The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-02-24
Eloquent Address in Memory Of
Miss Willard.
READ To HONOLULU W. C. T. U.
A Life That Was Power Of the
pected and Loved.

CMrs. J. NJ. Whitney at the w. c. T.
U. Frances willard memorial meeting
Feb. q, 1899. Honolulu, II. IL
Among the topics suggested by the
National officers for this memorial ser
vice, is Mss willard as an educator.
The intention of the suggestion was
doubtless a paper upon Miss Willard 5
wonderful success in her early years:
as a teacher first in a countr,' dis
trict school" and later as the honored
President OF the Evanston College for
Ladies', the first woman to acquire this
high title.
OF her first school IL IS said that
when a girl OF 20, she reached the
scene of her first endeavor. she found
that her savage little pupils had brok-
en- the windows, and were engaged in
'sundry forms OF controversy. en-
pl lied with fisticuffs." This frank
souled, sweet voiced" young teacher
proceeded there upon to read a few
verses from her pocket testament. and
led the school in singing Il want to
he an angel n selection which she
designated as 'incongruOus
tho familiar
OF Miss Wizards later work a. Il
teacher of young women. first as Dean
OF the Northwestern University at
Evanston, and later as President OF
the Woman's College there. one OF her
former pupils writes: What IL was
for girls to- be closely associated with
Miss Willard in the formative period
OF their life. only those who knew her
wIll can at all appreciate. Such views
Oh life and destiny as she opened to
our sight; such high ideals OF charac-
ter as she set before us; such visions
of the heights to which We might
climb; OF the noble deeds we might
achieve, and. with it all. such deep
and weighty sense of responsibility
for ghe use we made OF life. with its
gifts anu opportunities. have never
seen nor Ielt through the inspiration
of any one else. 1t was like living
upon Alpine heights to be associated
with her"
But looking more broadly upon the
influence OF this wonderful woman.
one may readily understand that rs
an Educator" Miss Wizards influ-
ence extends far beyond the bounds OF
those who were once her pupils. In
5o.d ,1,a x,-o,,, q ,l,rCJ 80 Ar,nrfrs aud
of many European lands has felt the
inspiration of her teaching. and 81 may
with tru.hbe said that TO her more
than to any single woman we women
broader lives which marks one feature
of the close OF this wonderful 18th
century.
lit was Miss Wizards conscientious
withdrawal from the prominent posi-
ton she held as a teacher. and from
many most tempting and lucrative
offers in other schools. to- enter the
ranks of philanthropist and reformeI
which has placed her so high above al
women of our day. Ii was not without
great struggle that she made the
choice, as she says OF herself: IN
stead of peace, l was TO participate In
war; Instead of the sweetness OF home
never more dearly loved than I haC
loved il, l Was to become n wanderel
on the face OF the earth; instead o.
libraries, / was To frequent public
halls and railway cars; instead o
scholarly and cultured men, | was L
see the dregs of saloon and gambling
house and haunts OF shame" But sh.
did not shrink from the great pro
motion counting IL n JOY to b
thought worthy TO be worker in tb
organized crusade for God and HON
great lesson OF self surrender. whicl
so many OF the women of America an
thence all over the world were to- lear
from Frances MISUNDERSTANDING Il
music and art, she gave herself wit
abandon to scenes the world woul
consider the reverse OF artistic. Sh,
who had studied books. now studio
humanity. For music she now IN
Gospel Hymns, not always rcndere
effectively from the standpoint OF IN
musical critic" Not only this. sh
endured real hardShip-the prcsai
hardship of poverty. and even at time
, OF real hunger. Often as she weT
about the great city. searching for a
fI'iendless and forgotten she said
herself. I am better friend tina
YOU dream. I know more about 20
than You think. for bless God. I a
hungry too" But wider sphere ".
awaiting her, and she was soon n
pointed Secretary and later Presider