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

Col Julian S. Carr, as one of the speak
ers at the commencement of the State
Normal and Industrial College to-day
held his hearers closely with an eloquent
and most appropriate address upon the
life and character of Dorothea Dix.
Col. Cars tendencies, as expressed in
his many quiet benefactions III North
Carolina rendered him capable of full
sympathy with the heroic subject of his
remarks and what he had to say may be
well reach a larger audience than that
which so much enjoyed it yesterday.
Said Col. Carr:
The world has been slow to learn the
great Christian doctrine of the Brother
hood of man; else the noble principle of
philanthropy would not have been so hid
den for ages from many, and confined
to the few. Now and then in the centu-
ries there have appeared few men to
illustrate the love of man by self-sacri-
flee, by conservation of means, by even
giving life for the benefit of suffering
humanity. Some lofty souls have risen
like a mountain peak above the plain.
TO the good of their fellowmen,
secured the blessings of heaven and the
recognition of their countrymen. These
devoted servants of man have been found
in all nations since Christianity shed its
benignant influences upon the world.
They have been found in all ranks and
conditions of life, and in the several call
ings to which men give their time and
Tho Co rit hos hppl,
seen performing his blessed work of
benevolence and sympathy and mercy all
down the teeming centuries.
This Nineteenth Century has been
marked above all the centuries by the
progress of philanthropic works, and the
multifOrm and multiplied expression of
genuine philanthropy of the soul. 1t
would require Il volume instead of few
minutes address to express in rapid out
line even the manifold and splendid man
ifestations of the last half a century of
this benignant and benefcent principle
of exalted human nature-the love of man
for his followman.
New occasions teach us new duties:
Time makes ancient good uncouth.
The occasion that places me before you
as the speaker at this hour has suggested
the train of thought in which have in
dulged
We are here to commemorate the life of
one of the most noble, them ost devoted,
the most earnest, the most engaging of
the worlds philanthropists-D
Lynde Dix. The mention of her name in
North Carolina, before North Carolina
audience, is enough to arouse admira-
tionfi, sympathy, and gratitude. She was
beyond all fair question woman of many
virtues, excellencies, and noble qualities,
and by her long and untiring devotion to
that one great cause that shaped her life,
drew so heavily upon her mental, emo
tional, and physical resources, she de-
serves to have high pedestal in the pan
theon Of the worlds benefactors and
philanthropists. Her life is one of the
most remarkable of American women,
and, take her all in all she deserves to
rank at least with the few foremost wo-
men whose deeds reflect unfading honor
and glory upon her sex and country.
There are those who hold her, as her
biographer, Francis Tiffany does, to be
the most useful and distinguished wo-
man America has yet produced She
is certainly one of the most memorable
Her birthplace and birthday are I'M
certain Authorities give different places
and date. The proba bility is that she
was born at Worcester, Mass, in 1894.
Two leading authorities give this date
and plaI. Two authorities give 1862.
Her early experience was sad, for like
John Stuart Mills, she can scarcely be
said to have had any childhood, surely a
great deprivation and calamity Her
father was a merchant, and, we suppose
left her little, if any, means. At any
rate, she had very early responsibilities,
and had to rear and educate two young
brothers as well as struggle for an educa-
ton for herself. Her young life must
have met with most serious trials, for
ever after, this sympat hetic, noble woman
held sealed lips as to that evidently dis
tresslng period and all of it's bitterness
and sorrows were kept shut in the secre-
cy of her own soul, even down to the
end of her advanced years. There is
dark shadow, evidently of sadness. hang
ing over her girlhood. Home became so
dark and oppressive to her young soul
that in despair she took refuge with her
grandmother, then living in Boston. She
had pride, ambition, high spirits, and
yet she met with many humiliations,
trials, sorrows, disappointments all along
this bleak term of years hardly ending
with womanhood. Possibly it may be adj
missible to draw aside the veil that shad-
Ows the darkest hours Of the life Of this
most admirable and sympathetic woman,
who was benson to the world. From
one who knew Miss Dix most intimately
and from her received many testimonials
of her favor and esteem, we get the hid
den story of love that went out in dark
ness, bringing a great sorrow to one of
the noblest Of earth 1t shaped her life
TO 81 great degree, and made her heroine
unlike any the world had, or the genius
of sorrow and romance had ever pictured
She was betrOthed to an accomplished
gentleman, who was stricken with mental
disease and sent to an Insane Asylum.
That was the turning point in her desti-
ny-that was the epochal hour in her
Swallowed life. Henceforth she would
live for afflicted humanity, and be the
evangel of mercy to the smitten and dark
ened. She entered upon her life-work