Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-14
INTERVIEW WIN CHARLES Il. pINkHAm.
Malicious Stories About lydia E. Pinkham
Never Having Existed Reiuted.
(Times-Hcrald, Chicago.)

fTimeS-Hcra1d, ChtcaBO)
Lydia Il. Pinkham, who is so widely
known by the benign face in the celebra-
ted patent medicine advertisement, is not,
as many people suppose, myth. To this
her son, Charles II. Pinkham. whom the
Times-Herald reporter had the pleasure
OF interviewing today.
Lydia Pinkhams personality has prob
ably never been described in any OF the
Qualifications Illuminated by her kindly
portrait. but that she was a living force
III the world was positive fact.
Chicago the other day on his way TO
spend a vacation in the west. TO q re-
preventative Of the Times-Herald he
painful impression that prevails in some
quarters as to her non-existence
or course" said Mr.. Pinkham. the
Knew her 70 p be The % kndes sVn wo
sentlest mother In the world. She was
~ her portrait speaks her to be, and
her whole life was given up to doing ali
SIMPLE LIFE AND SYMPATHETIC.
Her life was simple and her heart fun Of
sympathy and tender feeling. After the
rapidity. she devoted her entire time to it.
or at least to that branch of it which re-
lated 10 correspondence with women
seeking her advice. and her pleasure was
mother WAS not a myth. and that there
was not 4 drop of selfishness in her
inbht~uD.
Mrs. pinkham was unique among the
makers OF proprietary medicines. She
was The first to print her portrait in Fer
advertisements, and that face has seldom
iaiied 20 warm the heart of anyone who
has seen it. Mr.. Pinkhan carries a por-
trait of his mother in his inside pocket
II Is the face of the advertisement sure
enough.
Lydia Estes-that was her maiden
name-- was born In Lynn Mass. and be-
tore her marriage she taught school in the
liitle Yankee town. Her parents were
luakers, aud i was in that simple
fraternity she exhibited her carly ideas of
kindness. Her husband was a successful
real-estaie man. and possessed consider
two OF wnom-Charles II. Pinkhan and
Aroline Chase pinkham-survive, and
who now own the business equally
FIRST BREWING On A STOVE.
Mrs. Inkham HAD FOR years brewed
the compound that now bears her name
on her kitchen stove. ana had given IL
away to her neighbors. When the panic
Of 1913 came MIR. Pinkham, senior lost
his fortune. IL was while the family were
IN stratteued circumstances that one day
TWO ladies drove to the pinkharn resi-
d.nce and asked Mrs. Pinkham to sell
some of her already famous compound
This fact suggested the bright idea OF
making the medicine In quantities ana
Offering 1t for sale. What followed every
new spaper reader knows. She insisted
on carrying on her own correspondence
sharing her work with her daughter-in
law, Mrs. Charles II. Pinkham. and she
soon came to be regarded rs a public
benefactor. This title she deserved in
ample measure.
When she died she bequeathed her
place nj the head OF IN. business TO her
daughter. who today. with years OF ex-
pfience and study. and by the aid OF 2
corps OF assistants. personally attends to
the great mass OF correspondence that
flows in and out of the big concern in
Lynn, and that bond of confidence so
thoroughly esta blished between Lydia e.
Pinkham and the women OF America
whereby they were enabled to talk freely
of their private Illness TO IA woman has
never been broken.
1t has been the aim of this great
womans children TO carry on the work
begun by the mother In the same spirit OF
life
Lydia +. Pinkham is more than a dis
penser of medicine. She is fact in
history.