Natchitoches populist., 1898-06-10

Frances K. Willard-An Official Opinion
FROM the Union Signal: No on,
loved home better than Frances vii
lard, But few in her rank had less O
IT, The author Of Home, Swee
home never had a home. With her
as With him, it was all through lif(
and always "tbe song of the dying
swan"
Next to her mother and her nest al
Evanston Frances Willard had hel
home on earth in the hearts of white,
ribboners. They were to her always
IN her own language, "our folks" and
her home festivals were mostly where
they gathered together. So 1t came
about that all Of our meetings inelud-
ing our great conventions when wo-
0len came together from the ends OF
the earth, have always been homelike:
and the sweetest and most touching
things ever said by Miss Willard were
her quaint and pathetic utterances at
such meetings about home and mother
and father and little ones. They were
the charm OF our gatherings. She
threw in so many appreciative sayings
about people and things on the inspira-
tlon OF the moment, that they came to
be called Miss Wizards embroidery.
Happy are we If we, too, embroider
llfe's pathway with sweet and lovely
flowers, rather than wound the weary
feet with thorns and nettles.
Frances Willards life work was pre-
eminently for the home, and 1t was
consistent throughout. The loving care
she gave her mother, and the words
OF almost excruciating tenderness the
daughter penned OF the last days of
St. Courageous, as Madam Willard
came to be called, have nodded many
life for good.
Women have been accused Of being
severe and unforgiving and critical to-
ward each other, but the life of our
gentle Frances forever denies the
charge for one at least, and marks a.
new era In the centuries, when 1t is
written, Women demand a white life
for two, and extend an equally help
Ing hand to both-equal pity and equal
love to fallen women and fallen men,"
One of the great elements of Frances
Nlllard's success was her power over
women. It was only necessary for gay
young girls or society women to come
within the pervasive atmosphere of
love which enveloped her like the nim-
bus Of the ancient saints, from head
to foot, to become her devotees, for
the time being at least, and to desire
nothing more than to serve her and
her cause--for the two were insepar-
able. Their devotion was given In re-
'ponse to the appreciation she gave of
he good in them, for she was a seer
Who discerned the possibilities In 9TH
srs' lives, and she breathed upon latent
,ood. that it might become instinct
With life. She was all this to her
vhite-ribbon constituency and far
more. Her head was set upon her shoul-
lers like rose upon its stem, and 1t
urned or lifted or dropped with the
entiment that scintillated through her
reat brain like a flower moved by the
emile wind In our conventions. when
t the last moment of the last evening
ession, the sisterhood forms, as is
heir custom, chain or clasped hands
rom the vast platform down into the
uditorium and around the great au-
ience Of FIVE or six thousand people
nd sing our parting song, God Be
With You Till We Meet Again." a deaf
lutte might follow the sentiment and
ne rhythm OF the song simply by the
sntral figure Of Frances leading them
the bend of her head and the sway
lg OF her form-but she was Tar more
Ian graceful. Her aesthetic taste was
iltivated In many directions, by her
,llege education, by books, travel, mu-
Gums of art, and contact with culti-
ated people In many lands. These
)portunities given to a naturally
light, sensitive and strongly intellect
Il nature produced an elegant woman
no could not do an ungenteel act
1t she was far more than elegant.
le might have been, to the world at
asst. simply an educated woman, class
al and cold. had 1t not been for the
eat cause which developed her emo
onal nature, and brought her into
ose touch with all humanity and
ade her great-hearted. But informed
mind and heart and then touched
th live coal from OF the altar
tn love for humanity, she could !
apt herself to the lowliest and the
ost Ignorant. Through all her work
re pulsated, and by her kindly spirit T
'men were melted to their best and a
ought nearer to the full stature of 6
'manhood. She was great educa-
: Of her followers.
Inc destruction Of the base and ig- (
Die possessed her. The building anew b
q the polishing and perfecting con- c
med her. Her desire for progress Il
ward the good was Unsuitable. She t.
$ infinitely painstaking and con-
entious. and never satisfied with
ssent attainments. One height reach o