthusiast, as an organizer in the field of reform, is regarded by all nations as an amazing success, whether they give her admiration or anathema. We are just now, through the foreign magazines, lis- tening to the comments of German and French educators who were sent as dele gates to the Chicago congresses. They all agree with the chief commissioner of the German educational exhibit at Chica- go in his verdict that "As business and politics take up the entire time of the men, the women have become the sup porters of the higher intellectual interests and the promoters of intellectually in do- mestic life."
 pr Baudouin, of Paris, physician, pro- lessor, and author, in rehearsing the ridi- cnle and opposition with which the first efforts of women to gain admission to medical schools were received, says ITO suppose American women discour- couraged because they encountered bar riers, is to misprize both their will and their resources. The outcome proves that in America, what woman wills, God wills.'"
 This high praise, bestowed upon the women seeking a medical education, ap- plies with equal force to Mrs. Mary H. Hunt, the subject of this sketch, in the great work she has undertaken, that of introducing compulsory scientific temper ance into the public schools of America.
 Mrs. Hunts father was pronounced temperance advocate, and was vice-pl esi- dent of the first temperance society start ed in America. Her mother, who is as alert and vigorous in her ninety years as Neal Dow himself, is direct descendant of the celebrated Thatcher preachers, one E'of whom was the first pastor of the Old South Church in Boston. Therefore, Mrs. Hunt was well fitted by inheritance for the great work which awaited her. Mrs. Hunts youth came before col leges for women were established, but she received the best educational advan- tages of her day, and after her graduation she taught the physical sciences until her marriage. What God does, He from the first intends to do, and this is as true now of the divine development of the individ ual whom He selects to carry out His purposes in the world, as in the days oi Moses or of the apostles.
 While Mrs. Hunt was performing hel Eduiet duties as wife and mother, she was l unconsciously being trained for the tasks she so little dreamed awaited her. Dur ing these comparatively uneventful yeari at home she kept up her scientific read ing, and was in fun sympathy with he son, who early showed predilection fo g scientific career. It was while assisting him in some chemical experiments tha Mrs. Hunts attention was first called t, Fthe nature of alcohol, and, investigating further, she became convinced that, al she herself says, "Alcohol and kindred narcotics are by nature outlaws
 At the national convention of the Wo mans Christian Temperance Union helt in Boston, Mass, October, 1880, a de partment of scientific temperance instruc tion in schools and colleges was created at Mrs. Hunts request, and she was ap pointed as its national superintendent And now came the almost superhumal task of educating and rousing publi sentiment in order that legislators migh be instructed by their constituency to pu this law on the statute books of tho va rious states. Margaret Fuller seys: "Ex pect the impossible and you will get 1t. ' It might be said of Mrs. Hunt that sh attempted the impossible and has attain ed it. Vermont was the pioneer state t' adopt 8 compulsory temperance educa tion law, in November, 1882. In 188 Michigan and New Hampshire followed In 1884 the empire state gave momentum to the movement, and now in 1895 onl, four states remain that have not som kind of temperance education laws.
 It has been most pertinently said tha ''it is an eighth wonder of the world tha legislatures like those of New York Pennsylvania, California, and Illinois hav been brought to pass enactments requir ing temperance education in the common schools, and that the execution of thes laws, though not as perfect as the friend of them could wish, is fairly good an' perhaps as thorough as that of any law covering topics of such blazing interest.
 As soon as the states began to pas these laws a demand for suitable text books arose, and now came a conflic
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