The Portland daily press., 1897-11-06

man who came forward to the edge Of the
platform and in most grand and elo-
quent manner began his three minute
speech at the Genesis. l suppose he was
In favor OF women's suffrage but before
he had got Adams rib well in place he
was rung down and naturally stopped
in some confusion. Instantly Miss Will
lard was by his side regretting in her
own inimitable manner that the limited
time prevented their listening to the gen
tleman's able argument and thanking
him SO cordially for his attendance or
something else which seemed important
that the silly fellow went off smiling and
with flying colors. She took his measure,
summed hln up in that brief interval and
her kindness and tact put him at ease
Now this regarding DR.. Sarah Fl. Morris,
you will appreciate, you know her SO
we'll. DIR. Morris was called upon to
speak in behalf of the Chicago temple,
this. being the question in controversy
In three terse sentences and in less than
a minute she had made characteristic
speech and as she retired from the plat
form Miss Willard turned and looking
after her said, ''Well it didn't take her
long to say good DEAL" Ready tact
again. She conlplimented the doctor
without word of compliment. The
proceedings of the convention are not
particularly interesting to an outsider
for gentle as / bulleye they call all
non-members but this true souled, warm
hearted, tactful woman fascinated all
who saw her and many go to the meet
| 1ngs day after day to see her without
Knowing what is SO intensely interesting
about her. Her tact is the tact of kind
loving heart. She is perfectly natural,
nothing is assumed. She could not see
even the silly egotist hurt, and yet You
did not feel that it was diplomacy, al
though it had that effect, but gentle
kindness which brought her so promi-
nently to his rescue. She ILLS all OF the
conflicting demands upon her without
seeming effort. She is always very pale
and does not look to be strong but she
never impresses you as being weary or
| bored as do SO many of our great men
who are really under less strain than is
Miss Willard. She evidently lives so en-
tirely out of herself, that herself is for
gotten by herself but never by those
about her. She was elected this morn
| ing as president of this great society for
| the 23d or gath time. Sne accepted the
honor without bit of 'gush' or self salts
| fled. manner which is so common to those
| to whom great honors come. In her little
speech she said ''some of the reporters
call me venerable but am only 66 years
old and = fee1 like young girl out on
the paay ground. 1 haven't single
care in the world, haven't single pain
I in the world but have great hope for
| the world
Here she was interrupted by the whole
congregation rising spontaneously and
singing praise God from whom all
blessings fow," waving their white
hankerchiefs as they sang. She was in
making a little three minute speech. She
is most happy in an imprompu speech
and does not hesitate to say did you
ever see the beat. of it?' and similar ex
| pressions which seem natural to her. Her
remarks are also full of little touches of
humor although she ID also very dignified
This morning beautiful banner was
presented tc the society and Miss Willard
called for three cheers sand said Here,
indicating reporter near her is the man
to do the hip-hurrahing for you" The
reporter was not equal to the occasion and
did not respond but all over the big hall
rose little feminine squeals of "hurrah';
as women will when trying to cheer
which seems as impossible for them to do
as it does for them to throw straight from
| the shoulder. This scene was ridiculous
in the extreme and most presiding officers
would have left it there but not Miss
Willard.
"Don't you know she said lifting a
rebuking hand, ssyou must not cheer IN
|
friend the reporter wouldn't or couldn't
do it for us, I will do it myself" She
Immediately proceeded to hip hurrah and
the cheering went off with much gusto.
am SO surprise at my own enthusi-
asm. 1t is SO unusual for me to find a
hero or heroine that it does me good to
fall down and acknowledge this woman S
grandeur of nature. You know my clear
sight is painful to me. / too often for
my own comfort unwittingly detect the
flaws in the jewel of some wise, beauti-
full character and as I have to 80 often
sit ON the fence of charity and continually
| repeat 1--WE are but human" that it does
me good to bow down before this SIM
pie, loving, tender woman, Frances Will
lard. / am prejudioed against her too
because she is orthodox while am striv-
ing to be liberal.
According to my ideas of hospitality
BuaffIo has treated this convention of
earnest women most shabbi1y and l am
curious to hear how Miss Willard will
grapple with the matter when the COM
pliments of the closing hour are due.
She Will not shirk it for she does not
shirk any duty which she feels incum-
bent upon her to discharge no matter how
unpleasant that duty may be.
The Maine delegation to this great gath
cring have conducted themselves hand
somely but this is what one always ex-
poets from old Maine. We Maine women
are quite proud of your Mrs. Stevens and
l think she is more frequently pointed out
to strangers than is any other woman on
the platform excepting Miss Willard her.
self to whom she is an efficient but SEEM
ingly not an off1cious helper. Miss Will
lard in renominating her for vice presi-
dent at large spoke of her as one always
to be relied upon at all times and at all
places.
A novel scheme to girdle the globe with
: a rnilroad and q hridcre Rahrir,n. I,t..o