Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-01
LADY HENRY SOMERSET
Addresses Largest Audience That Ever As
sembIed in Opera House.

The Opera house was not large enough,
last evening, for the first time since it
was constructed. Looking from the
stage, there seemed to be solid mass of
people clear to the rear wall, while every
seat in all the galleries and boxes was
taken, and people went away who could
not find room in which to stand
Upon the platform were assembled over
200 representative people of this and
other parts of the State. Among the
number was noticed President Hyde of
Bowdoin College, President Whitman of
Colby College, Hon. James W. Bradbury
Ex-Governor Burleigh, Ex-Governor Davis
Mayor Milliken, Hon. o. d. Baker, Oscar
Holway, ESQ, nearly all the Augusta
clcrgymcn, Representative Bartlett Of
Elliot and daughter, Major Dickey of Fort
Kent, and many other distinguished
gentlemen. There was, of course, large
number of prominent women, including
nearly all the county presidents of the
W. C. II. IT,, Mrs. Edwin C. Burleigh,
Mrs. Hannah j. Bailey, Mrs. Oscar Hol-
way, Mrs. W. p. Whitehouse, and others.
The stage decorations were simple but
very effective. In front of the drop We're
draped large flags caught back in graceful
folds and at either end of the platform
were plants and flowers, beautiful
bouquet of roses being upon the table in
the centre.
At s. IS Lady Somerset came upon the
platform, escorted by Mrs. i. M. n
Stevens, and was greeted with enthusiasm.
The Ceclian Quartet finely rendered
the ''Star Spangled Banner" On the
recall, which was an, imperative one, the
quartet sang "God Save the Queen, al
ON the platform and in the audience ris-
ing and remaining standing during the
rendering of the selection.
Mrs. r. G. Hall of Rockland offered the
prayer. Her supplication was very inn
prcssivc.
Another selection, "The sun Shall No
More Go Down." was rendered by the
quartet. which was encorcd, responding
with 1.-The Old Oaken Bucket ;"
Mrs. l.. NJ. N. Stevens, who presided at
the meeting, made brief opening address
in which she referred TO the pleas that had
been made before the Legislative com
mittec The people over the sea are inter
cstcd in this great question, and one OF
them is hero this evening.
She belongs to the new aristocracy which
lends dignity to the title rather than de
rives dignity from it, In asking her to
come here realized that this is the as
scmbling place of the best men in the
State, some Of them of more than
continental reputation.
l introduce to you the leader of the
largest organization of women OF TIT
world, Lady Henry Somerset.
Lady Somerset, in opening, expressed
her pleasure in being present, and saio
she felt honored by the privilege of ad
dressing SO large and representative an
assemblage upon so vital a Question.
/ am glad to come to the Pine Tree
State because it is temperance state
am glad to come to State where thu
women have such n leader as Mrs
l.. NJ. N. Stevens. She was glad to be II
this country, where women suffrage has
= 4
made such an advance She was glad e
represent a country governed bya woman
She recalled Gladstone's famous remarl
concerning the Armenian outrages: Th
conscience of one country is the conscience
of all and the uplift of one nation
the uplift of all, and what makes
for humanity in one nation make
/. for humanity throughout the world
q (applausel. She .ycnsured to say that VIZ
measure civilization Of ii country by tn
manner il 81 hich they trcat the womei
ofthas rouptsy We do not wonder a
the atrocifIrs 81 the unspeakable Turl
when We Fn6w iiSs they treat the women
She had alws3 been . great admire
of America. (Applnuscl She ana ne
sister almost quarrellea IN their desire t
first read Uncle Toms Cabin. on
recollected Of Lord Palmerston sitting
her fathers table and saying he hoped tn
South would win. She remembered tina
she crept up stairs to the place where I'M
picture of the prime minister hung an'
turned its face toward the wall. Gap
plause).
Why is woman grasping after some
thing that in old days she was content e
Co without? Times arc changing. oni'
that which is stagnant does not change
Times that change are the times
healthy, national life. Why should no
women change as well as the mens
Formerly the household was the factor!
Of the nation. Women supervised TIM
Kind Of work. But when the great manI