The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-05-15

advocate Of womans rights, Is
now seriously 10 in this city.
Disease has laid low the wom-
IN whose stalwart viii carried her
through a successful career In the face
u opposition and obstacles Of every
sort Few careers have been more ro-
mantle. a beautiful girl. she was be-
sIogod with admirers. and might have
made many brilliant marriages. At
one time a vice president Of the United
States and two United States senators
sought her hand But she disdained an
offers She had her mission 10 fulhll,
and inexorably pursued Il until mis-
fortune and illness fnall' showed her
the fallacy OF her course. For Phoebe
Cousins now believes that she has been
mistaken all her life, and that the true
aim Of womanhood Is not civil equality
with man. but home and motherhood
Her parents were originally from the
East Her father. who was among the
.Iost prominent Unlonlsts OF ST. Louis.
received the appointment OF chief OF
police and provost marshal OF the city
during the war. Her mother was the
head OF the ST. Louis branch Of the
sanitary commission. and had charge
Of the city hospitals As a Girl Phoebe
/ Cousins vas as brilliant as she was
. beautiful She very early showed her
disinclinatIon. or rather her contempt.
| for social life. For several years she
was the belle OF ST. Louis. But none
Of her admirers could make Roadway
with her II was her fay9rite theme
that women had a higher mission IN
/ lie than marriage.
When 70 was known that Phoebe
Cousins had entered the law depart
ment OF the Washington University
I there was no surprise. ST. Louis had
become fully acquainted vita her bent
l Her friends knew that her years OF
reigning bellehood had been from her
point of view most Improbable. ami
that from them she had derived but
moderate pleasure Her beauty had
won many admirers and sultors quite
as many. but 20 plainly did she show
her preference for men Of years and
wisdom that one By one they left her
side Miss Phoebe did not appear 20
even notice their defertiou. She was
in the zenith Of her beauty then. tall
slender supple. with delicate patriclan
features. brilliant black eye, and raven
hair Her complexion was olive. with
rich shifting crimson in her cheeks
Then. as until extreme adversely over.
took her. she was noted Tor the taste
ful elegance OF her dress She lacked
something of the softuoss Of manner o
most Southern women More ln eyi
dcnco was a certain self-asscrtivones
tempered by good breeding.
she secured entrance into the law De
! paument with some difficulty. wal
. graduated from Il with honor. an,
then began the career which. so fai
as human insight goes. Is nearly az az
. end. She made a few strong woman
suffrage spceches-one al a Presbyte
rian Sunday school convention IN JEFF
, ferson city. where she startled he.
! staid audience by asserting that Paul.
/ words o. women amounted to nothing
/ for Paul was simply a crusty old bache.
lor. with no authority 20 lay command,
upon womankiud." and another al N,
, banquet OF the Mercantile Library As
socIation. where she was toasted a,
"our own Phoebe Cousins"
Then she spread her ambitious winrl
and few away 20 Washington. Their,
she was entertained by prominent fam
lilies and lectured before various audi
cncOs on the cause she had ospoused
She became a pro,ege OF Susan n. An
thony. and the little circle % agitation
{ hoped much from this promising add
2 ton 20 their number. Young. hand
) some. talented. she would reach thp
b ears Of many who cared not TO lister
! 10 the equally earnest but less favored
She was as logical as any OF them: shD
{ wrote gracefully and forcibly. and {
, her manner on the platform was
. little forced. that would wear away Ii
. time. Men high IN the councils % th
. nation were curious about the hrilllan
Young woman from So. Louis. and thei
, h-csme her slaves During one winte
Vice President Wilson was a frequcn
, caller So also were a senator and con
gresham.
\, Phoebe" her hostess often said. "a.
decide which OF these gentlemen yol
/, prefer. and LEI him have a hint o. you