The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-19

thrilled the hearts of the good and brave
everywhere, it stimulated benevolence, it
lifted up philanthropy and brought de-
light and pleasure to the great heart of
the noble woman of New England who
loved her fellowman and was endowed
with an exceptional power and PERSONAL
ty. Col bless forever the memory of
Dorothea Dix. Let her sweet and gra-
ci0us name, Synonymous with philanthro-
Ply and mercy, be ever treasured in the
households of North Carolina so long as
virtue is practiced and veneration and
admiration of the good are cherished in
the hearts of our people Then
the Lord Almighty needed a torch
bearer for the insane, and prosecuted.
and neglected, and He called to this
earnest soul in bleak New England, she
answered in the tumult of her souls con-
viction of duty, Here am l, send me-"
She asserted her right to be with and in
the worlds heart with the truly noble
and great. She magnifed her office of
mercy and deserved to be treasured
as among the best and most self-sacrific-
ing of'women, and among the highest and
purest Of philanthropists. The late Hon.
Robert h. Gillian, of Oxford, among the
truest and most sympathetic of men, of
much popularity and influence was a
member of the House, was in warm SYM
pathy with Miss Dix, and heartily COOP
Grated with the Speaker and aided no
little in passing the bill. In the Senate
HOnOrables John A. Gilmer, one of Gull
ford county's most distinguished and we'll
beloved sons, always true, always ready
to dare and die for the right, and others
worked for it and passed it.
In addition to her other services. Miss
Dix made stupendous eXertion to obtain
Il grant from the United States Congress.
in 1913 and 1850, of 100000 acres of
the public lands to the States. for the
relief of the INDECENT insane. She sue
ceeded at last. after great effort, but
President Pierce felt constrained to veto
the bill on the ground that the Federal
Government had no power to make such
an appropriation. In the great war be-
tween the States. this indefatigible friend
of the distressed was superintendent of
Hospital Nurses, having the entire con-
troll of all such appointments and assign
ments to duty.
After its close she at once resumed
her blessed labOrs in behalf of the insane
She wrote Il half dozen or more books
for children, also n work lin 1870. en-
titled Prisons and Prison Discipline"
and many tracts for distribution among
the prisoners among the jails and peni-
tentiarieS. In addition. she drew up
many memorials before legislative bodies
in behalf of lunaatic asylums and re-
ports on philanthrOpic subjects. She was
a tireless worker for the suffering chill
dren of men. was instant in season and
out of season, and with voice and pen
sought by all responsiveness and in
tellectual gifts to move those in authority
to stretch forth the hand of charity and
sympathy for the alienation of the condi-
ton of the unfortunates of earth. What
work of diligence and beneficence was
hers. How nobly she performed it!
She visited Europe twice-her last visit
being in the interest of suffering man
kind
She visited Great Britain and the Cont
nent. She visited Rome the eternal
city" and was fortunate and influential
enough to induce the Pope to build in
that city a splendid asylum. She named
layman for superintendent which gave
offence to the clergy She wrote Il letter
to His Holiness in three languages de-
Tending her appointment. This appeal
was successful.
In her visit to Scotland, she was re-
buffed by the Lord Lieutenant, a rep
resantative of the Crown at Edinboro,
and went and appealed to the Premier OF
England, who summoned that official be-
fore him and gave a severe reprimand.
Her efforts there resulted in the present
Lunacy Commission and Code of Great
Britain, the finest in the world
In advocating that law. drawn or for
INFLATED by Miss Dix. member Of the
Lords used this language: "To our mOrti-
f1cation. my lords, the neglected condition
of the dependent classes in the Empire
has been called to our attention by
foreigner. and that foreigner an Ameri-
can. and that American a Protestant.
and that Protestant a woman! !"
Her life was not without adventure,
as well as fruitful benevolence and bless
ing. She was perhaps, nearly a half a
century ago in the extreme West, this
side of the Rockies, and by stage. At
the right place for such work the stage
was held up by one of those adventur-
Gus desperadOes who failed to know the
difference between mine and thine. This
American Dick Turpin demanded her
money or her life. She took out her
pocket-book and asked quietly, How
much do YOU want, sir?" His answer
was, Not a cent from you. madam. l
have heard that voice before" He skunk
away abashed. the truth doubtless being
that in some Jail or other place of contine-
ment for criminalss of perhaps in some
hospital laid upon a lowly cot these two
had met previously. he a felon, she an
angel of mercy. She was practically
the founder of enduring benevolent in
situations in Europe and America her
Iabors in behalf of mercy were not limit
ed to our own native land, as we have
seen, and among the active philanthro-
pists of the world throughout the ages,
she has no rival, no peer. She was in
deed a most lovable and noble specimen
Of true womanhood, with the grasp of
intellect, the fertility of resources, and
the indomitable force of will that goes